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
“When I saw him, next day, I was so ashamed that I could not look him
in the face. I felt the deepest regret for my action, and accused
myself bitterly for having thus sullied this friendship, which was to
be and remain so pure and precious. In order to prove to him that I
had lost control of myself only momentarily, at the end of the
semester I urged him to make an excursion with me; and after some
reluctance, the reason of which was only too clear to me, he
consented. Several nights we slept in the same room without any
attempt on my part to repeat my action. I wished to talk with him
about the event of that night, but I could not bring myself to it;
even when, during the next semester, we were separated, I could not
induce myself to write to him on the subject; and when I visited him,
in March, at X., it was the same. And yet I felt a great desire to
clear up this dark point by an open statement. In October of the same
year, I was again in X., and this time found courage to speak without
reserve; indeed, I asked him why he had not resisted me. He answered
that, in part, it was because he wished to please me, and, in part,
owing to the fact that he was somewhat apathetic as a result of being
a little intoxicated. I explained to him my condition, and also gave
him “Psychopathia Sexualis” to read, expressing the hope that by the
force of my own will I should become fully and lastingly master of my
unnatural impulse. Since this confession, the relation between this
friend and me has been the most delightful and happy possible; there
are the most friendly feelings on both sides, which are heart-felt and
true; and it is to be hoped that they will endure.
“If I should not improve my abnormal condition, I am determined to put
myself under your treatment; the more because, after a careful study
of your work, I cannot count myself as belonging to the category of
so-called urnings; and, too, because I have the firm conviction, or
hope, at least, that a strong will, assisted and combined with
skillful treatment, could transform me into a man of normal feeling.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account