Medical issues Voyeurism

1 medical issues

1.1 definition
1.2 historical perspectives
1.3 prevalence
1.4 characteristics
1.5 current perspectives
1.6 treatment

1.6.1 professional treatment

medical issues
definition

the american psychiatric association has classified voyeuristic fantasies, urges , behavior patterns paraphilia in diagnostic , statistical manual (dsm-iv) if person has acted on these urges, or sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. described disorder of sexual preference in icd-10. dsm-iv defines voyeurism act of looking @ unsuspecting individuals, strangers, naked, in process of disrobing, or engaging in sexual activity . diagnosis not given people experience typical sexual arousal seeing nudity or sexual activity. in order diagnosed voyeuristic disorder symptoms must persist on 6 months , person in question must on age of 18.

historical perspectives

there relatively little academic research regarding voyeurism. when review published in 1976 there 15 available resources. while there has been more research since then, there still little information on topic. particularly surprising considering increase in use of term voyeur , group of people can encompass. historically term voyeur used describe people fit within dsm description. society has accepted use of term voyeur description of views intimate lives of others, outside of sexual context. term used regarding reality television , other media allow people view personal lives of others. reversal historical perspective, moving term describes specific population in detail, 1 describes general population vaguely.

one of few historical theories on causes of voyeurism comes psychoanalytic theory. psychoanalytic theory proposes voyeurism results failure accept castration anxiety , result failure identify father.

prevalence

voyeurism has high prevalence rates in studied populations. voyeurism believed present in small portion of population. perception changed when alfred kinsey discovered 30% of men prefer coitus lights on. behavior not considered voyeurism today s diagnostic standards, there little differentiation between normal , pathological behavior @ time. subsequent research showed 65% of men had engaged in peeping, suggests behavior spread throughout population. congruent this, research found voyeurism common sexual law-breaking behavior in both clinical , general populations. in same study found 42% of college males had never been convicted of crime had watched others in sexual situations. earlier study indicates 54% of men have voyeuristic fantasies, , 42% have tried voyeurism. in national study of sweden found 7.7% of population (both men , women) had engaged in voyeurism @ point. believed voyeurism occurs 150 times more police reports indicate. same study indicates there high levels of co-occurrence between voyeurism , exhibitionism, finding 63% of voyeurs report exhibitionist behavior.

characteristics

due prevalence of voyeurism in society, people engage in voyeuristic behaviors diverse. however, there trends regarding engage in voyeurism. these statistics apply qualify voyeurs under definition of dsm, , not broader modern concept of voyeurism discussed earlier in article.

early research indicated voyeurs more mentally healthy other groups paraphilias. compared other groups studied, found voyeurs unlikely alcoholics or drug users. more recent research shows that, compared general population, voyeurs moderately more have psychological problems, use alcohol , drugs, , have higher sexual interest generally. study shows voyeurs have greater number of sexual partners per year, , more have had same-sex partner general populations. both older , newer research found voyeurs typically have later age of first sexual intercourse. however, other research found no difference in sexual history between voyeurs , non-voyeurs. voyeurs not exhibitionists tend higher socioeconomic status show exhibitionist behavior.

research shows that, paraphilias, voyeurism more common in men in women. however, research has found men , women both report same likelihood hypothetically engage in voyeurism. there appears greater gender difference when presented opportunity perform voyeurism. there little research done on voyeurism in women, little known on subject. 1 of few studies deals case study of woman had schizophrenia. limits degree can generalize normal populations.

current perspectives

lovemap theory suggests voyeurism exists because looking @ naked others shifts ancillary sexual behavior, primary sexual act. results in displacement of sexual desire making act of watching primary means of sexual satisfaction.

voyeurism has been linked obsessive–compulsive disorder (ocd). when treated same approach ocd, voyeuristic behaviors decrease.

treatment
professional treatment

historically voyeurism has been treated in variety of ways. psychoanalytic, group psychotherapy , shock aversion approaches have been attempted limited success. there evidence shows pornography can used form of treatment voyeurism. based on idea countries pornography censorship have high amounts of voyeurism. additionally shifting voyeurs voyeuristic behavior, looking @ graphic pornography, looking @ nudes in playboy has been used treatment. these studies show pornography can used means of satisfying voyeuristic desires without breaking law.

voyeurism has been treated mix of anti-psychotics , antidepressants. patient in case study had multitude of other mental health problems. intense pharmaceutical treatment may not required voyeurs.

there has been success in treating voyeurism through using treatment methods obsessive compulsive disorder. there have been multiple instances of successful treatment of voyeurism through putting patients on fluoxetine , treating voyeuristic behavior compulsion.