Mohawk College Psychology Assignment: Paraphilia Types and Discussions

This assignment, completed by Amarjit Singh from Mohawk College, delves into the topic of paraphilia, a condition where sexual arousal depends on unusual and thrilling fantasies or behaviors. The assignment begins by defining paraphilia and outlining its central features, such as repetitive urges and behaviors that interfere with daily functioning or sexual relations. It then describes two specific types of paraphilia: Frotteurism, characterized by sexual gratification from rubbing against non-consenting individuals, and Pedophilia, involving sexual attraction to children. The descriptions include causes, symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and treatment approaches for each disorder. Finally, the assignment addresses the question of whether rape or sexual assault should be included in the DSM system under paraphilias, providing a discussion on the complexities of this issue and the concerns surrounding the medicalization of criminal behavior. References from APA are included in the end.

Amarjit Singh
000770421
Mohawk College

• Define the term paraphilia.
A paraphilia is a state under which a person’s sexual stimulation and satisfaction entirely
depends on imagining about getting involved in sexual conduct that is unusual and thrilling.
• Outline the central features of all paraphilias.
Some of the common things about paraphilas is that they all have urges, repetitive and common
sexual fantasies or behaviors. All these characteristics of paraphilas must take place for a
significant duration and subsequently interfere with either everyday functioning or sexual
relations if the diagnosis is made. This can be interpreted as, they actually recognize the signs
and symptoms as negatively affecting their lives but feel that the situation is out of hand.
.
• There are many different types of paraphilias. Describe the following types of paraphilias:
Frotteurism and Pedophilia.
The types of paraphilia are follows:
 Fetishism
 Exhibitionism
 Voyeurism
 Sexual sadism
 Frotteurism pedophilia
 Transvestic fetishism
 Sexual masochism
Frotteurism: - Frotteurism is a condition by which somebody gets sexual desire or
satisfaction from continuous rubbing, particularly their private parts, against others in a crowd.
Causes
So far there is no specific scientific agreement on the origin of frotteurism. Many specialists
considers this behavior to be emanating from accidental or random touching of other’s genital
which some find sexually attractive. This becomes more addictive with continuous behavior of
this nature.

Symptoms
The only way the condition can be clinically analyzed can be achieved through the signs meeting
diagnostic standards as recorded in the professional's handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders.
These symptoms include:
• When a person acts on their sexual urges and desires or fantasies as this causes
significant distress and can be disruptive in their everyday work.
• Recurring, extreme, or sexually stimulating imaginations, sexual needs, or a conduct that
include getting into contact with another person who does not consent to the rubbing.
 There are higher chances of males getting involved in Frotteurism compared to females
given that they are regularly the victim of such acts. Mostly people involved in frottage
ranges from the age of 15 to 25 years after which the behavior declines.
 Diagnosis
Most individuals suffering from Frotteurism rarely pursue expert assistance; nevertheless persons
with the condition could involuntarily come to mental health organization due to a court
direction. The analysis is recognized in a consultation between the individual blamed for
frotteurism and the mental health expert (psychiatrist). During interview, the person admits that
getting into contact with others is a favored or special way of sexual satisfaction. Because the
answer can carry criminal penalties, the condition is underdiagnosed, and its commonness is
fundamentally unknown. Though in some circumstances other individuals aside from the suspect
may be questioned, including witnesses or the casualty.

Treatments
In order to have a successful treatment, the frotteurs is obligated to change current forms of
conduct. This first step is problematic for many individuals with this condition to take.
Behavior therapy is frequently utilized to attempt to cure frotteurism. The frotteurs should study
how to regulate the instinct to touch people who don’t consent to this.
Medroxyprogesterone, a female hormone, at a times is recommended reduce sexual need.
Frotteurism is considered a criminal deed in various jurisdictions. It is commonly categorized as
a minor offense. Therefore, legal consequences are frequently minor. It is difficult to indict
frotteurs as it is hard to establish the intention of touching. Most of the time the accused claims
that the touching was unplanned.
The prognosis for removing frotteurism is less effective since most of the frotteurs do not want to
turn their back on their behavior. Frotteurism involves people who do not consent to it as a result
there may be embarrassment and this behavior is against the law hence deterring them.
Prevention
Most specialists found that giving direction as to conduct that is customarily appropriate
will stop the further behaviors including Frotteurism. The beginning of some cases of frotteurism
can be a genuinely unintentional interaction that becomes related with sexual satisfaction. It is
almost impossible to foresee that such conduct will take place.
Pedophilia: - Pedophilic disorder is categorized by recurrent, extreme sexually exciting
fantasies, or urges, conduct comprising of children (commonly 13 years old or younger).
• Pedophiles can be engrossed to young girls, undeveloped boys, or even both, and they
may be engrossed only to adults or to children.
• Doctors establish pedophilia when individuals feel seriously worried or function less
well because of their attraction to young people or when acting on their urge.

