Froteurism: symptoms and treatment

Have you ever been in a place where there was a large crowd of people and noticed someone rubbing their genitals against you? Have you traveled on public transport and suddenly felt like a person was getting too close to your body to touch you? These types of behaviors that, at first glance, seem so unusual, unfortunately, are not so unusual. It is called smearing or smearing and usually causes a very unpleasant sensation in the victims.

Seeking pleasure by rubbing intimate parts with another person in a pathological way is a typical behavioral pattern of smearers. or froteurists. Of course, not all people who carry it out can be considered as such. Below we explain what the main characteristics of this type of sexual paraphilia are and what the possible treatments are.

What is froteurism?

When we talk about froteurism we are referring to a paraphilic disorder according to the DSM – V. This type of disorder is characterized by the presence of fantasies, impulses or sexual behaviors through the use of an unusual object or situation to obtain pleasure.

Specifically, in rubbing, what is unconventional would be the action, fantasy or uncontrollable desire to rub or touch another person without their consent. However, For it to be considered pathological, it must complete a period of at least 6 months. And, the individual must have some of these aspects:

Fulfilling uncontrollable desires to touch or touch another person without their permission.Sexual fantasies cause discomfort which is clinically significant. Sexual desire causes impairment in work, social or other areas of functioning.

The idea of ​​maintaining that physical contact without the consent of the other person along with their reaction is what arouses the excitement of the smearer. The areas of the body towards which friction is directed are usually linked to sexuality, such as the breasts or genitals. Besides, The memory of that situation will be used later to masturbate.

There are those who engage in this type of behavior, but it is not uncontrollable nor does it cause significant discomfort. They do it punctually and for other reasons. Furthermore, their greatest source of sexual arousal does not occur in this context.

It is important to mention that Involuntary friction or physical contact with a partner, or with a stranger, does not imply the presence of this paraphilic disorder. Thus, for it to be considered pathological, it must be sought voluntarily and without the other person’s authorization or when the fantasies cause clinically significant discomfort or a deterioration in the person’s daily life.

What are froteuristas like?

The profile of a froteurist It is usually a male who begins to show this type of behavior during his adolescence. In some cases, they usually present traits of shyness, frustration or feelings of inferiority. Other important features are the following:

Acting without the consent of the other person.Intense and recurrent sexual arousal.His behavior is not part of an erotic prelude.High sexual desire for rubbing your genitals or touching someone else’s.Acting in crowded situations to go unnoticed.They generally do not consult a specialist.Uncontrollable desires or fantasies cause significant discomfort. This type of behavior usually decreases after the age of 25.

Treatment

In most cases, The person with frouterism or any other type of paraphilic disorder does not seek help and When he does it, it is because he feels great guilt.

There are different forms of treatment. In cognitive therapy, for example, the person’s beliefs are evaluated to modify them through cognitive restructuring. Hence, it is important to take into account what meaning the person gives to that behavior and the circumstances that lead to it, in addition to analyzing their fantasies. From psychoanalysis, emphasis is placed on the person’s position before the law, their relationship with eroticism and their shyness, among other aspects.

To conclude, mention that awareness of the disorder is essential for its treatment. And although it often goes unnoticed, this does not mean that it does not cause problems. In fact, In some places froteurism is considered a crime.

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