The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), defines paraphilias as recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviours that occur over at least six months and generally involve:

• nonhuman objects
• the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner, or
• children or other nonconsenting persons

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Some people need to engage in paraphiliac activities in order to become sexually aroused, others only have episodic paraphiliac experiences. Here is a short description of common paraphilias:

Exhibitionism
The act of sexual arousal through exposing one's genitals or body.

Fetishism:
The use of an inanimate object to for sexual arousal. A sexual preoccupation with a specific object or characteristic - for instance, feet or long hair.

Voyeurism:
Sexual gratification from watching sexual activities performed by others.

Frotteurism:
Sexual arousal that occurs when an individual purposely rubs against others.

Paedophilia:
Fantasy or act in which children are the preferred sexual objects.

Sexual masochism:
The desire to experience pain and/or humiliation for sexual gratification. The term comes from the writings of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.

Sexual sadism:
The infliction of the sensation of pain in order to achieve sexual excitement. The term was developed from the writings of Marquis de Sade.
 

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