The Science of Exhibitionism

Exhibitionists get a bad rap. Sure, there's a subset of people who have a compulsion to expose themselves to strangers at really inappropriate times - on a subway, on the freeway, in the grocery store - when the stranger is not at all interested in seeing their junk. However, there are many other people who simply get a thrill out of revealing parts of their bodies or having sex in public. The thought of people watching them is a big turn on. 

Here we're taking a look at what exhibitionism is - and how you can expose yourself in a safe, consensual way without being exposed to the risks that can come with it.

Oh, The Many Ways of Whipping It Out
Before we get into the psychology of revealing oneself to strangers, let's talk a little bit about the different types of exhibitionism. Although many people fall into these classifications, you'll find that most cross over from one to the next.

One of the most common types of exhibitionism is called flashing. Woman raise their shirts and expose their breasts at Mardi Gras for beads. Men and women will expose their genitals quickly to get a rise (ha-ha!) out of those around them.

Mooning is similar, although usually not sexual when performed by a man. When guys moon people it's meant to be funny. When a woman does it, it can be considered sexual, but not always. Confused yet?

Streaking is related to the types of exhibitionism we've already covered, but it's a bit more extreme. It involves stripping down naked and then running through a public place. It's all about the shock value, though. Nothing sexual to see here. Well, I shouldn't say nothing but the majority of streakers do it to attract attention and make people gasp.

OK, now it gets more complicated. Anasyrma is the act of lifting your skirt to reveal the fact that you're not wearing any underwear. And then there's candaulism, wherein one person removes or pushes aside their partner's clothing to reveal the breasts or genitals.

Then there's the type of exhibitionism that most often comes to mind when we hear the word: martymachlia. This involves getting aroused by the thought of or the act of doing something sexual in front of other people. It's technically a paraphilia, but liking it when other people watch isn't necessarily "deviant," especially if it's performed with consent from all parties involved.