Influence of Internet and Social Media on Paraphilic Behavior Discussion
Identify the case study you selected
In Case study #2, David has a foot fetish. While he fantasizes about breaking into women’s homes to suck on their toes, he does not act on these fantasies. David marries a woman who understands his fetish and walks around barefoot at home.
Is the situation or behaviors in your case study non-criminal paraphilia or criminal paraphilia? Support your rationale
The case study that I selected for this discussion, case study 2, is a case of non-criminal paraphilia, as David does not commit any crimes. According to Miller (2012), paraphilia is defined as sexual arousal to something that is out of the norm of what people typically find arousing. David’s fantasies include non-consenting women, and he is aroused by something that is out of the standard, therefore, he can be identified as having paraphilia (Miller, 2012). Because David does not act on his sexual fantasies and doesn’t commit any crimes, he is not a criminal.
Would committing this crime classify the offender as a sexual predator or a sexual offender? Explain your response
According to Gee, Davilly, & Ward (2004), 61.7% of non-offending men have sexually deviant fantasies. In David’s case, he has sexual fantasies that border on deviant, but he doesn’t act on them. If David acted on his fantasies and broke into women’s homes to suck on their toes, he would be charged with criminal acts including sexual offenses.
How has the Internet and social media influenced paraphilic behavior?
Sexually deviant fantasies are mainly based on what a person reads, see’s, or hears (Gee, Davilly, & Ward, 2004). There are many movies, books, websites, and news stories that could put ideas into the imagination of someone who has sexually deviant tendencies. Much like most other crimes, media, internet, and television perpetuate sexual crimes and make them more accessible and less traceable.
References
Gee, D. G., Devilly, G. J., & Ward, T. (2004). The content of sexual fantasies for sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse,16(4), 315–331.
Miller, L. (2012). Criminal psychology: nature, nurture, culture: a textbook and practical reference guide for students and working professionals in the fields of law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health, and forensic psychology. Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas.