Obscene phone call

An obscene phone call is an unsolicited telephone call where a person uses profane and/or sexual language to interact with someone who may be known to them or may be a complete stranger. Making obscene telephone calls for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure is known as telephone scatologia and is considered a form of exhibitionism.

Status as a paraphilia

Telephone scatologia is usually classed as a paraphilia from a psychiatric viewpoint. It is in the DSM-5 as an other specified paraphilic disorder. Related psychiatric terms (such as coprophilia) were coined in Australia, the United States, and Germany; most of the pertinent literature is North American. From the viewpoint of the recipient of the calls, obscene calls may be considered to be a form of sexual harassment, stalking, or both.

In some U.S. states, making obscene telephone calls is a Class 1 Misdemeanor. In the United Kingdom, obscene phone calls are punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dalby, J. T. (1988). "Is telephone scatologia a variant of exhibitionism?". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 32: 45–49. doi:10.1177/0306624X8803200106. S2CID 145129292.
  2. ↑ Janssen, D.F. (2018). ""Telephone Scatologia": Onomasiological and Historical Note". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 47 (8): 2155–2159. doi:10.1007/s10508-018-1297-1. ISSN 0004-0002. PMID 30182205. S2CID 52156546.
  3. ↑ "Buss Lab — Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Texas". homepage.psy.utexas.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  4. ↑ "What Is Stalking?". Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  5. ↑ "§ 18.2-427. Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods". Virginia Law, Code of Virginia. January 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ Nuisance/Malicious calls(archived), West Midlands Police
  7. ↑ "Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994". www.legislation.gov.uk.