Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 5: Erotic Symbolism; The Mechanism of Detumescence; The Psychic State in PregnancyEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 5: Erotic Symbolism; The Mechanism of Detumescence; The Psychic State in Pregnancy
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
present I do not propose to add another, as in a great measure it
is only partly written. It may be well here to state that there
has never been in me the slightest homosexual desire; in fact it
has always appeared as a thing utterly inconceivable and
disgustingly loathsome. I am fond of the society of both men and
women, but on the whole prefer the latter. I have had several
warm and intimate though platonic friendships, and get on
exceedingly well with the other sex, although not a good-looking
man. I have always been attracted to women by their spiritual or
mental qualities, rather than by physical beauty, and feel
strongly that the latter alone would never cause me to desire
coitus. Unless there was an attraction other than that of the
flesh, I should feel that I was following simply a brute
instinct, and it would jar with my higher nature and cause
revulsion. This was not the case in my earlier years to the same
extent. I have often wondered whether the sexual impulse was
strong in me or not, but if not, there is nothing in my physical
state or family history to account for it. I am fairly cognizant
with the lives of my ancestors, being descended from two old
families. The sexual instinct was certainly not weak or abnormal
in them. Personally, I am tall and healthy, well built, but
sensitive and highly strung. Smell has never played any part in
my life as a stimulant of sexual desire, and the mere thought of
body odors would have a very decided effect in the opposite
direction. Touch and sight appeal to me strongly, and of the two
the former most.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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