Paraphilia

Paraphilias are sexual desires or activities that lie outside the cultural norm, and under some conditions are considered mental disorders. Some paraphilias have been (and are) considered to be [sex crime]?s in some jurisdictions. At one time homosexuality was considered to be a paraphilia, but currently it is usually not reckoned among them.

Similarly, consensual sadomasochism, exhibitionism?, voyeurism and non-psychotic forms of fetishism?, urophilia? and coprofilia? are increasingly becoming culturally acceptable forms of sexuality. Professional treatmeant is usually indicated only when such conditions lead to involvement of non-consenting sexual partners, or are clearly damaging to the physical or mental well-being of the paraphiliac.

Paraphilias include:

• zoophilia: sexual attraction to animals, or bestiality
• pedophilia: sexual attraction to pre-pubescents
• coprophilia?: sexual attraction to feces
• urophilia?: sexual attraction to urine?
• sadomasochism: taking sexual pleasure in inflicting pain, or having pain inflicting upon one's self. (See also "bondage and discipline" and BDSM)
• fetishism?: sexual attraction to a physical object
• pictophilia?: inability to become sexually aroused except through the use of pornography
• [telephone scatologia]?: being sexually aroused by making obscene telephone calls
• frotteurage?: sexual arousal through rubbing one's self against a non-consenting stranger in public
• necrophilia?: sexual attraction to corpses
• [lust murder]?: sexual arousal through committing murder
• exhibitionism?: sexual arousal through displaying genitals in public
• voyeurism: sexual arousal through watching without permission others having sex

Paraphilias are defined by the DSM-IV.

/Talk