The article “The Prevalence of Paraphilic Interests and Behaviors in the General Population: A Provincial Survey” examines an issue that past scholars have ignored. Joyal and Carpentier (2017) begin by identifying paraphilic sexual desires as anomalous and unusual. Most of the people affected by this issue will tend to experience intense sexual feelings or arousal to objectives, individuals, situations, and fantasies that are abnormal. Unfortunately, very few studies have succeeded in examining the occurrence and prevalence of paraphilic tendencies in nonclinical settings. The authors of this study wanted to examine the experience and desire for paraphilic tendencies in men and women. They also wanted to consider how individuals could describe their experiences when interviewed via landline telephone and online platforms.
The selected 1,040 individuals presented divergent views that shed more light of the targeted topic. For instance, around 50 percent of these respondents revealed that they were interested in different paraphilic activities (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). Additionally, around one-third of such individuals had engaged in such a practice at least once in their lives (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). Some of the outlined paraphilic categories included masochism, fetishism, voyeurism, and frotteurism (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). The researchers also observed that both men and women were engaged in different paraphilic acts.
The recorded gains and observations were unusual and unexpected. For instance, the scholars revealed that the selected issue affected around 15.9 percent of the sample population (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). Such an outcome could describe the nature of the selected practice and how it affected the experiences of many individuals. The findings also indicated that men and women were involved in masochism and fetishism (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). The completed analysis also indicated that masochism was a paraphilic sexual interest capable of delivering the highest level of satisfaction.
The article has revealed that a significant percentage of members of the society engage in paraphilic interests. Such a practice emerged because most of the individuals were willing to be part of the process. This initiative also resonated with the sexual life and experience of the individuals (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). These findings shed more light on what ought to become the acceptable form of sexual behavior. Professionals can utilize such ideas to empower most of the affected individuals and take them closer to their goals.
The next observation made from the completed study was that the respondents recruited for the online survey offered honest views. These individuals generated noticeable acknowledgement regarding personal paraphilic interests and experiences. On the other hand, those interviewed via telephones were unwilling to provide honest responses and answers (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). Consequently, the researchers supported the use of online-based studies and researches to collect timely and meaningful information.
The completed study revealed that there was a thin line between what could be identified as normophilic and anomalous sexual behavior. A detailed analysis of the recorded differences can encourage community members to appreciate the nature of this issue (Joyal & Carpentier, 2017). The acquired information is also applicable in different settings to guide counselors, parents, and scholars to place this topic within its proper context. The collected information and discussions can also guide different people to arrive at a consensus and be able to draw a line between what ought to be paraphilic behavior and usual sexual interest.
Reference
Joyal, C. C., & Carpentier, J. (2017). The prevalence of paraphilic interests and behaviors in the general population: A provincial survey. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(2), 161-171. Web.