Dr. Andrew Mohanraj

What are the reasons why flashers commit the offence? What triggers them to do so, or are there deeper background factors involved?

Flashing or Exhibitionism is what is known as a Paraphilia which is a category of sexual disorders. Paraphillias are abnormal expressions of sexuality. Paraphilias include exhibitionism, pedophilia, frotteurism, voyeurism, sexual masochism and tranvestic fetish.  Paraphilic behavior peaks between ages of 15 and 25 and gradually declines. It is usually seen in men and the victim usually a young woman or a school girl.

 Do these flashers have any mental disorders or illnesses? Or can they be completely “normal” and still do it?

Typically a flasher would have a great deal of personal distress, not only because of society’s disapproval and the fear of legal implications and in that sense it is a mental disorder labeled as a sexual disorder.  Flashers obtain sexual arousal or reduction of anxiety by shocking or surprising others by their exposure of their genitals. Sometimes, they may hope that the victim will be sexually aroused .Rarely, flashers would progress to actual sexual molestation. The flasher might masturbate while exposing himself but in most cases makes no further attempt at sexual activity with the stranger. Nevertheless, it must not be assumed that exhibitionism is harmless or humorous.

There are also fantasising exhibitionists who fantasise about exhibiting their genitals to unsuspecting persons, but do not actually carry out their fantasies.

What should a victim do or avoid doing when encountering a flasher? Would it make them more excited if the victim is scared?

It all depends on the situation. If it is possible, it is good to draw attention by shouting so the flasher can be apprehended. It is an isolated place then it is better to turn away and leave the place as quickly as possible while noting down enough details of the flasher so making a police report later would easily facilitate identification.  The bottom line is not to dismiss it as a humorous incident. It must be remembered that on rare occasions exhibitionism can progress to sexual molestation. The whole purpose of flashing is to derive pleasure in shocking the victim, therefore any display of shock will only give in to the needs of the flasher.

 Where do flashers normally go to find their victims? Are there any reasons for choosing such places?

Most flashers would target school girls or an exclusively women’s secondary school or college, or even a factory employing largely women workers. These are the places the flashers are most likely to find their targets and to maximise their chance of obtaining their satisfaction and least likely to get caught as the victims are usually caught unawares. However, there have been cases reported where flashers have targeted swimming pools as well although there is a greater chance of being caught at a swimming pool.

 What can the Government/families/parents/society do to stop more people from becoming flashers?

Psychoanalytically exhibitionists are individuals who have failed to complete the normal sexual development process .This abnormal development results in bizarre behavior providing an outlet sexual and aggressive drives that otherwise would have been channeled into proper sexual behavior. Usually such a person would have had a troubled childhood.  An upbringing as normal as possible may reduce the number of people turning to flashers in our society but this is a simplistic assumption. Obviously there are other factors, some inborn and unexplained that can cause this disorder.

Parents must educate their children on the possibilities of being exposed to such abnormal behavior outsides schools or public places like a park. This way their children will also know what they should do in the event of being exposed to a flasher. This might also lessen their psychological distress as a result of being subjected to such exposure and shock. Flashers when caught must be subject to the full extent of the law. Exhibitionism is often dismissed as a humourous incident and often jokes are made of it but for some vulnerable children or young women, the psychological distress could be quite disturbing.

Are most flashers men or are there women as well?

Most flashers are men but they have been cases of women flashers as well. In some primitive cultures, women flash their breasts or bottoms or genitals as a form of display of aggression or subjecting others to shame and disgust. This sort of flashing has no sexual pleasure attached to it but purely to shock and shame others.

 Any other comments

These individuals rarely seek help on their own and are likely to get professional assistance only when their behavior has brought them into conflict with sexual partners or when they get into problems with the law. I once treated a successful yuppie corporate manager who was caught masturbating while exposing himself to women at a swimming pool in his residential area. He could not engage in normal sexual intercourse with his wife and flashing was his sole outlet for sexual gratification. Unfortunately such individuals only seek help when discovered by their partner or when they get into trouble with the law.

Some years ago, a famous fast-food chain resorted to using exhibitionism as its theme for advertising on television. In that advertisement its mascot entered into the front door of the restaurant and suddenly opened his overcoat facing a group of young children who started screaming when they saw that. This was filmed from the back of the mascot. The next scene showed the mascot pulling out toys from his overcoat pockets and handed them out to excited children –presumably collectible goodies for consuming their famous burgers. Somebody must have felt upset about the advertisement because after a few months, that advertisement disappeared. This is a clear example where the advertising agency and the fast food chain as well as the relevant authorities displayed collective ignorance and indeed mischief while indirectly encouraging exhibitionism.

Assoc. Prof .Dato’ Dr Andrew Mohanraj
Associate Professor in Psychiatry
Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine