Introduction to the Realm of Paraphilias

Abstract

Paraphilias and what we now call paraphilic disorders have been puzzling, curiosity-arousing, attention attracting, famous and infamous (take masochism and sadism), maligned, and misunderstood for centuries. Our full understanding of paraphilic behaviors is still lacking. The lack of understanding probably starts with the lack of consensus about the definition, its use, and, at times, its, unfortunately, pejorative use.

The term paraphilia is about 100 years old (the introduction of the term is credited to Friedrich Salomon Krauss in 1903, but it was more generally suggested/introduced by Wilhelm Stekel in German in 1908 and later in 1930). Its meaning and definition vary. The word paraphilia is a construction of two Greek words. The first is para, the meaning of which could vary from “beside, side by side” to “beyond, past, by” to “abnormal or defective” (e.g., in paranoia) to “irregular, altered.” The other term -philia means love, friendship, brotherly love, affection. In “modern” language it could mean a whole spectrum from a friendly feeling toward something or someone, to an abnormal feeling, depending on the context. Thus, paraphilia in a general sense means love beyond the usual (less derogative term) to abnormal love or sexuality (whatever the term normal sexuality means). Some may also define paraphilia as “love for other/marginal object.” The term paraphilia was, in a way, meant to replace terms such as sexual deviation, sodomy, or perversion. It seems that this well-meant semantic change has not been really successful. The definition of paraphilic or sexually “deviant” behavior is also problematic from a fuzzy border between the so-called “normal” or acceptable sexual behavior and abnormal sexual behavior. Take the example of occasional mild spanking of one’s sexual partner during sexual activity enjoyed and asked for by the partner vs. binding, whipping, and even kicking the sexual partner during sexual activity. Where is the border between acceptable (or normal) behavior and abnormal behavior here?