The role of digital technology in reinforcing deviant sexual behavior: Nine case studies

Abstract

In the advent of digital technology when internet cafes are mushrooming everywhere and mobile camera phones have become essentials in our everyday living, this study came into being because a sector of our society whom we can call paraphiliacs and their paraphilias particularly that of exhibitionism, pedophilia and voyeurism have taken advantage of the rights and privileges of other people especially the women and children through the utilization of these high end devices. This study aided us to know what paraphilias are, who the paraphiliacs are, what types of digital technology they frequently use and abuse at the expense of other people and the outcomes of such usage with regards to the intensity and specificity of their respective behavior. This study employed and conducted an in-depth interview among self-confessed paraphiliacs who utilize digital technology as part of their paraphilias. Subject identification was done through personal knowledge of the accounts of self confessed paraphiliacs, snowballing method, local police reports of sexual crimes like unjust vexations, malicious mischiefs and other mischiefs and by internet chatting through the websites of these paraphiliacs. Subject selection of said paraphiliacs will cover only areas of exhibitionism, pedophilia and voyeurism; they are categorized as to optional, preferred and exclusive. There will be three respondents for exhibitionism, three respondents for pedophilia and three respondents for voyeurism for a total of nine respondent paraphiliacs according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR) intensity and specificity. Flexibility of questions will depend upon the answers of respondents. An informed consent will be given to the paraphiliacs prior to the in depth interview to make him aware of his rights and bring confidentiality to the data gathered and collected. The following measures were taken to ensure the anonymity of case studies reported: (1) identifying demographic variables are reported only as grouped data; (2) the addresses of said paraphiliacs are not reported; (3) the names of specific individual have been coded. The results of such in-depth interviews will give us an idea or knowledge about what is running on inside the mind of these paraphiliacs. We will then learn how to deal with them or even treat them in cases where their paraphilias have become uncontrolled and destructive not only to themselves but to society as well. This will also provide us with insights on the proper use of digital technology so that it is not abused and must be subject to regulation of proper authorities otherwise its illicit, indiscriminate use by these paraphiliacs will continue the cycle of abuse. Based upon the results of this study, these paraphiliacs are mostly ordinary types of people, who may be educated and professional. But because they fail to adapt to stressors such as strained heterosexual relationships, they tend to engage in illicit sexual activities to get sexually aroused and achieved sexual gratifications. It is unfortunate that digital technology such as the internet and mobile camera phones are convenient tools which they illegally and fraudulently use to indulge their odd behaviors to the disadvantage of other people especially the women and children. To aggravate the situation, the laws available against these practices are implemented lightly so that the victims more often than not, keep silent instead of voicing out their violated rights because of the humiliation the offenses bring in. Furthermore this study will inform people of their rights and responsibilities and make them more sensitive and aware of the basic needs of others, of attention, affection and acceptance.