Chapter 8
Atypical Sexual Variations
What is Normal?

Statistical norm
(mean,var)
– Many behs rare
but not deviant

Social/cultural norm
– Varies lots

Non genital sex
Paraphilias
 Atypical
–
–
–
–
–
sexual patterns (APA)
Arousal to unusual S (kids, shoes, rubber)
Uncontrollable, recurrent urges (acted on)
Distressing
Problematic
Mostly men
 Harmless
v. victim-producing
Fetishism
 Arousal
to inanimate objects (high-heeled
shoes, stockings, rubber)
– Masturbation device (almost all men)
– Varies in intensity
• Pleasurable addition
• No arousal w/o object
 Is
this normal?
Class Data (N = xx, Female = xx)
Yes
No
Masturbate - NonSex
Masturbate - Clothes
Male
Yes
Masturbate - NonSex
Masturbate - Clothes
Female
Yes
What is Normal?
 Matter
of degree
– Being aroused by high-heeled shoes is not
necessarily a problem
• Uncontrollable urges
• Distressed & no satisfaction w/o object
• Harmful to self, others (burglary of women’s shoes)
Reaction Paper I: Fetishism
 How
would react if your lover revealed that
s/he had a fetish? Do you think fetishes are
‘sick’ or ‘harmless fun’? Why do you think
you feel this way?
 PLEASE
TURN IN AFTER CLASS!
Transvestitism
 Aroused
–
–
–
–
by dressing like women
Married heterosexuals
No gender confusion
Likely to be oldest/only children close w/ Mom
Petticoat punishment
Exhibitionism
 Arousal
exposing genitals to unwilling
women (risk of being caught)
– Young, single, sexually repressed men
– Problems w/ women
• Hostility, power themes
• Victims feel violated
– Rarely initiates sexual contact
• 10% rapists start off as flashers
Causes
 Biology
– No brain abnormalities
– Hormone imbalances (exhibitionists high T)
 Psychoanalytical
– Defend against uncon fears (castration anxiety)
– Symbolically assert penis
 Learning
– Associate object/act w/ arousal or reward
during childhood
Masochism
 Aroused
by pain and/or humiliation
– Spanked, bound, domination, lick boots, urinated
on, by sexual sadist (S&M)
• Elaborate rituals
• Avoid injury (pain, not damage)
–
–
–
–
Mostly men but women also
Most married, successful & prosperous
No relation w/ sexual orientation
Pain arousing only in sexual context
Class Data (N = xx, Female = xx)
Kinsey (1953)
Engaged in Masochististic
Yes
~25%
No
~75%
Male
Yes
Female
Yes
Engaged in Masochististic
Maybe or definitely
Try Masochististic
Masochism: Causes
 Psychoanalytical
– Guilt over unconscious desire for power
– Punish ourselves
– Guilt over normal sex - domination freeing
 Not
supported
– Masochistic desires far more common (4:1)
– Start masochistic role -> sadistic
– Guilt about S&M, not normal sexual desires
Masochism: Causes
 Biological
Opponent Processes
– physiological reactions causes equal and
opposite reaction
– Pain -> pleasure
 Not
supported
– Masochism too rare in general population
– Cultural variation large
Masochism: Causes
 Escape
From Self
– Modern Western culture stressful
– Reduce self-awareness releases stress
– Pain, humiliation focuses attention on
immediate experience
• Forget self & worries of normal life
• Break from stress of daily life (reprieve)
– Mistress take me away
Paraphilias
 Many
others - please see text
 Therapy - please be sure to also read about
how paraphilias are treated
Group Activity II: Paraphilias
 Groups
of 4-5 (mixed-gender) discuss the
following questions
– Summarize As
– Present to class
 PLEASE
TURN IN AFTER CLASS!
Group Activity II: Paraphilias
 1.
Why do paraphilias occur primarily
among men? Is there gender bias regarding
behaviors labeled “deviant”? (e.g., are
women who dress like men deviant?)
 2.
Why do you think women have more
masochistic fantasies than men & men
engage in more masochistic behavior?
Conclusions
 What
is (ab)normal is hard to define
– Rooted in current culture
– Harmful to self or others key
 Sexual
interest, behaviors vary widely
 Many theoretical approaches attempt to
explain this variability