• Treatment includes future solution therapy and medications that change the sex
motivation and decrease testosterone heights.
Pedophilia is a type of paraphilia this is because it can lead to injury on others hence
taken as a condition.
Pedophilia is highly shared among men compare to women.
Diagnosis
• A doctor’s evaluation based on specific criteria
Doctors diagnose pedophilia when
• People suffer from recurrent, extreme sexually arousing imaginations, needs, or conducts
containing a child or children (commonly aged 13 years or under).
• People feel significantly troubled or become less able to do their work properly( with
their family, at work or while interacting with friends) especially when they have given
in to their urges.
• People who are aged 16 years and above and are five or more years older than the
juvenile who is the item of the imaginations or behaviors. (An exception is an older
adolescent who has an ongoing affiliation with a 12 or 13 year old.)
• They have had the condition for 6 months or more.
Treatments
• Psychotherapy
• Drugs
Pedophilia condition could be cured through a planned group or individual therapy and using
drugs that can change the sex drive of the affected person. This will ultimately reduce the
testosterone levels.
Pedophilia can be treated with long-term individual or group therapy and drugs that alter the
sex drive and reduce testosterone levels. Treatment results normally vary and best outcome can
be achieved when participation is out of heart and the individual gets training on social skills

and solving other problems through treatment such as depression or drug abuse. Treatment
sought before one is arrested or legal action is taken against them may be effective.
By putting pedophiles behind bars or any other appropriate institution does little to change
their sexual urges. Though some pedophiles imprisoned who are committed to the mentioned
treatment (including drugs) can avoid pedoliphic behaviors and be taken back into the society.
Drugs
Doctors in the United States usually use the following drug:
• Medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is injected into a muscle
Medroxyprogesterone (a progestin) is alike to the female hormone progesterone.
An alternative is leuprolide.
Medroxyprogesterone and leuprolide halt the pitiuary gland from motioning the testicles to
yield testosterone. They thus decrease testosterone levels and the sex motivation. Doctors
occasionally do blood examinations to observe the impact of these drugs on liver task, just like
other supplementary examinations (comprising of bone thickness tests and blood examinations
to quantify testosterone heights). It has not been established as to why these drugs are
beneficial to women who are pedophiles.
Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also be
supportive. This can help regulate sexual needs and imaginations. They also reduce the sex
motivation and may lead to symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Drug usage is more real when it is joined with therapy and preparation in social skills.
• Do you think that rape or sexual assault should have been included in the DSM system
under paraphilias? Why or why not?
The important restriction to the present diagnostic standards for paraphilias is
misunderstanding concerning their association with sexual criminality and offending. Not
all sex lawbreakers suffer from paraphilia and many individuals with paraphilias rarely
commits crime (Federoff 2009). Some paraphilias – such as voyeurism, paedophilia and
exhibitionism – are prohibited if ratified, though it isn’t unlawful to experience
imaginations or needs to act. Nonetheless many other methods of sexual conduct that
would be categorized as paraphilias – like coprophilia, fetishism and cross-dressing are
not unlawful, though several may look strange or induce hatred.
Some have protested to the medicalization of illegal crimes and the possible
misappropriation of psychiatry in establishing mental disorder in sexual criminals to
legitimize long-standing natural psychiatric pledge to defend the community (Frances

2011). The DSM-5 progress team deliberated upon adding a fresh disorder (paraphilic
coercive disorder) for individuals who went through recurring and extreme sexual
stimulation from sexual intimidation and pursued sexual stimulation from compelling sex
on two or more unwilling people on separate instances (American Psychiatric
Association 2013a). The application was rejected on the grounds that it would
unreasonably alter the offense of repetitive rape into a mental disorder (Zonana 2011).
Reference
Frances, A, First, MB (2011) Paraphilia NOS, nonconsent: not ready for the
courtroom. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 39: 555–
61.Google Scholar | PubMed
Federoff, JP, Marshall, WL (2010) Paraphilias. In Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for
Refractory Cases: Turning Failure into Success (edsMcKay, D, Abramowitz, JS, Taylor, S):
369–84 American Psychological Association.Google Scholar