Paraphilias and paraphilic disorders are not the same thing.
Pedophilia and a pedophilic disorder are not the same thing. Voyeurism and a voyeuristic disorder are not the same thing. So on and so forth.
A common misconception I see (oftentimes from well-meaning individuals) is that paraphilic disorders and paraphilias are one and the same. But in reality, the DSM-V has long made a clear distinction between the two.
According to the DSM-V, a paraphilia is simply an atypical attraction (Though what counts as "atypical" has evolved with time, and attractions that were considered atypical in the past are actually quite common and socially accepted today. Take mazophilia -the attraction to breasts- as an example). Paraphilias in themselves are not classified as disorders, and not everyone that has a paraphilia is considered disordered.
A paraphilic disorder is a diagnosable condition in which one's paraphilia causes personal distress/dysfunction in one's life, or results in the harm/risk of harm to another being. Someone with a paraphilic disorder may need some extra help in order to relieve this distress or prevent any harm from being done to others. Now this doesn't mean that people with paraphilic disorders are less deserving of kindness, compassion, and autonomy. They deserve the same respect and common decency as anyone else does. But the difference is clear: a paraphilia is simply an atypical attraction. A paraphilic disorder is an atypical attraction that causes personal distress or harm to others.
Some important things to note here:
Paraphilic disorders are treatable. Paraphilias often aren't.
A paraphilia is needed to have a paraphilic disorder, but paraphilic disorders are not a qualification to have a paraphilia
No, "icky" paraphilias such as pedophilia and necrophilia are not inherently disorders either. They must meet the already specified qualifications to be considered paraphilic disorders
Neither category automatically make someone more dangerous to be around than anyone else. Neither should be stigmatized and we should work to have more open and judgement-free discussions about these topics. Encouraging shame and self-hatred harms more than it helps
The distinction matters to me because I myself am a paraphile. A zoophile, to be exact. I am not distressed or impaired by my attractions, and I have never acted on my desires/hurt another being. My attractions are simply a piece of me that I live with. Being a zoophile is not debilitating to me like how zoophilic disorder is debilitating to many others I know. I don't have the same needs as those who have paraphilic disorders. And it frustrates me to have people describe my experience in ways that don't feel accurate to what I go through, or try to prescribe solutions to problems I don't have. It frustrates me even more when people so boldly proclaim that I'm a bad person for not attempting to cure a disorder I don't have, for daring to be comfortable with being a paraphile rather than self-loathing.
Many a time have I encountered ableist individuals who tell me I'm a bad person for not fitting the image of the poor, self-hating paraphile they can take pity on and feel superior to. Even if I did have a zoophilic disorder, having to walk on eggshells to meet their standard of a "good paraphile" to spare myself from being attacked and outcast would just be detrimental to my hypothetical condition.
The reality is that my zoophilia is not a disorder. It's just something I live with. It's a piece of me that has very little impact on how I live my life. And I'm tired of people trying to make my experiences and my needs into things that they're not. I would really appreciate it if people actually listened to individual paraphiles and what they experience/need rather than prescribing their needs and experiences for them.
Paraphilias in themselves are not inherently disordered or in need of treatment.
If you'd like to read more about this subject in a more coherent, less rambly way, I highly recommend this article here
vaporwave
amandla
stormborns
tangentwithtanner
germansingergirl
