Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to contrary sexual instinct: A medico-legal studyKrafft-Ebing, R. von (Richard)
Science
Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to contrary sexual instinct: A medico-legal study
Krafft-Ebing, R. von (Richard)
Paraphilias
The principles of treatment laid down were: 1. Removal of the symptoms
of neurasthenia. 2. Suggestive treatment looking to (_a_) avoidance of
onanism; (_b_) indifference toward his own sex and the disappearance
of thoughts of flagellation, both while awake and asleep; (_c_) libido
exclusively toward persons of the opposite sex, the occurrence of
erections at sight of beautiful women, complete power with women, and
dreams of women exclusively. At the first sitting, by means of
Bernheim’s method, the patient passed quickly into a state of deep
lethargy. At the second sitting (February 5) a cataleptic condition of
the muscles was induced. Sittings almost daily. It was seen that
stroking the brow induced deeper hypnosis with catalepsy, which,
however, did not go beyond deep lethargy. Suggestion was begun in the
third sitting.
February 10. The patient says that he has no longer any interest in
men, but a growing interest in women. He begins to dream of women.
February 13. He feels himself free from masochism during the day, and
canes and whipping do not interest him any more. At night he still has
“weak” dreams of flagellation concerning men, but without lustful
feeling or pollution. A short time ago he had had a dream that was
entirely strange, and without erotic coloring, to the effect that he
whipped himself.
February 19. The patient attempted coitus with a puella pleasing to
him. Erection was incomplete, and ejaculation did not occur; so he
gave up the attempt. The patient finds that his libido toward women is
still very slight. He was not discouraged by his failure, and expected
ultimate success; for he felt free from his abnormal tendencies, and
like another man. On February 20, unfortunately, the patient had to
discontinue treatment, being called home by duties there.
The fact that traces of sadism (_v. infra_), were simultaneously
present, lends certainty to the diagnosis of this rudimentary case as
one of masochism. The purely psychical character of this latter
perversion is unquestionable. At the same time, the case is combined
with incompletely developed contrary sexual instinct, an association not
infrequent in masochists and sadists.
In contrast with this case of rudimentary masochism, in which there is
some difficulty of diagnosis, follows a typical case of masochism, in
which the whole circle of ideas peculiar to this perversion appears
completely developed. This case, in which there is a detailed personal
description of the whole psychical state, is different from Case 44 only
in that here there is no thought of a realization of the perverse
fancies; and that, notwithstanding the perversion of the vita sexualis,
normal stimuli are so far effectual that sexual intercourse is possible
under normal conditions.
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