scopophile
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”) + English -phile.
Noun edit
scopophile (plural scopophiles)
- (psychology, sexuality) One with a sexual dependency on openly observing genitalia and sexual acts, as opposed to a voyeur, who watches in secret.
- Caligula was a scopophile who was not ashamed of his irregular desire to watch others making love, while Mr. Hoover, as a voyeur, favored the keyhole and wiretap as methods of observation.