Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Coping

At a Glance

This article will explain what voyeuristic fantasies are and when voyeurism is classified as a psychological disorder.

What Is Voyeurism?

Voyeuristic fantasies usually start in adolescence or early adulthood and are more common in men than in women. Around 12% of men and 4% of women have voyeuristic disorder.

Is Voyeurism a Crime?Voyeurism is a sex crime in many states. In states that do not have specific laws about voyeurism, the crimes may fall under other categories of illegal activity, like privacy invasion or trespassing.

Is Voyeurism a Crime?

Voyeurism is a sex crime in many states. In states that do not have specific laws about voyeurism, the crimes may fall under other categories of illegal activity, like privacy invasion or trespassing.

Voyeuristic Disorder Symptoms

The most common symptoms of voyeuristic disorder are:

People with voyeuristic disorder may perform sexual acts on themselves while watching others engage in sexual activities or have the urge to harm themselves or others during sex.

People with voyeuristic disorder may also have other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. Some people with voyeuristic disorder develop another paraphilic disorder, like exhibitionist disorder.

Causes of Voyeuristic Disorder

There is no single cause of voyeuristic disorder, but certain risk factors seem to increase a person’s chances of developing the condition.

What Sex Addiction Is Not, According to Sex Therapists

How Voyeuristic Disorder Is Diagnosed

A healthcare provider or licensed therapist can make a diagnosis of voyeuristic disorder. They will talk to you about your medical history (including your mental health) and ask you questions about your current thoughts and feelings. Symptoms of the disorder should have also persisted for 6 months or more before a conclusive diagnosis can be given.

Voyeuristic disorder is diagnosed when someone’s voyeuristic urges and behaviors are so severe that they cause harm or distress to the person having them or others.

According to the DSM-5, a few other criteria must be met before a provider can make a conclusive diagnosis of voyeuristic disorder:

People with voyeuristic disorder may or may not believe that there is anything wrong with their behavior. They usually won’t talk about their thoughts and urges with healthcare providers or loved ones. As a result, people with voyeuristic disorder often do not get diagnosed until after they’ve been caught committing sexual offenses.

However, early treatment can help prevent a person with voyeuristic disorder from harming themselves or others.

Voyeuristic Disorder Treatment

Voyeuristic disorder can be treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. The best treatment or combination of treatments for each person with voyeuristic disorder will depend on different factors, such as whether they have insight into their behavior or have any other mental health conditions.

Medication

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine) andLexapro(escitalopram) are commonly prescribed to treat voyeuristic disorders.SSRIs are most often used to treat depression, but research has shown that they can be effective at suppressing impulses in people with voyeuristic disorder.

Zoladex (goserelin), Lupron (leuprolide acetate), and drugs that reduce testosterone are also used to help people with voyeuristic disorder. Reducing testosterone levels reduces sex drive, which can help suppress voyeuristic urges.

Psychotherapy

Different types of therapy may help a person with voyeuristic disorder, as well as be beneficial for their loved ones.

Cognitive behavior therapy can help people with voyeuristic disorder understand why their behavior is not socially acceptable and gain insight into what might be causing their voyeuristic thoughts.

Therapy can also teach people coping mechanisms to help them overcome voyeuristic thoughts and urges.

Going to couples and family therapy can also be important for the loved ones of someone with voyeuristic disorder. In therapy, they can learn about the condition and get the support they need, particularly if they are healing from the harm the disorder has caused in their relationships

If your loved one is showing signs of voyeuristic disorder, keep in mind that they may not think they need to change. They may not consider asking for help until after they have hurt someone or even gotten in trouble with the law.

Encourage your loved one to reach out to a healthcare or mental health provider. Let your loved one know that the condition is treatable and that you will support them in getting the help they need.

Summary

Voyeuristic disorder can often be treated with therapy and medication, but a person must get the support they need before their behaviors cause harm in their relationships or lead to sexual crimes.

