Ménage à trois
-(French) a relationship or domestic arrangement in which three people, often a married couple and another lover, share a sexual relationship, although the relationship might or might not involve all three persons having sexual relations with each other. The French phrase literally translates as "household of three".
Troilism is obtaining sexual arousal and gratification by sharing a sexual partner (or close relative) while watching or looking on. A troilist becomes aroused and gratified by the "sharing". It is any form of sexual activity where three people are involved simultaneously. Troilism is a deep desire to have sexual relations in the presence of others. This paraphilia is a distinct form of Scopophilia. Troilists gain their sexual gratification by watching oneself or/and others in sexual scenes. This person takes photos of him/herself engaging in sexual acts, uses video cameras to observe sexual scenes or uses ceiling mirrors.
A paraphilia of the mercantile/venal type in which sexuoerotic arousal and facilitation or attainment of orgasm are responsive to, and dependent upon observing one's partner on hire or loan to a third person while engaging in sexual activitie , including intercourse, with that person. Typically, a husband arranges that his wife has another male partner, so that he can fantasy her in the role of a whore, without which he cannot become aroused.
It is the act of two people performing intercourse while a third watches. A common example is a husband watching his wife have intercourse with another man. This scenario is part of the swinger lifestyle, and varies depending on the participants. Two of the parties are related, such as a married couple. The third party comes from outside the relationship, and can even be a stranger to the couple. Although the couple is usually separated, it is possible for the third party to be the observer.
Like many parts of the swinger lifestyle, there are no set rules for performing troilism. Sometimes the observer pleasures himself, other times he waits for delayed gratification; sometimes he watches from a few feet away, other times he watches in another room through a video camera. Illegal troilisms involve hiring a prostitute for the act, prostituting one member of the couple, one member of the sex act not knowing a third party is watching, and rape or forced participation of any combination of the parties. These illegal acts can often be role-playing scenarios.
Swingers gain sexual gratification by exchanging sexual partners, with another person and looking at the two engaging in sexual act. An estimated 8 million couples experienced this kind of behavior. If two couples are having sexual relations at the same time, it is also considered as Troilism.
A study by Jenks in 1985 shows that swingers and troilists;
-Are aroused by the "sharing"
-Are relatively new in the community
-Have moved often over the past five years.
-Are members of the middle class
-Are conservative in their political views
-Identify little with religion.
