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ABERRANT SEX BEHAVIOR IN HUMANS
Author(s) -
Herman Morris
Publication year - 1947
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1947.tb31728.x
Subject(s) - annals , citation , library science , psychology , medicine , classics , computer science , history
According to Havelock Ellis, sexual activities, entirely and by preference outside the range in which procreation is possible, may fairly be considered abnormal, ie., they are deviations. In order to remain within the normal range, all variations must, at some point, include the procreative end for which sex exists. Of course, one should substitute heterosexual genital contact for the term, procreation, in this definition, since the latter term excludes the normal use of birth control measures. There are serious difficulties in attempting to divide sexual behavior into the dichotomies, normal and abnormal. In reality, there exist kinds of sexual behavior common to the great majority of individuals, and types of sexual behavior which are different in some form or another. The term, aberrant, which literally means straying or wandering away from a straight path, is a good term to apply to these deviations from the average. All too commonly, physicians and others judge these aberrations in sex behavior with inadequate information by their own standard of what is normal or average. It is most important that the knowledge of the average sex conduct of human beings should be widely disseminated, with particular emphasis on the broad variations encountered. Numerous anthropological investigations of the sex life of primitives, and the sex data of contemporary Americans gathered by Kinsey and his group, are exceedingly valuable sources of such information. It is evident that the relationship of an individual’s sex conduct to the mores of the group is a determining factor in the consideration of its aberrant quality. However, many sex acts, such as mouthgenital contacts, etc., are utilized by many as preliminary to heterosexual genital contact. Are these, too, to be considered aberrant? We think not. Aberrant sex behavior can best be defined as sex activity utilized by preference as an end-point in gratification, despite the opportunity and ready availability of heterosexual genital contact. The term, perversion, as applied to sexual deviation, is mentioned only to be condemned. It conveys a moral judgment which, unfortunately, is already too deeply ingrained in social thought. Aberrant sexual behavior may be divided into the following types: