Voyeurism And Exhibitionism: How Common Are They?
Compared with the population as a whole, voyeurs and exhibitionists are more sexually active.
Do you like R-rated movies with steamy sex scenes? Most people do. There’s a little bit of voyeur in all of us… and some occupations select for it for example, clinical psychology.
Do you ever wear tight, form-fitting, or revealing clothing to show off some aspect of your body? Many people do from time to time at the beach, the gym, or socially. There’s a little bit of exhibitionist in most of us, too.
How many people are really deeply into watching sex or exposing themselves in public?
That’s been a mystery but a Swedish study has investigated the issue, providing what, as far as I know, is the only real data on the subject.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute (the university that awards Nobel Prizes) surveyed a random sample of 2,450 Swedes age 18 to 60. Seventy-six (3.1 percent) reported at least one incident of feeling sexually aroused by exposing their genitals to a stranger. Men were more exhibitionistic than women (4.1 percent vs. 2.1 percent).
One hundred ninety-one (7.7 percent) reported at least one incident of being sexually aroused by spying on others having sex. Again men were move voyeuristic (11.5 percent vs. 3.9 percent).
It’s no surprise that men are more voyeuristic than women. Voyeurs are called peeping Toms, not peeping Tinas. The audience for pornography is clearly voyeuristic, and according to porn industry estimates, 80 percent of pornography is viewed by men solo. In the study, the single best predictor of voyeurism was frequent use of porn.
Compared with the population as a whole, voyeurs and exhibitionists are more sexually active. According to the study, they are more easily aroused, masturbate more often, and have intercourse more frequently. They’re more sexual in general, so they’re apparently more interested in exploring the fringes of sexual expression.
It’s risky to be an exhibitionist and/or voyeur. In most places, it’s illegal. But in some places, voyeurism and exhibitionism are not only legal, but encouraged—nude beaches, sex clubs, swing clubs, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Nudes-a-Poppin’ in Indiana, and Fantasy Fest in Key West are the ones I’m familiar with. There must be others. Anyone know of any?
Nude beaches, Mardi Gras, Nudes-a-Poppin’, and Fantasy Fest are all about exhibitionism, with topless or naked women (and some men) enthusiastically flaunting it for eager men and their cameras. But these venues do not involve true voyeurism because voyeurism involves more than gazing at nudity, it means watching people having sex. For that, you have to visit sex clubs or swing clubs.
As far as I know, there are swing clubs and sex clubs in virtually every major metropolitan area. Swing clubs typically admit only couples, and many sex clubs have one night a week reserved for couples. But most sex clubs admit singles and make their money from single men. Where I live, in San Francisco, a major sex club is the Power Exchange, which began as a BDSM club and still maintains a play dungeon in the basement, but it also has two other floors full of couches, beds, and little rooms and nooks where nookie is encouraged and can be observed.
The night I visited the Power Exchange—as part of a “field trip” during a sexology meeting—there were maybe a half-dozen couples in various stages of getting it on, being watched by dozens of men, many of whom were opening masturbating. Admission to the Power Exchange on Saturday nights costs $20-$80 for couples and single women, and $100 for single men. Bowls of condoms are everywhere, and monitors circulate to make sure no one feels harassed. According to the staff, many patrons, both couples and single men, are out-of-towners, tourists attending conventions who want to play or watch people playing far from home where they’re unlikely to run into anyone they know.
It’s not clear if the Swedish results reflect the prevalence of voyeurism and exhibitionism in the U.S., but I suspect they do. Everyone who has ever seen an R-rated movie is at least a little voyeuristic, and sex clubs couldn’t survive without a steady stream of exhibitionists to attract the crowds of high-paying single men.
[scroll down for related Questions & Answers]
Reference
Langstrom, N. and M.C. Seto. “Exhibitionistic and Voyeuristic Behavior in a Swedish National Population Survey” Archives of Sexual Behavior (2006) 35:427.
Questions & Answers
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A few years back, I learned that I was very into safe, consensual exhibitionism. While I don’t 100% need to engage in it to achieve sexual satisfaction, the idea of being watched by others is my biggest turn on. However, I find that this causes problems in my dating life; inevitably I find myself either shying away from dating someone or actively not pursuing relationships, because I have no idea how or when I would bring this up. I know that I would WANT a long-term partner to be into performing on camera or at sex clubs or other similar situations with me, but I also don’t know that you can just be up front on a date and say “hey, this is what I like”. How do I find someone who shares these interests? Read my response…
Who’s crazy here—me or my wife? We have been married for 24 years. I love it when she wears low-cut tops that show off her beautiful cleavage and breasts. I love the idea that other men are looking at her, seeing how beautiful she is. But she doesn’t like to show off. She says it makes her feel uncomfortable. I say: What’s the harm? Why not? What do you say? Read my response…