Philias and paraphilias: definition, types and characteristics

What are fetishisms? In what strange ways can desire be expressed? We explore philias.

Although the term "philia" has a very broad meaning and can refer to any type of hobby, in Psychology we use it mainly in the field of sexuality. When philias are very marked and atypical we speak of paraphilia..

In this article we will describe the characteristics of the most common or striking types of philias and paraphilias.. To contextualize these categories it is important to previously define the concepts of philia and paraphilia.

Definition of philia and paraphilia

The word "filia" comes from the Greek "philos", which we could translate as "love" or "friendship". It is often used as a suffix to designate an intense liking or fondness for a certain element.Thus, a cinephile is a person who enjoys movies, and philately is the hobby of collecting stamps.

However, in psychology, sexuality is the field where this concept appears most commonly. Within this field, philias overlap with paraphilias, which are paraphilias, which are defined as patterns of sexual behavior in which desire, arousal or pleasure depend to a large extent on atypical elements, although this does not necessarily imply a pathology.

Paraphilias are harmless if they do not involve the discomfort of the person or others, so that in many cases they simply consist of a sexual preference. This is often the case with fetishism (becoming aroused by an object or part of the body), among other philias. However, sometimes these preferences involve people who do not consent or simply hinder couple relationships.

The term "philia" is contrasted with "phobia", which is used to refer to irrational fears or aversions.which is used to refer to irrational fears or aversions. Like philias, phobias can sometimes be of a sexual nature; for example, erotophobia or genophobia is the aversion to sexual intercourse, while the word "medomalacouphobia" refers to the fear of losing an erection.

Types of philia and their characteristics

Below we will make a brief description of the main characteristics of different types of philia and paraphilia. Assigning them one label or another depends on the intensity of the preference, the discomfort they bring to the person or to others and the point of view of each expert.

Fetishism

Fetishism is the sexual preference for inanimate objects or for specific parts of the body. Two of the best known fetishistic philias are podophilia, which involves the feet, and retiphism, or a taste for shoes.. Preference for objects designed for sexual stimulation, such as vibrators, is not considered fetishism.

2. Exhibitionism

This philia consists of obtaining sexual arousal and pleasure by exposing parts of the body, normally the exposing parts of the body, usually the genitals, to other people.to other people. It is habitual that the intensity of the exhibitionist conduct increases with the practice, being able to adopt a compulsive character.

3. Voyeurism or scoptophilia

The voyeurism is defined as the taste marked by observing naked people or people having sex.. Voyeurs usually prefer that the person being observed does not know they are watching, and usually do not seek sexual intercourse with them.

4. Frotteurism

Frotteurists, or frotteurs, are looking for the physical contact with other people in order to masturbate afterwards.In its pathological form, they do it without permission and/or against their will. It usually takes place in places where there are many people, such as public transport or nightclubs. Frotteurism is much more common in young people.

5. Sexual masochism

Masochism includes the sexual pleasure that is obtained by receiving physical harm or humiliationas well as any other type of suffering. It is the most common paraphilia in women, and is often associated with sadism.

6. Sexual sadism

Sadistic people take sexual pleasure in the idea or practice of harming others. Although pathological sexual sadism is often referred to, there are many sadistic people who only fulfill their fantasies with consenting people; This is the case, for example, in BDSMwhich encompasses the practices of bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and masochism.

7. Transvestite fetishism

This philia involves obtaining sexual pleasure from dressing as a person of another gender. It has only been described in heterosexual men, who in some cases do not identify with the male gender. When a male is aroused by seeing or imagining himself as if he were a woman, we speak of autogynephilia.

8. Pedophilia

The DSM manual defines pedophilia as the sexual preference for people who have not reached puberty (under 13 years of age). (under 13 years of age approximately). The difference with pederasty is that this term designates the practice of child abusive behavior, whereas pedophilia can also refer to habitual urges or fantasies that have not been fulfilled.

9. Gerontophilia

Gerontophilia is the sexual preference for older persons. If the attraction is to elderly males, this philia is known as alphamegamy, while if the object of desire is women, it is matronolagnia.

10. Necrophilia

Necrophiliacs are attracted to corpses, whether of humans or other animals.whether of humans or other animals. Although logically necrophilia is usually carried out without the consent of the deceased, there have been cases of necrophilia with the prior permission of the deceased, such as the famous episode of Armin Meiwes, the "Cannibal of Rotemburg".

11. Asphyxiophilia

Asphyxiophilia consists of obtaining pleasure from the sensation of drowning. Sexual asphyxia can be carried out with a partner or as a method of masturbation; in this case we would speak of autoerotic asphyxia.

12. Zoophilia or bestiality

In zoophilia the person feels desire or performs sexual activities with animals. It is especially frequent in rural environments and in psychiatric patients, and only very rarely are cases of exclusive zoophilia detected.

13. Urophilia and coprophilia

In urophilia the fantasies include the presence of urine, while in coprophilia the same happens with feces. A related paraphilia is diaper fetishism. When the person is aroused by the idea of urinating or defecating on top of a sexual partner we speak of salirophilia.

14. Xenophilia

Understood from a sexual point of view, xenophilia is the preference for people who are perceived as members of an exotic or foreign ethnic group. members of an exotic or different ethnic group from one's own.. However, in a broader sense, xenophilia is the liking for people or objects of unknown origin, and technically has a meaning opposite to that of the word "xenophobia".

15. Gynandromorphophilia or gynemimetophilia

This philia refers to the preferential attraction, whether exclusive or not, to transgender or transsexual persons. The conception of gynandromorphophilia as a type of paraphilia is often criticized as it may favor the stigmatization of transgender people and those attracted to them.