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It is often considered a taboo subject.
But one scientist is finally lifting the lid on our deepest, darkest sexual fantasies.
Professor Mark Griffiths, a Behavioral Addictions expert at Nottingham Trent University, has revealed the most unusual ‘paraphilias’ he has come across.
“Paraphilias are rare types of sexual expression that are often described as sexual deviations, sexual perversions, or disorders of sexual preference,” he explained in an article for The conversation.
“They are usually accompanied by intense sexual arousal to unconventional or non-sexual stimuli, such as enemas (klismaphilia), statues (agalmatophilia), teeth (odontophilia), and vomiting (emetophilia).”
While paraphilias seem strange or socially unacceptable to most people, Professor Griffiths argues that they should be studied by scientists.
“Paraphilias may be laughed at, dismissed, or leave some people upset, but there is a pressing need for more research into unusual sexual behavior,” he added.
Here’s a look at five of the most unusual paraphilias Professor Griffiths has encountered, including fart arousal.
Professor Mark Griffiths, a behavioral addiction expert at Nottingham Trent University, has revealed the most unusual “paraphilias” he has encountered, including arousal from farting (file image)
Professor Griffiths says feeling sexually aroused by cannibalism is very real (file image)
1. Vorarephilia
Hollywood actor Armie Hammer made headlines in 2021 after allegedly sending messages detailing his own cannibalistic fetishes.
While he has since laughed off the allegations, Professor Griffiths says feeling sexually aroused by cannibalism is very real.
“Vorarephilia – or “vore” – refers to sexual arousal at the idea of being eaten, eating another person or observing this process to obtain sexual gratification,” he explained.
‘Most vorarephiles’ fantasies involve being the ones who eat themselves.
“Devouring someone could be seen as the supreme act of dominance on the part of a predator and the supreme act of submission on the part of the prey.”
Professor Griffiths highlights the case of Armin Meiwes, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after killing and eating a man.
After posting ads online, Meiwes received a response from Bern Jurgen Brandes, who agreed to be eaten.
Professor Griffiths highlights the case of Armin Meiwes, sentenced to life in prison after killing and eating a man
‘They met only once. Meiwes bit off Brandes’s penis, which the two cooked and ate,” Professor Griffiths explained.
Brandes was caught on video being stabbed to death by Meiwes in his bathroom. They then stored the body for Meiwes to eat.
While Meiwes was found guilty of murder, Professor Griffiths points out that “although some paraphilias are illegal, most do not cause psychological or behavioral problems when practiced by consenting adults.”
2. Dacryphilia
Dacryphilia is aroused by seeing someone cry and comes in three main forms, according to Professor Griffiths.
“Compassionate dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the compassion of comforting a crybaby,” he said.
“Dominant or submissive dacryphiles become sexually aroused by causing tears in a consenting submissive partner or by making them cry for a consenting dominant partner.”
‘Dacryphiles with “curved lip” become sexually aroused by curling the protruding lower lip during crying.’
Dacryphilia is aroused by seeing someone cry and comes in three main forms, according to Professor Griffiths (file image)
3. Eproctophilia
While farts make most of us laugh, they can actually sexually arouse some people, known as eproctophilia.
Professor Griffith first encountered eproctophilia in 2013, when he met a 22-year-old single man from Illinois named Brad (not his real name).
At school, Brad had a crush on a girl who farted in class, and this “sparked a strange interest” in him.
Then, as a teenager, Brad heard a friend fart and began to notice the sound.
“He made a bet where the bet was the right to fart in the loser’s face for a week,” Professor Griffith said.
“He kept losing those bets once every few weeks for about two years.”
4. Apotemnophilia
Apotemnophilia is sexual arousal caused by the fantasy or reality of being with an amputee.
“Some apotemnophiles may claim to be amputees,” Professor Griffith said.
Apotemnophilia is sexual arousal caused by the fantasy or reality of being with an amputee (file image)
Salirophilia is the sexual excitement of dirtying or ruffling someone’s attractive hair. This could include tearing or damaging your clothing, covering it in mud or ruining your hair or makeup, according to the expert (file image)
“But for a minority, the behavior involves obsessive scheming to convince a surgeon to perform a medically unnecessary amputation.
“To most people, this might seem like a kind of masochism, but case studies suggest that there is no eroticization of the pain, only of the healed amputated stump.”
5. Salirophilia
Finally, Professor Griffith highlights salirophilia, which is sexual arousal from dirtying or disheveling someone attractive.
This could include tearing or damaging your clothing, covering it in mud, or ruining your hair or makeup, according to the expert.
In 2019, Professor Griffith met Jeff (not his real name), a 58-year-old man with salerophilia.
When he was young, Jeff said he wanted to grow up in strange places, like lying under a cabinet in a dirty garage.
And although I hoped to engage in salophilic practices with women, it proved difficult to find like-minded women.
“He was also a fan of the television show Fear Factor, in which contestants perform disgusting tasks for cash prizes, such as eating rotten food or submerging themselves in foul liquids,” Professor Griffith added.
‘These were a source of sexual arousal for Jeff.
“He told me, ‘I just find the contamination of an attractive woman’s body erotic.’