Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
05:34
Sexual Crosses with the Mucoromycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus
Published on: June 6, 2025
Pathologizing sexual deviance: a history
Andreas De Block1, Pieter R Adriaens
1Institute of Philosophy, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Journal of Sex Research
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Psychiatry has historically struggled to define sexual deviance, often pathologizing and depathologizing behaviors like homosexuality. This review examines the evolving diagnostic categories for sexual deviations over 150 years.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sexology
- Medical History
Background:
- This article examines the historical conceptualization and categorization of sexual deviance by American and European psychiatrists over the last 150 years.
- It highlights psychiatry's ongoing challenge in differentiating mental disorders (paraphilias) from behaviors deemed immoral, unethical, or illegal.
Observation:
- The study traces the pathologization and depathologization of various sexual preferences and behaviors throughout history.
- It notes the persistent struggle evident in historical works and contemporary diagnostic manuals like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Findings:
- While homosexuality has been a major focus, the article also reviews historical and sociohistorical work on other sexual deviations.
- It covers diagnostic categories such as exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, and pedophilia as listed in the DSM-IV-TR.
Implications:
- Understanding the historical context of sexual deviance diagnoses is crucial for contemporary psychiatric practice.
- This review provides insights into the evolving definitions and societal influences on the classification of sexual behaviors.
- It underscores the need for continued critical evaluation of diagnostic criteria for paraphilias.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
01:43Sex Linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
01:23Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital
The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
01:14Psychosexual Theory of Development
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
01:27Horney's Sociocultural Approach
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as dependence on...
01:43Sex-linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.