Sexual fantasies are whimsical flights of the imagination about sexual encounters and desires. Moreover, these sexual fantasies are mostly some of the things that we desire but know we are not capable of doing in the real world. (BBC, 2008) These may include fantasizing about having sex in public, being either dominant or submissive during love-making, exploring new experiences or various positions during sex, even having multiple sexual partners at the same time, etc. In addition, these fantasies may be triggered by external motivations such as looking at attractive people, watching romantic scenes from a movie, reading erotic novels, etc. Sexual fantasies are created in the mind through the things that people see, hear and experience and through the things that they sexually desire. (Discovery Health, 2008a)
Sexual fantasies are also instrumental in that they are responsible for bringing about passion and affection, relieve from stress or tension, etc. Studies conducted about people who fantasize and people who do not proved that those people who do not fantasize about anything related to sex are sexually dysfunctional. Moreover, the universal idea that men fantasize about sex more then women, is scientifically due to the fact that the sex hormones of men are more active. (Little-White, 2007)
Applying previous knowledge about sexual disorders, Dennis’ fantasies and desires are indicators of maladaptive behavior. His desires of wearing women’s clothing and storing a variety of women’s clothes as a form of exciting and sexually stimulating images are considered sexual deviation. This sexual disorder or condition is called paraphilia. Paraphilia is characterized by sexual fantasies that are bizarre o extraordinary in nature. Usually, these sexual fantasies do not conform to the classification of sexual fantasies that are normally occurring to people. (W5 Lecture)
A sexual fetish is a term used in describing a stimulus or a motivation, whether in the form of imagination or acts of gratifying ones desires, which incites sexual stimulation. Examples of paraphilias include achieving sexual arousal through children, sexual experiences with animals and concrete objects, inflicting or receiving pain, etc. These particular fetishes are directly connected to psychological disorders such as sadism, masochism, pedophilia, voyeurism, bestiality, etc. There are other extremely disturbing behaviors that are rooted from sexual fantasies such as attraction to people who are amputated (Apotemnophilia), exposure to urine (Urophilia) and feces (Coprophilia). (Discovery Health, 2008b) At this point, normal sexual fantasies deviate from the norms.
Sexual fantasies become abnormal when the person is highly dependent on an extreme and socially unaccepted stimulus to sexually gratify oneself (Medicine Net, 2008). People who are experiencing sexual disorders are usually unable to gain satisfaction from normal sexual behavior, not until they get to experience their extreme sexual fantasies. For instance, pedophiles are sexually aroused by looking at children or engaging in sexual activity with them. This is an atypical behavior, especially because there are mores and norms of society that are violated. This makes it all the more an abnormal behavior.
In the case of Dennis, his behavior towards women’s clothing is considered as a gender identity disorder (GID) because of his inability to relate himself to the male gender. This disorder is characterized by their desire to belong to the opposite sex through his actions. He delights in wearing women’s clothing and is even obsessed by it through his behavior, such as buying and collecting various women’s clothing and underwear. The onset of this condition is observable during a person’s childhood. However, changes may occur during the adolescent period.
References
- BBC. (2008). The Power of Sexual Fantasy. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from BBC. Website:
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/enjsex_fantasy.shtml
- Discover Health. (2008a). Sexual Fantasy. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from Discovery
- Communications, LLC. Website: http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/fantasy.html
- Discovery Health. (2008b). Paraphilia. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from Discovery
- Communications, LLC. Website: http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/paraphilia.html
- Little-White, H. (2007). Sexual Fantasies. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from Gleaner Company,
- Ltd. Website: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070304/out/out4.html
- Medicine Net. (2008). Paraphilias. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from Medicine Net, Inc. Website:
- http://www.medicinenet.com/paraphilia/article.htm
