The term "sexual deviations" is outdated and can be stigmatizing. Modern psychology and psychiatry instead distinguish between:
Paraphilias (unusual sexual interests that are not necessarily disorders), and Paraphilic disorders (when the interests cause significant distress, impairment, or involve non-consenting people).
Some examples of recognized paraphilic disorders include:
- Exhibitionistic Disorder – exposing one's genitals to unsuspecting people.
- Voyeuristic Disorder – becoming sexually aroused by observing an unsuspecting person who is naked, undressing, or engaging in sexual activity.
- Frotteuristic Disorder – touching or rubbing against a non-consenting person for sexual arousal.
- Sexual Masochism Disorder – sexual arousal associated with being humiliated, beaten, or made to suffer, when it causes distress or impairment.
- Sexual Sadism Disorder – sexual arousal from inflicting suffering on another person, especially without consent.
- Pedophilic Disorder – persistent sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Acting on these urges is abusive and illegal.
- Fetishistic Disorder – intense sexual arousal from non-living objects or specific non-genital body parts, when it causes significant distress or impairment.
- Transvestic Disorder – recurrent sexual arousal from cross-dressing that causes significant distress or impairment. (This is distinct from gender identity or gender expression.)
Not every unusual sexual interest is a mental disorder. It is generally considered a disorder only if it:
Causes significant distress or interferes with daily functioning, or Involves harm, coercion, or non-consenting individuals.
