Abstract
Two subgroups of men who masturbate in public were identified: those who lost sexual pleasure and erections when aware of being observed by a female (Group A, N = 19) and those whose sexual pleasure was enhanced by thus being observed (Group B, N = 11). Response to treatment was compared between Groups A and B, and both groups were then compared to a large cohort of conventional exhibitionists who were already under treatment. Significant differences emerged between Groups A and B in demographic characteristics and response to treatment. Outcome data revealed that it was highly unlikely for Group A men to progress toward Group B characteristics or toward exhibitionism. On the other hand, Group B patients seemed to progress inexorably toward frank exhibitionism. Hence these two groups of public masturbators appear to represent distinct entities within the general category of inappropriate sexual approach behaviors.