There is a remarkable form of erotic symbolism — very
definite and standing clearly apart from all other forms — in
which sexual gratification is experienced in the simple act of ex-
hibiting the sexual organ to persons of the opposite sex, usually
by preference to young and presumably innocent persons, very
often children. This is termed exhibitionism.^ It would appear
to be a not very infrequent phenomenon, and most women, once
or more in their lives, especially when young, have encountered
a man who has thus deliberately exposed himself before them.
The exhibitionist, though often a young and apparently
vigorous man, is always satisfied with the mere act of self -exhibi-
tion and the emotional reaction which that act produces; he
makes no demands on the woman to whom he exposes himself;
he seldom speaks, he makes no effort to approach her ; as a rule,
he fails even to display the signs of sexual excitation. His
desires are completely gratified by the act of exhibition and by
the emotional reaction it arouses in the woman. He departs
satisfied and relieved.
A ease recorded by Schrenck-Notzing very well represents both the
nature of the impulse felt by the exhibitionist and the way in which it
may originate. It is the case of a business man of 49, of neurotic



'■ Lasggue first drew attention to this sexual perversion and gave
it its generally accepted name, "Les Exhibitionistes," L'Union Mfdicale,
May, 1877. Magnan, on' various occasions (for example, "Les Exhibi-
tionistes," Archives de VAnthropologie Criminelle, vol. v, 1890, p. 456),
has given further development and precision to the clinical picture of
the exhibitionist.
(89)



90 PSYCHOLOGY OF SEX.
