cations that the individual with exhibitionistic disorder is sexually attracted to exposing his or
her genitals to children should not preclude a diagnosis of pedophilic disorder.
Specifiers
The “in full remission” specifier does not addr ess the continued presence or absence of ex-
hibitionism per se, which may still be present after behaviors and distress have remitted. 
Diagnostic Features
The diagnostic criteria for exhibitionistic diso rder can apply both to individuals who more or
less freely disclose this paraphilia and to those who categorically deny any sexual attraction to
exposing their genitals to unsuspecting persons despite substantial objective evidence to the
contrary. If disclosing individuals also report ps ychosocial difficulties because of their sexual
attractions or preferences for exposing, they ma y be diagnosed with exhibitionistic disorder. In
contrast, if they declare no distress (exemplified by absence of anxiety, obsessions, and guilt or
shame about these paraphilic impulses) and are not impaired by this sexual interest in other
important areas of functioning, and their self-rep orted, psychiatric, or legal histories indicate
that they do not act on them, they could be asce rtained as having exhibi tionistic sexual interest
but not be diagnosed with exhibitionistic disorder. 
Examples of nondisclosing individuals in clude those who have exposed themselves
repeatedly to unsuspecting persons on separa te occasions but who deny any urges or fan-