Voyeurisme

javascript:void(0); There are two ways to define voyeurism: as a behaviour and as a sexual disorder. In general terms, a voyeur is “a person who derives sexual gratification from the covert observation of others as they undress or engage in sexual activities” (Canadian Oxford Dictionary). In this context, the behaviour is concerned with three things: the surreptitious nature of the observations; the private and intimate nature of what is observed; and sexual gratification. Voyeuristic behaviour may extend not only to the making of the voyeuristic images, but may include distribution of voyeuristic visual representations to others. A second way to consider voyeurism is as symptomatic of a sexual disorder. A subgroup of the persons who engage in voyeuristic behaviour suffer from this sexual disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Voyeurism is viewing some form of nudity or sexual activity, accompanied by sexual arousal. To be classified as a sexual disorder, or a paraphilia, voyeurism must be characterized by observing unsuspecting individuals, usually strangers, who are naked or engaging in sexual activity, for the purpose of seeking sexual excitement. The voyeur usually does not seek any contact with the victim. The perpetrator may masturbate during the act of voyeurism or, more commonly, afterwards in response to the memory of what he or she observed. It is only when this behavioural problem persists beyond a certain period that experts diagnose it as a paraphilia: The diagnostic criteria for voyeurism are: (a) recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviours involving voyeuristic activity. (b), the fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviours cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning… Many individuals include voyeuristic fantasy or behaviour in a repertoire of sexual fantasies. It is only when these fantasies become a focus for an extended period of time (six months or more) and cause distress or impairment in one's life that this would be diagnosable as a paraphilia. Most voyeurs engage in at least one other sexually deviant behaviour, usually exhibitionism or non-consensual sexual touching or rubbing. There is also evidence that voyeurism occurs at an early stage along a continuum of sexual disorders that may become progressively more coercive and invasive. Approximately 20% of voyeurs have committed sexual assault or rape. In a number of Canadian cases, court have considered it relevant that persons convicted of crimes involving sexual and non-sexual violence have had a behavioural history which included voyeurism. Moreover, studies have shown that men commit most sex crimes and women and children are almost always the victims. Another characteristic of voyeurism as a paraphilia is a high frequency of deviant acts per individual. For example, in one study of 411 men, 13% (62 men) admitted to being voyeurs and self-reported 29,090 voyeuristic acts against 26,648 victims. Studies suggest that voyeurs justify their behavior with rationalizations or cognitive distortions, convincing themselves, for example, that their actions do not cause any harm or that the victim actually wanted to be observed. As with other sexual disorders, voyeurs characteristically have little empathy for the victim and have an impaired capacity for emotional or sexual intimacyThe risk factors for recidivism are similar to those that pertain to other sex offenders. Voyeurism as a sexual disorder manifests early in life (the average age is 15), is chronic, and tends to last a lifetime, unless treated.