and who may report that known episodes of wa tching unsuspecting naked or sexually ac-
tive persons were all accidental and nonsexual. Others may disclose past episodes of ob-
serving unsuspecting naked or sexually ac tive persons but contest any significant or
sustained sexual interest in this behavior. Since these individuals deny having fantasies or
impulses about watching others nude or involv ed in sexual activity, it follows that they
would also reject feeling subjectively distressed  or socially impaired by such impulses. De-
spite their nondisclosing stance, such individuals may be diagnosed with voyeuristic dis-
order. Recurrent voyeuristic behavior cons titutes sufficient suppo rt for voyeurism (by
fulfilling Criterion A) and simult aneously demonstrates that this paraphilically motivated
behavior is causing harm to ot hers (by fulfilling Criterion B).
“Recurrent” spying on unsuspecting persons who are naked or engaging in sexual ac-
tivity (i.e., multiple victims, each on a separate oc casion) may, as a general rule, be inter-
preted as three or more victim s on separate occasions. Fewer victims can be interpreted as
satisfying this criterion if there were multiple  occasions of watching the same victim or if
there is corroborating evidence of a distinct or preferential interest in secret watching of
naked or sexually acti ve unsuspecting persons. Note th at multiple victims, as suggested
earlier, are a sufficient but not a necessary cond ition for diagnosis; the criteria may also be
met if the individual acknowledges intense voyeuristic sexual interest. 
The Criterion A time frame, indicating that  signs or symptoms of voyeurism must have
persisted for at least 6 months , should also be understood as a general guideline, not a
strict threshold, to ensure that the sexual in terest in secretly watching unsuspecting naked