orgasmic reconditioning
a behavioral treatment aimed at altering the deviant sexual preferences of individuals who commit sex offenses, including rape, pedophilia, and child molestation. The technique has been inappropriately applied to alter homosexual behavior as well. In the treatment as initially formulated in 1970 by clinical psychologist John N. Marquis, participants masturbate to deviant materials (e.g., pictures, videos) and just prior to orgasm switch to nondeviant material. Individuals gradually introduce the nondeviant imagery earlier and earlier in the process, so as to eventually associate only the nondeviant theme with the pleasurable experience of orgasm and to supplant deviant sexual arousal patterns altogether. Several variations of the original procedure exist, including one in which masturbation occurs in a laboratory and physiological responses (e.g., changes in penile tumescence and heart rate) to stimuli are measured; one in which deviant and nondeviant themes are
alternated weekly or daily; and one in which deviant imagery is omitted entirely. Despite its promotion by some clinicians as a useful technique for treating sexual deviance, orgasmic reconditioning has little empirical support; there is limited evidence to suggest its success as one component of a comprehensive behavioral change program. Also called masturbatory reconditioning.