Psychology

Paraphillias are problems associated with the control of impulses. They are characterized by recurring and powerful sexual urges, behavior, and fantasies. These urges are directed towards unusual objects, circumstances and situations that are not regarded by others as sexually arousing. Paraphilia have got very distracting psychological, social and occupational effects on the individual.

Types of Paraphillias
There are different types of Paraphillias. These include Pedophilia, Exhibitionism, Fetishism, Frotteurism, Sexual masochism, Sexual sadism, Voyeurism to name just but a few. Exhibitionism, as a type of paraphilia is characterized by sexual arousing fantasies that are very powerful, urges and behavior that make individuals to expose their genitalia to unsuspecting strangers. It is an indecent and illegal exposure though no harmful advances are made. The person may do masturbation in full view of the stranger. Fetishism is the other type of paraphilia. Rathus (1993), states that it involves sexual urges that are directed towards nonliving objects. An individual gets sexually aroused by touching an object or wearing the clothes of another person. Fetish may be integrated into sexual activity with a willing partner.

The other type of paraphilia is called frotteurism. In Frotteurism, an individual rubs his genitals against the body of a non-consenting stranger, mostly a female. This behavior is mostly witnessed in crowded public places. Pedophilia is the other type of paraphilia whereby adults develop sexual urges and fantasies and engage in illegal sexual activities with children below puberty age. It involves undressing a child, forcing the child to watch the abuser as he masturbates, touching the sexual organs of a child and performing illegal sexual acts with the child.

If a patient presents himself to me, as a physician, suffering from one of the diverse paraphillias, for example frotteurism, there are several treatment methods that I could apply. Behavioral and psychoanalytic therapy is one of them. Psychotherapy would greatly reverse the emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric disorder of the patient. I would also use some medication to minimize the obsessive thinking associated with the paraphilia. MedicineNet (2010), states that hormone therapy would be very beneficial for such an individual as it minimizes intrusive sexual thoughts.

Conclusion
Paraphillias are medical conditions characterized by deviation from normal sexual behavior. It involves sexual urges directed towards unusual objects. There exist diverse forms of Paraphillias ranging from Pedophilia, Exhibitionism, Fetishism, Frotteurism, and many others. There is no cure for these behaviors though patients can be helped to put their urges under control by various treatment methods. Psychotherapy and medications are some of the treatment models that exist.