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)
when masturbation takes place we are not entitled to admit
exhibitionism, (_Untersuchungen über die Libido Sexualis_, bd. i,
p. 661), but now accepts exhibitionism with masturbation
("Perverse Sexualempfindung," _Krankheiten und Ehe_). The act of
exhibition itself gratifies the sexual impulse, and usually it
suffices to replace both tumescence and detumescence.
A fairly typical case, recorded by Krafft-Ebing, is that of a
German factory worker of 37, a good, sober and intelligent
workman. His parents were healthy, but one of his mother's and
also one of his father's sisters were insane; some of his
relatives are eccentric in religion. He has a languishing
expression and a smile of self-complacency. He never had any
severe illness, but has always been eccentric and imaginative,
much absorbed in romances (such as Dumas's novels) and fond of
identifying himself with their heroes. No signs of epilepsy. In
youth moderate masturbation, later moderate coitus. He lives a
retired life, but is fond of elegant dress and of ornament.
Though not a drinker, he sometimes makes himself a kind of punch
which has a sexually exciting effect on him. The impulse to
exhibitionism has only developed in recent years. When the
impulse is upon him he becomes hot, his heart beats violently,
the blood rushes to his head, and he is oblivious of everything
around him that is not connected with his own act. Afterwards he
regards himself as a fool and makes vain resolutions never to
repeat the act. In exhibition the penis is only half erect and
ejaculation never occurs. (He is only capable of coitus with a
woman who shows great attraction to him.) He is satisfied with
self-exhibition, and believes that he thus gives pleasure to the
woman, since he himself receives pleasure in contemplating a
woman's sexual parts. His erotic dreams are of self-exhibition to
young and voluptuous women. He had been previously punished for
an offense of this kind; medico-legal opinion now recognized the
incriminated man's psychopathic condition. (Krafft-Ebing, _Op.
cit._, pp. 492-494.)
Trochon has reported the case of a married man of 33, a worker in
a factory, who for several years had exhibited himself at
intervals to shop-girls, etc., in a state of erection, but
without speaking or making other advances. He was a hard-working,
honest, sober man of quiet habits, a good father to his family
and happy at home. He showed not the slightest sign of insanity.
But he was taciturn, melancholic and nervous; a sister was an
idiot. He was arrested, but on the report of the experts that he
committed these acts from a morbid impulse he could not control
he was released. (Trochon, _Archives de l'Anthropologie
Criminelle_, 1888, p. 256.)
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