paraphilia
Unusual sexual fixation
Paraphilia is sexual arousal from atypical objects, situations, or individuals—fetishes, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and the like.
The term is clinical, used in psychology and psychiatry to categorize sexual interests outside conventional patterns.
Whether a paraphilia constitutes a disorder depends on whether it causes distress or harm: The DSM distinguishes paraphilias from paraphilic disorders.
Fixation on specific objects
- voyeurismErotic observation without consent
- exhibitionismUrge to expose oneself
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- masochismPleasure derived from suffering
transvestism · DSM · diagnosis · sexology · psychiatry · pathology · disorder · atypical
Irresistible urge to act
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- arousalStirring to heightened state
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
conditioning · imprinting · fantasy · urge · impulse · sublimation · repression · etiology
Mark of dishonor
- forbiddenNot allowed
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- illicitProhibited by law
unmentionable · censure · ostracism · scandal · deviance · perversion · transgression · morality
Tight twisted spot
- fetishIrrational devotion to something
- BDSMErotic power dynamics
- eroticismSexual desire's aesthetic quality
- desireIntense wanting
attraction · preference · orientation · libido · gratification · fantasy · roleplay · objectification
fetishism
Fixation on specific objects
- voyeurismErotic observation without consent
- exhibitionismUrge to expose oneself
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
masochism · transvestism · DSM · diagnosis · sexology · psychiatry · pathology · disorder · atypical · arousal
compulsion
Irresistible urge to act
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- arousalStirring to heightened state
stimulus · conditioning · imprinting · fantasy · urge · impulse · sublimation · repression · etiology · trauma
stigma
Mark of dishonor
illicit · unmentionable · censure · ostracism · scandal · deviance · perversion · transgression · morality · guilt
kink
Tight twisted spot
- fetishIrrational devotion to something
- BDSMErotic power dynamics
- eroticismSexual desire's aesthetic quality
desire · attraction · preference · orientation · libido · gratification · fantasy · roleplay · objectification · dominance