Voyeurism
is a disorders of sexual arousal. It involves the act of observing
unsuspecting individuals, usually strangers, who may be naked
or in the process of disrobing. Even engaging in sexual activity.
Masturbation usually occurs during, or shortly after, voyeuristic
activities. A variation of voyeurism entails listening to erotic
conversations; e.g. telephone sex. The main criteria for the diagnosis
is:
Repeatedly, for at least 6 months, having intense sexual desires,
fantasies or behaviors concerning the act of watching an unsuspecting
person who is naked, disrobing or having sex.
This activity causes
clinically important distress or impairs work, social or personal
functioning.
Voyeurism
may co-occur with another paraphilia, exhibitionism.
Onset is typically
before the age of fifteen, and the individual may become so invested
in the voyeuristic activity as to have this as the sole sexual
behavior. This often is a chronic condition.
In current
Society a certain amount of voyeurism is considered normal, such
as watching
x-rated movies, as well as graphic magazines. You may have even
been sexually aroused when you noticed by accident someone who
was undressing, naked, or having sex. However, the key factor
here is that unless you seek out these experiences, you are not
a true voyeur
None
Some disorders
have similar or even the same symptoms. The clinician, therefore,
in his/her diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the
following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish
a precise diagnosis.
There are
many different theories related to voyeuristic behavior, many
stemming from the psychoanalytic tradition. It has been suggested
that childhood trauma (e.g., sexual abuse) or significant childhood
experiences may manifest itself in voyeuristic behavior.
Treatment:
Treatment
typically involves psychotherapy to uncover and attempt to work
through the underlying cause of the behavior. Behavioral
and Group
Therapy may also be helpful for those who are motivated to
change. Success rates however, are not known.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [
See Therapy Section ] & [ Sex
Therapy ]:
Cognitive,
Behavior, and Psychoanalytic Therapies are used to treat individuals
with paraphilia's.
Pharmacotherapy [ See
Psychopharmacology Section ] :
Some prescription
medicines are used to help decrease the compulsive thinking associated
with the paraphilia's. Hormones are prescribed occasionally for
individuals who experience intrusive sexual thoughts, urges, or
abnormally frequent sexual behaviors. Almost always the treatment
must be long-term if it is to be effective.
