When people think of unusual sexual interests (i.e., kinks, fetishes, etc.), they usually assume that they're uncommon and perhaps even rare.
The corollary to this is that people with unusual sexual interests may feel that they need to keep their sexual interests and desires secret because others will not understand them and will be judgemental. For some people with unusual sexual interests, this can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, and/or guilt.
In the clinical world, unusual sexual interests are thought of in three ways:
- paraphilic sexual interest - a sexual interest in something that is anomalous (i.e., unusual)
- paraphilia - a persistent and intense sexual interest in something that is anomalous (i.e., unusual)
- paraphilic disorder - a persistent and intense sexual interest in something that is anomalous (i.e., unusual), and that causes the person distress or problems in their lives
A recently published study from Quebec asked people about their experiences with unusual sexual interests and behaviours. While the study is by no means perfect (self-report bias, how well the sample matched the more general public, etc.), it does provide a rough snapshot of how common unusual sexual interests and behaviours may be. Here are the categories of sexual interests explained:
- voyeurism: watching a stranger, who was unaware of your presence, while they were nude, undressing, or engaged in sex
- fetishism: inanimate objects
- exhibitionism: showing your genitals to an unsuspecting stranger
- frotteurism: touching or rubbing oneself against an unsuspecting stranger
- masochism: being made to suffer, or being dominated or humiliated
- sadism: making someone suffer, or dominating, or physically or psychologically humiliating someone
- transvestism: wearing clothes of the opposite sex
- pedophilia: sex with a child aged 13 old or less, when you were an adult
This table shows the main results. The numbers are the percentages of people responding in the affirmative.
Needless to say, interest in and desire for unusual sexual behaviours is not all that unusual. Keep in mind that other studies have reported a range of prevalences, with some reporting lower rates. You can find this study here: link.