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brown, G.MSD Manual Professional Edition. Voyeurism.Beech AR, Miner MH, Thornton D.Paraphilias in the DSM-5.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2016;12:383-406. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093330Joyal CC, Carpentier J.The prevalence of paraphilic interests and behaviors in the general population: A provincial survey.J Sex Res. 2017;54(2):161-171. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1139034Fedoroff JP.Voyeuristic disorder. Oxford University PressEisner Gorin LLP.Federal Crime of Video Voyeurism - 18 U.S. Code § 1801.First MB.DSM-5 and paraphilic disorders.Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online. 2014;42(2):191-201.Government of Canada.Part 1 - Context - Voyeurism as a criminal offence: A consultation paper.Popa T, Delcea C.Voyeurism and scopophilia. International Journal of Advanced Studies in Sexology, Sexology Institute of Romania Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 53-55 January-June 2019. ISSN 2668-7194 (print), ISSN 2668-9987 (online).Cambridge University Press.Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management.Additional ReadingBalon R. Voyeuristic disorder. In: Balon R, ed.Practical Guide to Paraphilia and Paraphilic Disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2016:63-75.Lung DWT, Sidi H, Salleh H, Tajjudin I.Voyeuristic disorder and internet pornography addiction: A case report.Mal J Med Health Sci. 2018; 14(3):54-56.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brown, G.MSD Manual Professional Edition. Voyeurism.Beech AR, Miner MH, Thornton D.Paraphilias in the DSM-5.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2016;12:383-406. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093330Joyal CC, Carpentier J.The prevalence of paraphilic interests and behaviors in the general population: A provincial survey.J Sex Res. 2017;54(2):161-171. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1139034Fedoroff JP.Voyeuristic disorder. Oxford University PressEisner Gorin LLP.Federal Crime of Video Voyeurism - 18 U.S. Code § 1801.First MB.DSM-5 and paraphilic disorders.Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online. 2014;42(2):191-201.Government of Canada.Part 1 - Context - Voyeurism as a criminal offence: A consultation paper.Popa T, Delcea C.Voyeurism and scopophilia. International Journal of Advanced Studies in Sexology, Sexology Institute of Romania Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 53-55 January-June 2019. ISSN 2668-7194 (print), ISSN 2668-9987 (online).Cambridge University Press.Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management.Additional ReadingBalon R. Voyeuristic disorder. In: Balon R, ed.Practical Guide to Paraphilia and Paraphilic Disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2016:63-75.Lung DWT, Sidi H, Salleh H, Tajjudin I.Voyeuristic disorder and internet pornography addiction: A case report.Mal J Med Health Sci. 2018; 14(3):54-56.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Brown, G.MSD Manual Professional Edition. Voyeurism.Beech AR, Miner MH, Thornton D.Paraphilias in the DSM-5.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2016;12:383-406. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093330Joyal CC, Carpentier J.The prevalence of paraphilic interests and behaviors in the general population: A provincial survey.J Sex Res. 2017;54(2):161-171. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1139034Fedoroff JP.Voyeuristic disorder. Oxford University PressEisner Gorin LLP.Federal Crime of Video Voyeurism - 18 U.S. Code § 1801.First MB.DSM-5 and paraphilic disorders.Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online. 2014;42(2):191-201.Government of Canada.Part 1 - Context - Voyeurism as a criminal offence: A consultation paper.Popa T, Delcea C.Voyeurism and scopophilia. International Journal of Advanced Studies in Sexology, Sexology Institute of Romania Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 53-55 January-June 2019. ISSN 2668-7194 (print), ISSN 2668-9987 (online).Cambridge University Press.Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management.

Brown, G.MSD Manual Professional Edition. Voyeurism.

Beech AR, Miner MH, Thornton D.Paraphilias in the DSM-5.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2016;12:383-406. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093330

Joyal CC, Carpentier J.The prevalence of paraphilic interests and behaviors in the general population: A provincial survey.J Sex Res. 2017;54(2):161-171. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1139034

Fedoroff JP.Voyeuristic disorder. Oxford University Press

Eisner Gorin LLP.Federal Crime of Video Voyeurism - 18 U.S. Code § 1801.

First MB.DSM-5 and paraphilic disorders.Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online. 2014;42(2):191-201.

Government of Canada.Part 1 - Context - Voyeurism as a criminal offence: A consultation paper.

Popa T, Delcea C.Voyeurism and scopophilia. International Journal of Advanced Studies in Sexology, Sexology Institute of Romania Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 53-55 January-June 2019. ISSN 2668-7194 (print), ISSN 2668-9987 (online).

Cambridge University Press.Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management.

Balon R. Voyeuristic disorder. In: Balon R, ed.Practical Guide to Paraphilia and Paraphilic Disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2016:63-75.Lung DWT, Sidi H, Salleh H, Tajjudin I.Voyeuristic disorder and internet pornography addiction: A case report.Mal J Med Health Sci. 2018; 14(3):54-56.

Balon R. Voyeuristic disorder. In: Balon R, ed.Practical Guide to Paraphilia and Paraphilic Disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2016:63-75.

Lung DWT, Sidi H, Salleh H, Tajjudin I.Voyeuristic disorder and internet pornography addiction: A case report.Mal J Med Health Sci. 2018; 14(3):54-56.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?