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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–9Cite as

Sexual Pathology

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Synonyms

Disorders of sexual preference; Paraphilias; Sexual deviation; Sexual variants

Definition

Sexual pathology or disorders of sexual preference refer to persistent and intense sexual interests lasting at least 6 months, where sexual arousal is in response to atypical fantasies, behaviors, objects, situations, or partners. These behaviors, fantasies, or urges can cause distress, interpersonal difficulties, or functional disorders and usually involve non-consenting persons, nonhuman objects, juveniles, or the infliction of humiliation and suffering.

Introduction

At present, the evolutionary approach is a relatively common theoretical framework for describing and interpreting various aspects of human sexuality, such as differences in sexual behavior between sexes or common sexual responses in the general population. This is coherent considering the fact that the main success criteria are from an evolutionary perspective reproductive success – all psychological, physical, and...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, U Kříže 8, 158 00, Prague, Czech Republic

    Kateřina Klapilová & Klára Bártová

  2. National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic

    Kateřina Klapilová

  3. Institute of Sexology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 11, 128 08, Prague, Czech Republic

    Klára Bártová

Authors
  1. Kateřina Klapilová
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  2. Klára Bártová
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kateřina Klapilová .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Division of Psychology, School of Social and Health Sciences, Abertay University, DD1 1HG, Dundee, UK

    Christopher D. Watkins

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Klapilová, K., Bártová, K. (2017). Sexual Pathology. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3382-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3382-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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