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Arch Sex Behav (2006) 35:427435 DOI 10.1007/s10508-006-9042-6ORIGINAL PAPERExhibitionistic and Voyeuristic Behavior in a Swedish National Population SurveyNiklas Lngstrm Michael C. SetoReceived: 7 October 2004 / Revised: 7 January 2005 / Accepted: 7 January 2005 / Published online: 11 August 2006C Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006Abstract We examined the prevalence and correlates of self-reported sexual arousal from exposing ones genitals to a stranger (exhibitionistic behavior) and spying on others having sex (voyeuristic behavior) in a representative national sample. In 1996, 2,450 randomly selected 1860 year-olds from the general population of Sweden were interviewed in a broad survey of sexuality and health. A total of 76(3.1%) respondents reported at least one incident of being sexually aroused by exposing their genitals to a stranger and 191 (7.7%) respondents reported at least one incident of being sexually aroused by spying on others having sex. Exhibitionistic and voyeuristic behaviors were examined for possible associations with 9 sociodemographic, 5 health, 4 risk-taking, and 17 sexuality variables. Both paraphilia-like behaviors were positively associated with being male and having more psychological problems, lower satisfaction with life, greater alcohol and drug use, and greater sexual interest and activity in general, including more sexual partners, greater sexual arousability, higher frequency of masturbation, higher frequency of pornography use, and greater likelihood of having had a same-sex sexual partner. Consistent with previous research in clinical samples of men withN. Lngstrm ([envelopeback])Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.e-mail: [email protected]. C. SetoLaw and Mental Health Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,Toronto, Ontario, CanadaN. LngstrmCentre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, PO Box 23000, 104 35 Stockholm, Swedenparaphilias, respondents who reported either exhibitionistic or voyeuristic behavior had substantially greater odds of reporting other atypical sexual behavior (sadomasochistic or cross-dressing behavior). There was evidence both for general and specic associations between sexual fantasies and their corresponding paraphilia-like behaviors. The implications of these ndings for research on atypical sexual interests, atypical sexual behavior, and paraphilias are discussed.Keywords Paraphilia . Exhibitionistic behavior . Voyeuristic behavior . Sexual health . Population surveyIntroductionParaphiliasThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) denes paraphilias as sexual disorders in which persons have recurrent, intense sexually arousing thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving atypical activities or targets. These activities or targets include the suffering...