Autoerotic Asphyxia

Autoerotic Asphyxia

Autoerotic Asphyxia

Autoerotic asphyxia is an activity that involves choking oneself during sexual stimulation in order to heighten the sexual pleasure. Autoerotic asphyxia may involve elaborate bindings, sophisticated escape mechanisms, sexual images, or cross-dressing. Death may occur if loss of consciousness leads to loss of control and inability to reverse or stop the means of strangulation. Participants of autoerotic asphyxia are almost exclusively older adolescent and adult males. Autoerotic death denotes an unanticipated death that results while the subject is engaged in solo sexual activity and the arousal-enhancing device designed to rescue the participant fails (Schott, 2003).

Approximately 500 to 1000 individuals succumb to an autoerotic fatality annually in the United States and Canada. Autoerotic asphyxial death constitutes the majority of these cases and refers to fatalities resulting from asphyxia by ligature, plastic bag, or inhalation of chemicals. Asphyxiation by means of a ligature about the neck is the most common. Rare cases of nonasphyxial autoerotic death result from employment of other methods, such as electrocution or aquaeroticum (autoerotic drowning) (Schott, 2003).

Reasons for Performing Autoerotic Asphyxia

It is not clear what motivates people to engage in strangulation activities. Possible motivating factors include peer pressure, risk- or thrill-seeking behavior, and the possibility of a drug-free "high". In some cases, engaging in strangulation activities begins as a social activity but progresses to being performed alone.

It has been suggested that two types of adolescents may be predisposed to participation. The first group is composed of athletic and average to above-average students who would ordinarily avoid alcohol and drugs; such participants appear to be unaware of the dangers of strangulation activities (perhaps holding the incorrect belief that the euphoria is safe because it is drug free). The second group consists of adolescents with limited access to drugs or alcohol that may use the ...