Theraverse
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March 21, 2025
Watching strangers live under constant surveillance, stripped of privacy, while millions of eyes dissect their every move in the name of entertainment, may sound like some absurd masochism but the preferred term is Bigg Boss/Bigg Brother.
We see the contestants strategize, fight, break down, and form connections, all while they remain confined in a space where every moment is captured. But why do we find ourselves drawn to observing people in their unfiltered, unguarded moments?
There’s a certain thrill in looking where we’re not supposed to. A keyhole glimpse, a shadow behind a curtain, an unnoticed reflection in a window, something about seeing without being seen stirs a primal curiosity in us. But what happens when the act of watching becomes a source of pleasure, an urge that is no longer just passing intrigue but a compulsion?
Voyeurism sits at this intersection of curiosity and compulsion, it involves becoming sexually aroused by watching an unsuspecting person who is disrobing, naked, or engaged in sexual activity.
When voyeurism becomes voyeuristic disorder?
A desire to watch others in sexual situations is common and not in itself abnormal. Voyeurism usually begins during adolescence or early adulthood. When voyeurism is pathologic, voyeurs spend considerable time seeking out viewing opportunities, often to the exclusion of fulfilling important responsibilities in their life. Self-gratification is usually achieved by masturbating during or after the voyeuristic activity.
Privately viewing sexually explicit pictures and videos now widely available on the internet is not considered voyeurism because it lacks the element of secret observation, which is the hallmark of voyeurism. However, with the multiplicity and miniaturization of surveillance cameras and other such means makes digital voyeurism increasingly common and is generally considered a crime in most countries.
Voyeurism is a form of paraphilia (recurring, intense sexual fantasy), but most people who have voyeuristic interests do not meet the clinical criteria for a paraphilic disorder. The diagnosis require that the person’s behavior, fantasies, or intense urges result in clinically significant distress or impaired functioning or cause harm to others (which in voyeurism includes acting on the urges with a nonconsenting person). The condition must also have been present for ≥ 6 months.
Mental health consequences to victims and voyeurs:
Victims:
The victims often have to go through humiliation and shame, as more often than not they may not even be aware of the act happening. Going through legal steps can be retraumatising and create an inherent sense of worry and apprehension about the future. Which may eventually result in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive checking behaviours, paranoia etc. In India, voyeurism is a punishable offence under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The punishment is imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and a fine. Repeat offenders can be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to seven years and a fine. But devastatingly, IPC’s definition of voyeurism is not gender-neutral as it only covers acts committed against women.
Voyeurs
Some researchers believe that voyeurism is a form of addiction, where the individual becomes dependent on the thrill of watching others to satisfy their needs. Hence there could be comorbid mental disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder, exhibitionistic disorder and more. Various studies show the ratio of male to female voyeurs to be 2:1 to 3:1 although the right numbers cannot be assessed as most people do not admit to the behaviour.
Treatment options:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is often used to help individuals identify and change their problematic thoughts and behaviours. Insight-oriented therapy aims to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of their voyeuristic behaviors.
- Medications such as antiandrogens to suppress the production of testosterone which leads to increased sex drive is only administered if consented to. And medications that address any underlying causes or comorbidities such as antidepressants may be prescribed.
- Support groups or group psychotherapy can create an atmosphere which fosters conversations about the distress the behaviour is causing, while removing the alienation and ridicule that comes with it.
Voyeurism is a topic often met with discomfort, secrecy, or outright condemnation. As a result, it is often reduced to a moral failing or criminal act, leaving little room for a deeper conversation about its psychological roots.
Like many other human behaviors, voyeurism exists on a spectrum. While some forms such as watching reality TV, following personal lives on social media or pornography are widely accepted, others, particularly those involving non-consenting individuals, can become harmful and pathological. Psychoeducation becomes key here but understanding voyeurism isn’t about justifying harmful actions, it’s about recognizing that many behaviors stem from complex psychological, social, and biological factors. Although no particular single cause can be pinned on, there may be several contributory factors such as substance abuse, history of sexual abuse, personality traits, unhealthy coping styles and underlying mental disorders.
By fostering informed discussions, we can create a more compassionate approach, one that prioritizes prevention, intervention, and ethical awareness rather than solely relying on incrimination.
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By
Jensita Grace,
In-house Psychologist, Theraverse
https://lawbhoomi.com/voyeurism-in-the-indian-law/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/voyeuristic-disorder
