paraphilia

human behavior

Also known as: sexual deviation

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Paraphilias are recurrent, sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors that involve unusual or socially unacceptable sexual practices. These are not automatically considered mental disorders. A paraphilic disorder is diagnosed if the individual experiences distress about their sexual interest, or if their behavior involves harm or risk of harm to others, particularly those unable to give consent.123

Examples of paraphilias include:
* Fetishism: Sexual preference for inanimate objects.1
* Transvestism: Achieving sexual excitement through wearing clothes of the opposite sex.1
* Exhibitionism: Repeated exposure of genitals to strangers for sexual excitement.1
* Voyeurism: Repeatedly observing others' sexual activity for arousal.1
* Sadomasochism: Achieving sexual excitement through pain, humiliation, or bondage.1
* Pedophilia: Sexual interest in or acts with prepubescent children.13

The causes of paraphilias are generally unknown, and treatments vary in efficacy.1

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mental disorder
Paraphilic disorders
Paraphilias, or sexual deviations, are defined as unusual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that are recurrent and sexually arousing. In fetishism, inanimate objects (e.g., shoes) are the person’s sexual preference and means of sexual arousal. In transvestism, the recurrent wearing
Read More
Paraphilias, or sexual deviations, are defined as unusual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that are recurrent and sexually arousing. In fetishism, inanimate objects (e.g., shoes) are the person’s sexual preference and means of sexual arousal. In transvestism, the recurrent wearing
Read More

pedophilia
…the DSM-5 explicitly distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders, recognizing for the first time that individuals may exhibit or engage in a range of atypical sexual interests, desires, practices, or behaviours that do not, in themselves, constitute mental illnesses. Under this diagnostic scheme, a paraphilia is recognized as a paraphilic…
Read More
…the DSM-5 explicitly distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders, recognizing for the first time that individuals may exhibit or engage in a range of atypical sexual interests, desires, practices, or behaviours that do not, in themselves, constitute mental illnesses. Under this diagnostic scheme, a paraphilia is recognized as a paraphilic…
Read More

Sigmund Freud
Sexuality and development
Sexual development, however, is prone to troubling maladjustments preventing this outcome if the various stages are unsuccessfully negotiated. Fixation of sexual aims or objects can occur at any particular moment, caused either by an actual trauma or the blockage of a powerful libidinal urge. If…
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Sexual development, however, is prone to troubling maladjustments preventing this outcome if the various stages are unsuccessfully negotiated. Fixation of sexual aims or objects can occur at any particular moment, caused either by an actual trauma or the blockage of a powerful libidinal urge. If…
Read More