Autoerotic fatality
Encyclopedia
Autoerotic fatalities are death
s that occur during sexual activity when an action, chemical, device or prop that is being employed to enhance physical or psychological stimulation causes the death. These deaths may be accidental, natural or homicidal and occur in connection with consensual acts, criminal sexual assaults, or autoerotic acts
. The term is often applied to only those deaths related to solitary sexual practices such as self-bondage
and autoerotic asphyxia. In some cases autoerotic fatalities are not initially recognized, and are confused with sexual homicide or suicide
, but suicide by autoerotic means is extremely uncommon.
Causes of autoerotic deaths included the use of chemicals such as amyl nitrite
, GHB
, or nitrous oxide
, and props and tools such as knives, oversized dildos, ligatures or bags for asphyxiation, duct tape, electrical apparatus for shocks, water for self-immersion, fire-making equipment for self-immolation, or sharp, unhygienic or large fetishized objects. Male victims are much more likely to use a variety of devices during autoerotic behaviour than female victims.
The most common causes of death in autoerotic fatalities are asphyxia
by strangulation, suffocation, chemical or postural asphyxia. These causes dominate autoerotic deaths to such an extent that other forms of autoerotic death are termed atypical. Atypical deaths are through causes such as electrocution
, sepsis
after bowel perforation, crushing, and accidental self-impalement
.
The subject has been treated in two books, Autoerotic Fatalities by Hazelwood et al. (1983) and Autoerotic Asphyxiation: Forensic, Medical, and Social Aspects by Sheleg et al. (2006).
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
s that occur during sexual activity when an action, chemical, device or prop that is being employed to enhance physical or psychological stimulation causes the death. These deaths may be accidental, natural or homicidal and occur in connection with consensual acts, criminal sexual assaults, or autoerotic acts
Autoeroticism
Autoeroticism is the practice of stimulating oneself sexually. The term was popularized toward the end of the 19th century by British sexologist Havelock Ellis, who defined autoeroticism as "the phenomena of spontaneous sexual emotion generated in the absence of an external stimulus proceeding,...
. The term is often applied to only those deaths related to solitary sexual practices such as self-bondage
Self-bondage
Self-bondage refers to the use of restraints on oneself for sexual pleasure. It is a form of sexual bondage which can be practiced alone.Self-bondage is characterized by experimentation and ingenuity, and can be riskier than conventional bondage...
and autoerotic asphyxia. In some cases autoerotic fatalities are not initially recognized, and are confused with sexual homicide or suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, but suicide by autoerotic means is extremely uncommon.
Causes of autoerotic deaths included the use of chemicals such as amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties are mainly due to the nitrite group...
, GHB
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid , also known as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and sodium oxybate when used for medicinal purposes, is a naturally occurring substance found in the central nervous system, wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and almost all animals in small amounts. It is also categorized as an illegal...
, or nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air, is a chemical compound with the formula . It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic...
, and props and tools such as knives, oversized dildos, ligatures or bags for asphyxiation, duct tape, electrical apparatus for shocks, water for self-immersion, fire-making equipment for self-immolation, or sharp, unhygienic or large fetishized objects. Male victims are much more likely to use a variety of devices during autoerotic behaviour than female victims.
The most common causes of death in autoerotic fatalities are asphyxia
Asphyxia
Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from being unable to breathe normally. An example of asphyxia is choking. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which primarily affects the tissues and organs...
by strangulation, suffocation, chemical or postural asphyxia. These causes dominate autoerotic deaths to such an extent that other forms of autoerotic death are termed atypical. Atypical deaths are through causes such as electrocution
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
, sepsis
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
after bowel perforation, crushing, and accidental self-impalement
Impalement
Impalement is the traumatic penetration of an organism by an elongated foreign object such as a stake, pole, or spear, and this usually implies complete perforation of the central mass of the impaled body...
.
The subject has been treated in two books, Autoerotic Fatalities by Hazelwood et al. (1983) and Autoerotic Asphyxiation: Forensic, Medical, and Social Aspects by Sheleg et al. (2006).
External links
- http://www.corpus-delicti.com/auto.html