Introduction:
The voyeuristic disorder is considered a form of the paraphilic disorder. Voyeurism is when people are sexually aroused by watching them indulge in sexual activities while unaware of it. While some people enjoy the act, some may be traumatized after observations of voyeurism. However, most people do not report significant emotional harm due to their voyeuristic experience.
Though, people with voyeuristic behavior often become concerned that their compulsive need to spy on others indicates that they may be repressing the impulse to watch people engage in sexual acts; or that their feelings about watching other people having sex make them deviant. Repeated uncontrolled behavior turns the condition into a disorder.
What Is Voyeuristic Disorder?
Voyeuristic disorder is a psychological condition that causes sufferers to develop an uncontrollable desire to watch other people in the act of being intimate, like when they are sleeping or having sex. It involves secretly observing (the act of looking at someone without their knowledge or consent) others without their permission, usually while naked or engaged in sexual activity.
According to a study with 60 college men concluded that 54 percent had voyeuristic fantasies and 42 percent had tried voyeurism (spying, peeping, or watching someone indulge in sexual behaviors, peeping when someone is taking a bath or changing clothes without their consent), suggesting that the idea more easily arouses young adults.
Though men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with voyeurism, this does not mean women do not suffer from the disorder. Some studies also concluded that about five percent of men and two percent of women experience this condition.
What Causes Voyeuristic Disorder?
The disorder can be due to any number of factors, including:
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Watching someone spy on others while they were growing up.
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Being bullied or harassed by others.
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Peers performing the same act.
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Trying to find out if someone else is seeing something that you are not.
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Being aroused by the idea of someone else being aroused.
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Excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs is also associated with voyeuristic behaviors.
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Hypersexuality (sex addiction).
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People who are suffering from OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
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Abnormal sexual drive.
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Mental health conditions like depression.
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Early childhood trauma or history of child sexual abuse.
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Incidences of watching someone undress or have sex accidentally in the past.
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Overwatching of pornographic content.
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History of paraphilic disorder or sexual disorders in the past.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Voyeuristic Disorder?
1. Strong and persistent sexual interest or urges to spy on people indulging in sexual intercourse without their consent.
2. Many people enjoy voyeurism, merely watching and being aroused by another person performing a sexual act. But this is not considered as voyeuristic disorder or voyeurism. Voyeurists (people who exhibit voyeuristic behaviors) will typically not engage in sexual activity with the person they observe.
3. Excessive voyeuristic thoughts make people distressed and unable to function or act on their urges.
4. Some alarming concerns include the following:
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Violating privacy norms in other people’s homes.
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Watch a person performing sexual activities without their consent.
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Non-consented filming or photographing another person without their permission.
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Entering an area illegally to watch people (trespass or peep in bedroom windows).
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Using binoculars to watch people without their consent.
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Feeling guilty after engaging in these behaviors.
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Unable to get satisfied or sexually aroused without watching others.
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Cannot resist voyeuristic activities even if it is affecting mental health.
What Is the Voyeuristic Disorder Diagnostic Criteria?
A qualified medical doctor (psychologist) or a licensed therapist only is eligible to confirm the diagnosis of voyeuristic disorders. Therapists diagnose the condition and conclude a person is suffering from voyeuristic disorder; only if the person feels distressed or is unable to function due to voyeuristic thoughts.
Diagnosis for the voyeuristic disorder is made when:
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There are recurrent episodes of sexual arousal by watching a person undressed, changing clothes, or engaging in sexual activities without their consent.
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These sexual urges and fantasies impair normal functioning and affect the daily activities in their lives (voyeuristic disorder psychology).
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A person finds indulging in sexual conversations interesting and often indulges in dirty talking.
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A person cannot divert sexual thoughts and urges, causing severe frustration and distress.
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The disorder has been present for more than six months.
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A person must also be at least 18 years old before being diagnosed with the voyeuristic disorder to rule out genuine sexual curiosity in children.
How to Treat Voyeuristic Disorder?
Voyeuristic disorders, just like other paraphilic disorders, can be treated with a combination of medications, psychological therapies, a combination of both, and by adopting healthy activities.
1. Medications -
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Medications like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Fluoxetine and Escitalopram are used to suppress impulsive behaviors.
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Drugs to reduce testosterone levels in the body, such as Leuprolide acetate, are also given to reduce sexual urges.
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Reduced testosterone levels also reduce the sex drive, reducing the frequency of voyeuristic behavior.
2. Psychotherapy - Therapists and psychiatrists usually use psychotherapy mechanisms to help the person become more aware of his doings and prevent him from doing something regretful and offensive in nature.
3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - This method is adopted to make the person understand why these behaviors are socially unacceptable and help cope with their sexual urges. It also helps in understanding the root cause of these behaviors.
4. Coping Mechanisms - Recognizing the condition and knowing that one needs help is the first step towards coping with the voyeuristic disorder. One should not feel ashamed of seeking help from loved ones and family members or friends. Conscious efforts to control the urges and self-reminders of the consequences are another way to cope with the disorder.
5. Practicing Sexual Abstinence - Refraining from indulging in sexual activities or taking a break from sexual activities could help divert unhealthy thoughts and reduce the symptoms of voyeuristic disorder.
6. Limit or Quit Watching Pornographic Content - Limiting watching pornographic content also reduces sexual urges and keeps the mind healthy.
7. Adopting Healthy Habits - Exposing oneself to various other activities like exercising, meditation, yoga, focusing on professional work, and indulging in hobby classes could help divert the mind from voyeuristic thoughts and sexual activities.
Conclusion:
It is essential to remember that this disorder involves an invasion of privacy. The consequences of this behavior can be detrimental and considered an offense. In conclusion, there are some tangible and intangible effects of voyeurism. While the tangible effects include humiliation, arrests, and fines, the intangible effects refer to the psychological well-being of the person suffering from it. People should recognize and adopt early intervention (self-control and professional treatment) on the occurrence of the first incidence itself. This also prevents undesired impacts on the individual and society.
