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Exhibitionistic Disorder: Behavior and Its Causes


Exhibitionistic Disorder is a type of paraphilia that involves recurrent and intense sexual arousal from exposing one's genitals to an unsuspecting person. This disorder can be distressing for both the individual with the condition and their victims. In this blog post, we will discuss the causes of exhibitionistic disorder, its signs and symptoms, and its subtypes.

Definition of Exhibitionistic Disorder

According to the DSM-V, exhibitionistic disorder involves a pattern of recurrent and intense sexual arousal from exposing one's genitals to an unsuspecting person. The exhibitionist must have acted on these impulses with a non-consenting individual or someone they've never met. The exhibitionist condition subtypes are based on the age or physical maturity of the non-consenting individuals to whom the person wishes to reveal their genitals.

Subtypes of Exhibitionistic Disorder

There are three subtypes of exhibitionistic disorder:
  1. Sexually aroused by exposing genitals to prepubertal children
  2. Sexually aroused by exposing genitals to physically mature individuals
  3. Sexually aroused by exposing genitals to prepubertal children and to physically mature individuals
Most exhibitionists are men, and the disorder usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. The frequent targets of exhibitionists are infants, teenagers, and women. The act of exposing oneself is usually planned, and some exhibitionists seek out victims who may react with fear or disgust, further isolating themselves socially.

Causes of Exhibitionistic Disorder

Several factors can contribute to the development of exhibitionistic disorder, including:
  • Comorbid psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar or anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders
  • Antisocial personality disorders
  • Other Paraphilic disorders like voyeurism and interest in pedophilia
  • Environmental factors like sexual and emotional abuse during childhood, being consumed with sexual thoughts in childhood, hyper-sexuality, and sexual impulsivity
  • Neuropsychiatric conditions like a history of trauma, medications, and substance use
  • Subjective distress (guilt, shame, intense sexual frustration, loneliness)
  • Psychosocial impairment
Signs and Symptoms of Exhibitionism

The following are signs and symptoms of exhibitionistic disorder:
  • The behaviors occur over a time period of six months.
  • The behavior is repeated, and the result is extreme sexual arousal when showing the genitals to strangers.
  • Compulsive masturbation
  • Compulsive use of pornography
  • Illegal or atypical sexual behavior and fantasy
  • Urges and propensity to act out sexually
Conclusion

Exhibitionistic disorder is a type of paraphilia that can cause distress to both the individual with the condition and their victims. Understanding the causes and symptoms of this disorder is essential to provide appropriate treatment and support to those affected by it. If you or someone you know is experiencing exhibitionistic disorder, it's important to seek professional help.
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