An umbrella term for any mode of sexual expression
in which arousal is dependent upon what are generally considered socially
unacceptable stimulating conditions. Typically a paraphiliac is not one who
simply enjoys an exotic passing fancy with something "offbeat" but is rather
obsessively concerned with and responsive to the particular erotic stimuli of
his or her sexxual mode. Human sexxual expression is extraordinarily varied and
a large number of paraphilias has been identified and studied (e.g., pedophilia,
voyeurism, sadism).