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
purposeless, it would not necessarily be despicable (it is not certain
that the measure of a moral act is its usefulness).
“I am very certain that present prejudice will disappear, and that
when once such individuals experience male-love, the right of
unrestricted love will be acknowledged. For the possibility of such
recognition one need but recall the Greeks and their friendships,
which were nothing but sexual love; and one has only to think that,
despite such unnatural vice, practiced by their greatest men in
intellectual and æsthetic matters, the Greeks are still regarded as an
unattainable example, and held up for imitation.
“I have already thought of having my anomaly cured by hypnotism. If it
were to be of any use, which I doubt, yet I should certainly desire to
be assured of a lasting love for women. For even though I cannot
satisfy myself with men, yet I prefer to feel this capability of
inordinate lust and love, even ungratified, to being absolutely
without feeling. Thus I still have the hope that I shall find
opportunity to satisfy the love I desire, the love that would make me
happy; and I should not prefer the suggestive removal of homo-sexual
feelings, without the simultaneous substitution of a hetero-sexual
equivalent, to my present condition. Finally, I should like to add, in
contrast with the statements of urnings in the published biographies,
that I, at least, find it very difficult to recognize those like
myself. Though I have described my sexual anomaly somewhat in detail,
it seems to me that the following notes are important for a better
understanding of my condition:—
“Of late I have given up immissio penis, and confined myself to coitus
inter femoræ puellæ. Ejaculation occurs earlier than with conjunctio
membrorum, and I experience a certain lustful feeling in the penis
itself. If this manner of sexual intercourse is quite pleasant to me,
it is, perhaps, in part to be referred to the fact that in this kind
of sexual indulgence the sex is quite indifferent, and I am, perhaps,
unconsciously reminded of masculine embrace. But this memory is
absolutely unconscious, and but obscurely felt; for I am not indebted
to my imagination for my pleasure, but it is due immediately to
kissing the woman’s mouth. I feel that the charm which the brothel and
prostitutes have for me also begins to fade; but I am sure certain
women will always be able to excite me by their kisses. Still, no
woman is, or ever will be, so attractive as to induce me to overcome
obstacles in winning her; but even the danger of discovery and
disgrace could only with difficulty restrain me from seeking a man’s
embraces.
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