NCJ Number
60559
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 252-258
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT PSYCHIATRIC APPROACH TO THE PROBELM OF EXHIBITIONISM IS DESCRIBED; THE FOCUS OF THE ARTICLE IS TO PROVIDE A SCHEME HELPFUL TO CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL WHO MANAGE EXHIBITIONISTS.
Abstract
INDECENT EXPOSURE IS A LEGAL TERM WHICH MEANS EXPOSING, USUALLY THE GENITALS, IN PUBLIC. IN CANADA, THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL CODE GOVERNING CASES OF EXHIBITIONISM COMING WITHIN THE CRIMINAL SPHERE, SECTIONS 169 AND 170. EXHIBITIONISM MAY BE DESCRIBED AS A MEDICAL PROBLEM INVOLVING MEN, OFTEN OF PREVIOUSLY BLAMELESS CHARACTER; IT IS MANIFESTED BY A SUDDEN POWERFUL URGE TO DISPLAY GENITALS, AND THE EXPOSER MAKES LITTLE ATTEMPT TO AVOID CAPTURE. NO EROTIC OR OBSCENE GESTURES, NOR ANY ATTEMPT TO ENTER INTO ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VICTIM IS MADE. EXPOSERS FIND THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR INEXPLICABLE. THE DESIRED EFFECT ON THE VICTIM IS EITHER FEAR AND FLIGHT, INDIGNATION AND ABUSE, OR PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT. THE TWO MOST COMMON AGES OF ONSET OF EXHIBITIONISM ARE MID-PUBERTY AND THE EARLY 20'S. MOST EXHIBITIONISTS HAVE NORMAL INTELLIGENCE, BUT TEND TO UNDERACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY. THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE TYPICALLY IMMATURE, PASSIVE, AND EGOCENTRIC. MANAGEMENT OF THE CONDITION INCLUDES SEVERAL ASPECTS. COURT APPEARANCES SEEM TO BE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT FOR MOST FIRST OFFENDERS. WHEN PSYCHIATRIC REFERRAL AND TREATMENT ARE INDICATED, TREATMENT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD CONTROLLING THE BEHAVIOR, LESSENING THE PREDISPOSING FACTORS SUCH AS ANXIETY, AND ATTENDING TO PROBLEMS OF HETEROSEXUAL BEHAVIOR. SEVERAL APPROACHES ARE INDICATED FOR ACHIEVING THESE GOALS. THE EXPOSER CAN BE ENCOURAGED TO STAY AWAY FROM AREAS WHERE ATTRACTIVE GIRLS ARE FOUND. HE CAN BE TAUGHT 'THOUGHT STOPPING', A SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE IN BEHAVIOR THERAPY. ELECTRICAL AVERSION THERAPY MAY ALSO BE USED. FINALLY, PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED WITH HETEROSEXUAL BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE ASSESSED AND TREATED. PROGNOSIS IS GOOD IN CASES OF NORMAL HETEROSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT, NORMAL MASTURBATORY FANTASY, SHORT HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM, AND STABLE PERSONALITY. TREATMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH IN HELPING THE CLIENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LIES BEHIND HIS EXPOSING ACTS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)