Define and compare the four approaches to defining "sexual abnormality" described in the text.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are four approaches to defining "sexual abnormality." One approach is the statistical approach, wherein an abnormal sexual behavior is considered to be one that is rare, or not practiced by many people. However, this definition does not give much insight into the psychological or social functioning of the person engaging in the behavior. It also does not distinguish between rare sexual behaviors that may still be considered "normal." The psychological approach, on the other hand, draws this distinction by defining abnormality as any behavior that causes "discomfort, inefficiency, and bizarreness." While the first two criteria are valid, the last criterion of bizarreness is culturally defined. In fact, in the third approach to defining abnormality-the sociological approach-the problem of cultural dependence is explicitly acknowledged. Thus, a sociologist might define deviant sexual behavior as one which violates the norms of society. The medical approach is exemplified by the definitions included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It recognizes eight paraphilias: fetishism, transvestism, sexual sadism, sexual masochism, voyeurism, frotteurism, exhibitionism, and pedophilia. Additional diagnostic criteria generally state that the fantasies, urges, or behavior should have occurred over a period of at least six months and that they should have caused "clinically significant distress or impairment." These definitions are very influential in determining who receives treatment and whether such treatment will be covered by medical insurance.