AUTOEROTIC ASPHYXIATION: THE (MIS) ADVENTURES OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
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Authors
Smith, Leslie N.
Issue Date
2009
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Autoerotic Asphyxia (AeA) 1s a sexual behavior that involves the use of self-strangulation or self-suffocation to achieve sexual gratification. As the behavior is deeply entwined with sexuality and fantasy, it is often successfully buried during the individual’s life only to surface after their death. It is from death that society has come to know and define AeA, but due to the nature of the behavior, does our definition reflect bias. The purpose of this study is to look at AeA in its entirety and to weigh the impact society has on our understanding of the behavior, specifically whether the characteristics associated with AeA are sound. A review of asphyxia deaths within San Diego County, California, between 1980 and 2003, disclosed thirty (30) AeA case. These cases where further analyzed and compared to the standardized AeA characteristics. The case review highlights a few characteristics that need to be modified in order to expand our knowledge of AeA and provides support for establishing a universal standard of classifying AeA deaths.