Exhibitionism is arousal from being seen. In a consensual setting that can mean a partner watching you undress, a club with rules, or a photo sent to someone who asked for it. The charge is the gaze, not only the nudity.

The clinical and legal problem starts when the audience did not opt in. Flashing strangers is an offense, not a personality quirk. Parks, windows that face other homes, and public transit are not play spaces. Consent has to cover every viewer.

Couples sometimes use exhibition as a negotiated spice: a half-open door in a rented cabin, a mirror, a trusted friend in a room. Those scenes still need an exit if someone suddenly hates the feeling of being looked at.

Photos live forever. Arousal is bad at predicting next year’s regret.