Variations in Sexual Behaviour How defined?  Statistical definition: based on incidence, but no explanations  Sociological definition: deviation from a social norm (which society?)  Psychological definition 3 Criteria Discomfort – For Whom? Self Discomfort – For Whom? Self Inefficiency – Vague Inefficiency – Vague Bizarre - Cultural Bizarre - Cultural

 DSM: Urges (or fantasies or behaviours) are intense, and result in significant distress or impairment in functioning  Hyde: harm to self/others  Normal-Abnormal Continuum: if necessary for sexual satisfaction  abnormal  Paraphilias: unusual, obsessive and compulsive, some (not all) illegal  Not all variations are compulsions  Compulsive Sexual Behaviour: no impulse control, socially inappropriate, interfere with functioning and are risks to health. Some are paraphilias, some are normal but done compulsively

4 Step Process: 1. Preoccupation (can’t think of anything else) 2. Rituals: Preceed sexual act, lead to it 3. Compulsive Sexual Behaviour (feeling loss of control) 4. Despair: Feeling very low after

 Fetishism: object (material and/or form). Exclusivity, sine qua non  Transvestism: cross-dressing on occasion, or like a fetish – mostly men (majority married, middle class)  Sadomasochism: pain an intrinsic, salient part of sexual behaviour  Sadist: likes to inflict pain  Masochist: likes to receive pain  (S-M): e.g. spanking, whipping Complementary

 Bondage and Discipline (B-D): pain not necessarily involved  Dominance and Submission (D-S): mostly about power  Master & Slave (large range)  Dominatrix (whole industry) humiliation, insults, baby role humiliation, insults, baby role  Mutual agreement, scripted costumes, props, restraining devices, dungeons

 Voyeurism (FR.: to look): peeping Tom nudes, genitals, sex acts nudes, genitals, sex acts  Exhibitionism: flasher – typically male but some female exhibitionistic behaviours are socially sanctioned  Nymphomania (female)  Satyriasis (male) Criteria? Age & gender differences (e.g. women multiple orgasms) many nymphomaniacs can’t have orgasms Criteria? Age & gender differences (e.g. women multiple orgasms) many nymphomaniacs can’t have orgasms  Asphyxiophilia: oxygen deprivation  arousal, more intense orgasms (due to risk?) Hypersexuality sexual “addiction”

 Coprophilia  Urophilia: golden shower  Necrophilia  Zoophilia  Cybersex: anonymous, convenient, accessible, easy 24/7 porn, chat rooms, bulletin boards

Causes Not completely established early modeling early modeling conditioning conditioning lack of social skills lack of social skills biological factors biological factors psychiatric conditions psychiatric conditionsTreatment surgical castration: unethical, not very effective surgical castration: unethical, not very effective hormonal “castration”: androgen antagonists e.g. medroxyprogesterone (side effects) synthetic GnRH hormonal “castration”: androgen antagonists e.g. medroxyprogesterone (side effects) synthetic GnRH antidepressants antidepressants psychotherapy (individual and group) most successful: cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy (individual and group) most successful: cognitive-behavioural aversive conditioning aversive conditioning 12 step programs 12 step programs