Voyeurism: what does it consist of?

In the field of sex and sexuality, variety is guaranteed, and not all of us like the same thing or are excited by the same thing. Paraphilias are defined as sexual arousal when faced with unusual situations or activities. However, when there is suffering or harm caused to others, we no longer talk about paraphilias but about paraphilic disorders in which voyeurism can be framed.

It is important to differentiate voyeurism here as a (non-pathological) paraphilia, which consists of observing another person (or group of people) while naked or during sexual relations, because this generates excitement, from a paraphilic disorder. In the second case, there is suffering, discomfort or interference in the person’s life.

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the prevalence of voyeurism disorder is unknown. However, according to studies based on non-clinical samples of voyeuristic sexual acts, the maximum possible lifetime prevalence of this disorder is 12% in men and 4% in women.

Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders

Voyeurism as a disorder is classified in the DSM-5 as a paraphilic disorder. It is important here to differentiate paraphilic disorders from paraphilias.

Paraphilia is defined as “a pattern of sexual behavior toward atypical objects, situations, activities, or individuals.” On the other hand, paraphilic disorder already implies a psychological alteration. As stated in the manual itself, paraphilias are not mental disorders in themselves. Paraphilia would be necessary, but not sufficient to have a paraphilic disorder.

In principle, paraphilia would not automatically justify clinical intervention. So, The criterion for talking about a paraphilic disorder will be suffering/harm for the individual. or that its satisfaction generates harm or risk of harm to others.

Voyeurism: what does it consist of?

As we said, Voyeurism is classified as a paraphilic disorder. However, in common language the concept of voyeurism as paraphilia and as a paraphilic disorder is often used interchangeably. That is, voyeurism is often spoken of as the tendency to experience sexual excitement when observing strangers naked or having sex (without suffering or interference in daily life).

However, when this tendency causes significant discomfort in the person or a deterioration in their daily functioning, then we speak of voyeurism as a paraphilic disorder, which is what we will address in this article.

We also speak of a paraphilic disorder when, even though there is no suffering in the person who manifests it, they have fulfilled their sexual desires (or fantasies) by observing another person naked and/or having sex without their consent. That is, without her consent to observe.

Voyeurism as a paraphilic disorder: criteria

According to the DSM-5, the criteria for diagnosing voyeurism disorder are as follows:

Arousal derived from observing others

There must be produced, for a minimum period of 6 months, a intense and recurrent sexual excitement, which derives from the observation of an unsuspecting person who is naked, undressing, or engaged in sexual activity.

This excitement is manifested by fantasies, uncontrollable desires or behaviors.

Non-consent of the observed/suffering

Furthermore, the subject with voyeurism has fulfilled such uncontrollable sexual desires with a person who has not given consent, or Uncontrollable desires or fantasies cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Coming of age

Finally, another criterion for diagnosing a voyeurism disorder is that the person who experiences excitement and/or acts with an uncontrollable desire is at least 18 years old.

Voyeurism in ICD-10

Voyeurism too It is found as an official diagnosis in the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases). But in this case the name it receives is another: scoptophilia. In order to be diagnosed with scoptophilia, according to the ICD-10, the general criteria for disorders of sexual inclination (paraphilic disorders) must first be met, which are:

The person experiences sexual impulses and fantasies of a recurring and intense nature that involve unusual objects and activities. The subject acts according to these impulses or feels marked discomfort because of them. This tendency occurs for at least 6 months (the temporal criterion matches the DSM-5).

Scoptophilia or voyeurism disorder

In the specific case of voyeurism or scoptophilia, a persistent or recurrent inclination to look at people engaged in sexual or intimate activities. These include: undressing, having sex… Observing these types of situations produces sexual arousal and masturbation in the voyeuristic person.

Finally, another ICD-10 criterion for talking about voyeurism is that there is no desire for sexual relations with the people observed (a criterion that does not appear in the DSM-5).

In general, in everyday language, when we talk about voyeurism we are not talking about a pathology, but rather a pleasure or excitement when observing others (generally, without their knowledge) undressing or having sex. However, voyeurism can become a paraphilic disorder (voyeurism disorder or scoptophilia) when it causes suffering in the person.

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