The victim is almost always a female adult or child. Actual sexual contact is almost never sought. Most exhibitionists are married, but the marriage is often troubled by poor social and sexual adjustment, including frequent sexual dysfunction. Voyeurism usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood. The essential feature is spending considerable time repetitively seeking out viewing opportunities.
All sexual activity is related to voyeurism for a person with the most severe form.
The voyeur does not seek sexual contact with those he is observing. The disorder must be differentiated from normal sexual curiosity between persons who know each other. Sadomasochistic fantasies and sexual behavior between consenting adults is very common. Masochistic activity tends to be ritualized and chronic. For most practitioners, the humiliation and beating are simply acted out in fantasy, with participants knowing that it is a game and carefully avoiding actual humiliation or injury.