■ Coercive paraphilias are invasive, in that they involve unwilling recipients of behavior such as voyeurism or exhibitionism. Coercive acts may harm their targets, who may be psychologically traumatized by the experience.
■ Exhibitionism, obscene phone calls, voyeurism, frotteur — ism, zoophilia, and necrophilia are all varieties of coercive paraphilias.
■ Exhibitionism is behavior in which an individual, almost always a male, exposes his genitals to an involuntary observer.
■ People who exhibit themselves are usually young adult males who have strong feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Sexual relationships, either past or present, are likely to be unsatisfactory.
■ Gratification is usually obtained when the reaction to exhibitionism is shock, disgust, or fear. Physical assault is generally not associated with exhibitionism.
■ The characteristics of individuals who make obscene phone calls are similar to those of exhibitionists.
■ Although there may be an element of hostility in obscene phone calls, the caller rarely follows up his verbal assault with a physical attack on his victim.
■ Voyeurism is obtaining sexual pleasure from looking at the exposed bodies or sexual activities of others, usually strangers.
■ People inclined toward voyeurism, typically males, are often sociosexually underdeveloped, with strong feelings of inferiority and inadequacy.
■ Video voyeurism is a form of voyeurism in which video cameras are used to surreptitiously invade the personal privacy of unaware victims.
■ Frotteurism involves a person obtaining sexual pleasure by pressing or rubbing against another person in a crowded public place.
■ Zoophilia involves sexual contact between humans and animals; it occurs most commonly as a transitory experience of young people to whom a sexual partner is inaccessible or forbidden.
■ Necrophilia involves obtaining sexual gratification by viewing or having intercourse with a corpse.