What is paraphilia?

“Para” means ‘beyond’, and “philia” means love. This includes Fetishism, Transvestism, Zoophilia, Podophilia, Exhibitionism, Voyeurism, Sexual Masochism, Sexual Sadism, and others. They are more common in males than among females.

Fetishism: the condition in which a person is dependent on a talisman or fetish object, substance, or part of the body in order to obtain erotic arousal and facilitate or achieve orgasm.

Transvestism: behaviorally, the act of dressing in the clothes of the opposite sex; psychically, the condition of feeling compelled to cross-dress, often in relation to sexual arousal and attainment of orgasm.

Zoophilia: the condition of being responsive to, or depending on, sexual activity with an animal in order to obtain erotic arousal and facilitate orgasm; also known as bestiality. Sexual contact (oral or genital) with an animal may occur sporadically in the course of human development without leading to long-term zoophilia.

Pedophilia: the condition in which an adult is responsive or dependent on the imagery or actuality of erotic/sexual activity with a pre-pubertal or early pubertal boy or girl, in order to obtain erotic arousal and facilitate or achieve orgasm. A pedophiliac may be a male or a female. Pedophilic activity may be replayed in fantasy during masturbation or copulation with an older partner.

Exhibitionism: the condition of being responsive to or dependent on the surprise, debasement, shock, or outcry of stranger (usually female) unexpectedly exposed to the sight of the genitals, in order to obtain one’s erotic arousal and facilitate or achieve orgasm. The actual event may be replayed in a masturbation or coital fantasy.

Voyeurism: It is also called as scoptophilia. The desire to observe the genital of others or to watch sexual intercourse becomes the condition of erotic excitement and gratification. A voyeur is also known as a “peeping Tom.” The actual event may be replayed in masturbation or a coital fantasy.

Masochism: the condition of being responsive to or being dependent on receiving punishment and humiliation in order to obtain erotic arousal and facilitate or achieve orgasm. As the partner of a sadist, a person may impersonate a masochist for commercial gain, within the limits set by the pain threshold.

Sadism: the condition of being responsive to or dependent on punishing or humiliating one’s partner in order to obtain erotic arousal and facilitates orgasm. A person, especially a woman, may impersonate a sadist to oblige masochistic partners for commercial gain.

Frottage: rubbing or pressing against some object, usually the buttocks of a fully clothed woman, in public places, becomes the condition for sexual excitement.

Gorontophilia: the condition in which one prefers to obtain sexual gratification from an elderly person.

Necrophilia: in this condition, gratification is obtained by indulging in sexual activity with a corpse.