Exhibitionism is a psychological disorder in which a person has the urge to expose their genitals to other people, usually strangers. This behavior is often motivated by the desire to shock or impress the other person, or to achieve sexual arousal and gratification. Exhibitionism is considered a paraphilic disorder when it causes distress or impairment in the individual's social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, or when it involves non-consenting individuals. It is classified as a type of sexually deviant behavior and is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a mental disorder.

Paraphilias are a category of mental disorders characterized by recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors that involve unusual objects, activities, or situations and cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors may be directed toward children, non-consenting individuals, or causing physical harm to oneself or others. Some examples include voyeuristic disorder, exhibitionistic disorder, frotteuristic disorder, sexual masochism disorder, sexual sadism disorder, pedophilic disorder, fetishistic disorder, and transvestic disorder. It's important to note that these behaviors must be causing distress or impairment in order for it to be considered a disorder.