Personality and Mood Disorders Q 63
Which of the following statements is true for gender identity disorder?
A. It is a sexual pleasure derived from inanimate objects.
B. It is a pleasure derived from being humiliated and made to suffer.
C. It is a pleasure to shock the victim with exposure to the genitalia.
D. It is the desire to live or involve in reactions of the opposite sex.
Correct Answer: D. It is the desire to live or involve in reactions of the opposite sex
Gender identity disorder is a strong and persistent desire to be the other sex. The collective synonym for these conditions is gender dysphoria or gender incongruence, and it occurs in both children and adults; the term transsexualism has also been used for those whose sexual identity is altered to match the gender identity.
Option A: This is fetishism. Fetishism is the use of an inanimate object (the fetish) as the preferred way to produce sexual arousal. Fetishistic disorder occurs when recurrent, intense sexual arousal from using an inanimate object or focusing on a nongenital body part (such as a foot) causes significant distress, substantially interferes with daily functioning, or harms or may harm another person.
Option B: This refers to masochism. Sexual masochism is intentional participation in an activity that involves being humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise abused to experience sexual excitement. Sexual masochism disorder is sexual masochism that causes significant distress or significantly impairs functioning.
Option C: This describes exhibitionism. Exhibitionists (usually males) expose their genitals, usually to unsuspecting strangers, and become sexually excited when doing so. They may be aware of their need to surprise, shock, or impress the unwilling observer. The victim is almost always a woman or a child of either sex. Actual sexual contact is almost never sought, so exhibitionists rarely commit rape.