All You Need to Know About Vouyerism

Everything you would ever want to know about voyeurism. And then some more.

 

 

Voyeurism is mainly a domain of men, but there might also be women among voyeurs. (PhotoXpress)

 

About voyeurism: It's a thin line

It’s a well known fact that looking at a woman’s naked body arouses adult men and many advertising campaigns have been launched on that basis – they include erotic elements or advertisements with references to sex. Voyeurism is defined as deviant sexual behavior when a man can only be aroused and satisfied by looking at other people. Freud particularly emphasised that “eyes are the erogenous zone” in voyeurism and that an act is considered voyeurism if a person secretly observes other people’s intimate behaviour as a substitute for sexual intercourse.

 

About voyeurism: The ninjas of the sex world

Voyeurs do unusual things to satisfy their sexual tendencies: they drill holes in a wall, climb trees and roofs, stalk couples in parks and squat in shrubs for long hours, or are on a lookout with their binoculars for lonely women bathers. But they aren’t tempted by striptease, pornography or naked women in naturist beaches at all. They also aren’t interested in the nudity of their wife or friend. They’re only fascinated if they secretly observe other people. This is what makes voyeurs very similar to exhibitionists, who also aren’t satisfied if they walk naked on a naturist beach.

 

About voyeurism: Who are voyeurs?

In general, voyeurs are young men (average age is about 24). Just over 60% of them are single, while others are often in the middle of a divorce. This behavior is rarely triggered by drunkenness or a serious mental illness. Voyeurs are shy people and don’t pose a threat to a person or couple they observe. If you catch them red-handed, they most often run away disgraced. A voyeur almost never attacks a woman or tries to rape her. He endangers others only if he tries to make public or blackmail people because of what he saw, which happens very rarely.

 

Although voyeurs are very careful, they often run into serious trouble. They’re beaten or have to deal with the police. Voyeurism isn’t such a rare phenomenon. In a single night, the police catch tens of voyeurs in raids in parks, among the also very eminent people.

 

About voyeurism: Far from the eyes, close to the heart

The causes of voyeurism are mainly provided by the psychoanalytic explanation based on the assumption that the subconscious castration fear plays an important role is in voyeurism. Voyeurs are in fact attracted to “forbidden” women and sex, but only if from a safe distance. As it seems, voyeurs can’t get rid of the attachment to their mother from the Oedipus period. Yalom reports on relationships in a group of eight voyeurs. Five of them confirmed that they first observed their mother.

 

Psychoanalysts also warn that a bit of sadism is hidden in a voyeur. When a voyeur watches his “victim”, he feels superior to her. The observed woman is his “prey” and she brings a lot of violence to the observed sexual act, at least in his fantasies. His well-being is important here. Namely, voyeurs don’t feel ill and thus they aren’t particularly motivated to undergo treatment.

 

If you have anything else to add about voyeurism, our Forum is the place to do it!

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