Autassassinophilia

Autassassinophilia is a paraphilia characterized by the sexual arousal or excitement from the risk of being killed. The term was coined by psychologist John Money in his discussions of paraphilias. Autassassinophilia can manifest in a variety of ways, which may or may not involve an actual threat to life.

Definition and Overview

Autassassinophilia is a term used in the field of sexology to describe a sexual fetish where an individual derives sexual pleasure and arousal from the risk of being killed. The term is derived from the Greek words autos (self), assassin (murderer), and philia (love). It is considered a form of edgeplay, a category of BDSM activities that are considered to carry significant risk of harm.

Manifestations

Autassassinophilia can manifest in a variety of ways. Some individuals may fantasize about being killed or being in a life-threatening situation, while others may seek out real-life dangerous situations. This can include activities such as autoerotic asphyxiation, where an individual derives sexual pleasure from the risk of suffocation or strangulation.

Psychological Perspectives

From a psychological perspective, autassassinophilia is considered a paraphilia, a condition characterized by abnormal sexual desires. The exact cause of autassassinophilia, like many paraphilias, is not well understood. Some theories suggest that it may be related to childhood experiences, while others suggest it may be linked to particular personality traits or neurological factors.

Treatment

Treatment for autassassinophilia is typically only considered necessary if the individual's fantasies or behaviors are causing them distress or harm, or if they pose a risk to others. Treatment options can include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.

See Also

• Paraphilia
• Autoerotic asphyxiation
• Edgeplay