Peeping tom what does it mean

A man who furtively observes naked or sexually active people for his own gratification. The name comes from the legend of Lady Godiva's naked ride through the streets of Coventry, in order to persuade her husband to alleviate the harsh taxes on the town's poor.

The story goes that the townsfolk agreed not to observe Godiva as she passed by, but that Peeping Tom broke that trust and spied on her. The ride is still commemorated clothed in the city each year. As the picture shows, there's no longer any taboo about watching it. Gleaning the elements of fact from this story isn't straightforward. Lady Godiva was an actual historical figure and is mentioned in various ancient records, including the Domesday survey of The traditional Peeping Tom scenario generally involves a man staring through an exterior window into a private residence, but more sophisticated observation methods such as peepholes, spy cameras, telescopes and hidden recording equipment may also be used to observe victims remotely.

A voyeur often has a defined mental illness or personality disorder which creates a compulsion to watch other people during intimate moments. There is also a sexual gratification element in which the voyeur or Peeping Tom experiences sexual arousal because his or her victim has little to no idea of his or her presence. Some Peeping Toms suffer from a condition called scopophobia , an abnormal fear of being seen or otherwise noticed by others.

Because normal social or sexual interaction is so difficult for a scopophobic, he or she will often find sexual release by observing others from a distance or by hiding in the shadows. A Peeping Tom with such a compulsion does not necessarily want to participate in the activity he or she observes, but rather gain a vicarious thrill from a safe distance.

The difficulty with a Peeping Tom from a legal standpoint lies in the recognition of voyeurism as a mental disease or defect. It is not strictly illegal for a person to observe other people during intimate moments and become sexually aroused. If a person in his or her private residence can observe a neighbor undressing in front of an open window, then no crime has been committed.

At best, a report of a voyeuristic neighbor peeping into a window would be considered a nuisance complaint, much like a barking dog or a loud party. How to pronounce peeping tom? Alex US English. David US English. Mark US English.

Daniel British. Libby British. Mia British. Karen Australian. Hayley Australian. Natasha Australian. Veena Indian. Priya Indian. Neerja Indian. Zira US English. Oliver British. Wendy British. Fred US English. Tessa South African. How to say peeping tom in sign language?