The Acts of Paraphilias - Assignment Example

Paraphilias refer to erotic acts considered as deviant, unnatural, extraordinary, abhorrent, unconventional or weird. Even so, Thomas (2009) observes a problem in defining these acts because those deemed unusual and deviant to one person could be usual and acceptable to another. For a sexual practice to truly qualify as a paraphilia, it should encompass an obsessive preoccupation with behaviour or object for sexual gratification. There are many main and rare categories of paraphilias, but this paper analyses three of the main categories.

According to Thomas (2009), sexual fetishism entails one fixing attention to an object not necessarily considered sexual and then using the object compulsively for sexual gratification. It would be accompanied by erotic acts with someone else or masturbation for sexual gratification. Some of the fetish items include shoes, inflatables, photographs and masks among many others. Secondly, transvestism, also referred to as cross-dressing, involves the wearing of garments typifying the opposite gender for sexual excitement. It is common in males. This aims at intensifying sexual excitement during intercourse with a partner through partial feminine dressing. It could also be some form of gender identity problem when the male adorns full female regalia. Finally, exhibitionism involves the display of one’s private parts to other people who have not been invited to such a display and who find this to be offensive. While men have their penis and buttocks as their private parts, women have vaginas, breasts and buttocks.

Society takes a keen interest in understanding these behaviours because they conflict with the set social standards. If one enjoys sexual behaviours considered by society as pathological, it could result in distress. Some of these paraphiliac behaviours could be dangerous or could even harm others. Legal problems could arise when dealing with paraphiliacs who do not appear dangerous in themselves. Thomas (2009) observes that some fetishists could resort to stealing objects perceived as interesting. Therefore, understanding these unusual sexual behaviours would be important in protecting society at large.

Indeed, there is treatment for paraphilia. However, a majority of paraphiliacs would be poorly motivated to seek treatment. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that no cure exists for this abnormality and patients would only be motivated to control their urges to reduce distress and likelihood of harming others (Thomas 2009). The psychological techniques that have been used include cognitive behavioural approaches such as relapse prevention approaches which have been noted to be the most effective. Systematic desensitization involves teaching how to relax and taking the paraphiliacs through anxiety-provoking situations until such persons learn to relax when under such conditions. The satiation therapy involves the person masturbating to conventional fantasies and then again to undesirable fantasies. The low responsiveness and decreased sexual drive in the second attempt would make the experience less exciting, eventually causing the behaviour to be less desirable. Pharmacotherapy involves the use of various drugs to reduce the urge to get involved in paraphiliac behaviours. The resultant reduction in undesirable behaviour could be sustained even after withdrawing the drugs. Testosterone-suppressing drugs and antidepressants have been noted to give desirable results. Additionally, surgery has been used to treat this condition, including castration and the introduction of foreign objects into the body. Ultimately, there exists no way to change one’s sexual desires, but motivation and commitment to treatment and having normal adult sexual outlets serve as the most effective solutions.