THERE are those who have no qualms about sauntering around completely naked in public.
Others go a step further, engaging in intimate sexual acts in plain view.
And anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that there is a growing number of people here who don't mind flashing their flesh, in public or online.
In the past few weeks, there have been several cases of those who expose themselves in public, put naked pictures of themselves, and in some cases, even their sex videos, on the Internet.
Has exhibitionism become more prevalent in our society?
Earlier this year, a couple strolled through Holland Village dressed in nothing more than slippers.
Then in February, nine National University of Singapore undergraduates ditched their clothes to go on a celebratory run through their hostel.
The couple was charged in court, and the nine streakers were expelled from their hostel.
Law no deterrent
Despite the police arresting 136 persons in 2008 for the offence of indecent exposure, the law does not seem to deter others.
And it is not only a matter of public nudity.
While it is common knowledge that couples often make out at public parks, but under the cover of darkness at night, one couple decided to do this in full public view, in broad daylight.
A video was posted on YouTube of their sexual tryst.
The New Paper on Sunday spoke to several psychiatrists and psychologists to find out whether there has been an increase in exhibitionistic tendencies here, and if so, what could be behind it.
Dr Adrian Wang, a consultant psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said exhibitionism is characterised by having intense sexual urges or fantasies of exposing one's genitals to an unsuspecting stranger.
It is a psychiatric disorder because it is deviant from common or mainstream sexual behaviour and evokes distress in victims.
Mr Daniel Koh, a psychologist with Insights Mind Centre added that the exhibitionist may also have a strong desire to be observed when engaging in sexual self-gratification.
The key characteristic of this disorder is that the exhibitionist derives sexual arousal through the shock or surprise shown by the victim.
However, Mr Koh pointed out indecent exposure is not necessarily exhibitionism.
Dr Lionel Lim, a consultant psychiatrist at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre agreed.
He said that in certain cases, like that of the nude couple at Holland Village, it may not be exhibitionism, but merely a case of seeking attention.
'Some people expose themselves because of a dare, or to gain attention. If they do not gain sexual satisfaction from exposing themselves, that is not exhibitionism,' said Dr Lim.
On individuals exposing themselves online in the form of videos or photos, Dr Lim also said that this is a form of exhibitionism only if these individuals derive sexual arousal from exposing themselves.
Recently, The New Paper carried a report of a girl who posted nude pictures of herself online, looking for customers to raise funds for her education.
Dr Lim commented that in this case, it may be more a case of advertising herself, rather than gaining a sexual satisfaction from posting her own nude photos online.
He said that exhibitionism is usually also characterised by a habitual compulsion to expose oneself.
'If it occurs only once, it could be due to rebelliousness or the want for attention,' he added.
How prevalent is such behaviour then?
Dr Wang said it is not known how common the condition is, as people who have it don't usually come forward to seek treatment.
Neither Dr Wang or Mr Koh have treated any patient for exhibitionistic tendencies so far but Dr Lim said he has come across four cases in his 25 years of practice.
He said these patients sought treatment only after they had been caught and got into trouble with the law.
On what causes such behaviour, all three experts said there is no one exact cause.
Dr Lim said treatment usually involves medication as well as a lot of counselling and psychotherapy.
Whether or not the patient can be cured of such tendencies depends on his motivation, said Dr Lim.
'Treatment can be rather long as sometimes the cause goes back to the person's childhood,' he added.
Dr Lim does not think that the recent media reports mean that exhibitionism is on the rise.
However he believes that the Internet may help spread exhibitionistic behaviour although there is no data on this yet.
'Exhibitionists may find that they can expose themselves to a wider audience and yet remain anonymous,' he said.
