Definition of exhibitionism

The word "exhibitionism" has its roots in the late 19th century. In 1886, French psychiatrist Jean-Martin Charcot first used the term "exhibitionnisme" to describe a mental disorder characterized by the exhibition of one's genitals or intimate body parts to others. Charcot derived the term from the Latin word "exhibere," meaning "to show" or "to exhibit." He believed that exhibitionism was a manifestation of sexual perversion, which was a popular concept at the time. The term gained widespread acceptance and was later adopted into English as "exhibitionism." Since then, it has been used to describe the act of intentionally showing one's genitals or engaging in indecent exposure in public, often for sexual gratification. While the term initially carried a negative connotation, it is now used neutrally to describe a common type of paraphilia.