Paraphilias are a class of sexual disorders with arousal in response
to sexual objects or stimuli not associated with normal behavior
patterns. The essential feature of paraphillias is intense sexual
urges in response to nonhuman objects, the suffering or humiliation of
oneself or others, or children or non-consenting persons. There are at
least eight different observed paraphilias with some patients
experiencing more than one type.

Pedophilia, voyeurism, and exhibitionism are the most commonly
observed paraphiliac behaviors. Fetishism is a paraphilia in which intense sexual urges involve/focus on the use of nonliving objects. Common
fetishistic objects include female underwear, rubber, plastic, or
leather garments, shoes and boots, and bodily items/products? such as hair, odors, or feces. The disorder is more common in males than in
females. In future blogs I will investigate more fully these and other
paraphilias. I welcome your comments.