by Sydney Isaac
What does paraphilia mean?
The word paraphilia can be broken down to its roots to broadly explain itself; para means abnormal and philia meaning love. To define paraphilia, i.e. abnormal love, would need a definition of normal love. Any human emotion is difficult to define, especially one as subjective as love, but defining behavior is more objective and universally applied. The definition of paraphilia is, “patterns of sexual attraction and behavior that deviate from the social and cultural norms,” (Lehmillar, 2018).
Causes?
These abnormal sexual urges start to develop around adolescence to young adulthood. Paraphilias have the same roots as all sexual attitudes in our biology, psychology and social factors, known as biopsychosocial factors. Biological factors include hormones and neurotransmitters, such as testosterone and serotonin, that affect paraphilic interests. Psychological factors such as conditioning and personality profiles can be linked to developing a paraphilia. What is hopeful about this evidence is that if paraphilias can be developed through conditioning, then it is theorized that behavioral and social skills therapy could treat paraphilias (Graves, Openshaw, & Adams, 1992. Read in The Psychology of Human Sexuality).
Categories of paraphilias
There are two categories of paraphilias: (1) non-coercive and non-victimizing, and (2) coercive and victimizing. Non-coercive and non-victimizing paraphilias, “involve only the self or include consenting adults,” (Lehmiller, 2018); an example being fetishism, which can range from being intensely sexually aroused by a specific body part (ex. feet) to a specific object (ex. high heels), or, “almost anything,” (Plaud & Martini, 1999. Read in The Psychology of Human Sexuality). Coercive and victimizing paraphilias such as voyeurism (viewing unsuspecting person) and exhibitionism (revealing genitals to unconsenting person) are generally illegal and taboo because these sexual acts require a unconsenting victim.
Unusual Paraphilias
If you look up, “How many paraphilias are there?” Wikipedia will have a list of over 500 from a book on sexual pathology by Anil Aggrawal. As said previously, people can become sexually aroused by almost anything, so it would be an educated assumption there would be many, many paraphilias. There are many paraphilias that are not widely known about, such as, formicophilia is being sexually aroused by small creatures crawling on one’s body and/or genitalia. Symphorophilia, having sexual arousal when witnessing a disaster – which could lead to the person staging accidents. Last but not least, Vorarephilia is being sexually aroused by the thought of eating or being eaten by someone whole and alive.
Legality and paraphilias
The definition of what a paraphilia is depends on the culture. For example, even though homosexuality is not considered a disorder and is not against the law in the United States of America, there are social groups within the U.S.A. that are intolerant and hateful of the LGBTQ+ who are actively trying to criminalize this community. In other countries, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and some states of Nigeria, homosexuality or any queer identity is completely outlawed with the punishments being as harsh as death.
There are some paraphilias that are commonly outlawed with threat of severe punishment across cultures. These paraphillias include: pedophilia (prepubesent children), necrophilia (corpses), and zoophilia (non-human animals).
Disorder
Are these abnormal behaviors considered disorders? The DSM-5 (2013) is the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is used in many aspects of the United States of America. The DSM-5 is used, and criticized, by the healthcare system, legal system, education system within the U.S.A and worldwide. The International Classification of Diseases is used as the global standard of health information. There are various differences in the descriptions and criteria for diagnosis between these two manuals, but the definition of paraphilic disorder defined by the DSM-5 is used around the world. Paraphilic disorders are defined as, “is causing distress or impairment to the individual or a paraphilia whereby satisfaction entails personal harm, or risk of harm, to others,” (Sorrentino, 2016. Read in The Psychology of Human Sexuality). In other words, coercive and victimizing paraphilias are considered to be disorders and can have legal consequences.
This is a student submission from psychology major and family studies minor
Sydney Isaac.