By general definition, a perversion is a distortion of perception or an anomaly in action, which is an unnatural or painful deviation of a moral, sexual nature from the norms accepted in a society with its culture, moral principles, rules, legislation. The definition of perversion also includes an incorrect understanding of generally accepted words, laws.
Manifestations include the manifestations of the human psyche in which there is a lack or distortion of adequate human feelings inherent in a particular behavior model. The lack of awareness of good and evil also characterizes the madness and immorality of the individual.
Sexual perversion: the difficulty of determining
Sexual perversion implies a violation of sexual desire and the way it is satisfied. The manifestation of sexual deviations is characterized by behavior and perception of reality, which can be based on mental disorders, interpersonal relationships, as well as physical factors - trauma, the use of stimulating and narcotic substances. Often sexual perversions occur due to mental illness, for example, due to schizophrenia.
The term "sexual perversion" arose in the process of substantiation by scientists of deviations requiring treatment. Causing violations that impede the implementation of labor activity, social communication, causing suffering. Arguing about what a perversion is, one should take into account that in medicine a clear distinction between the norm of the psyche and pathology is not always possible. If an individual’s behavior does not conform to the cultural and moral criteria of society, one has to talk about medical pathology and the legal crime “against inviolability”.
However, everything is far from so simple. For example, age in individual cases can be considered both sexually mature and pre-pubertal. Therefore, in the case of pedophilia, it is impossible to determine only by age whether it is a perversion or not, because desire itself is not a disease in the absence of mental suffering or the realization of attraction in practice.
Causes and symptoms
According to psychoanalysts, the roots of sexual deviation originate in childhood, with repeated repetition of a sexual behavior model that cannot be changed. According to another version, the distortion of sexual perception is the result of psychological trauma inflicted in childhood.
Sexual perversion is the result of several factors, among which are the following:
- humiliation and punishment from parents;
- sexual abuse
- fear of sexual activity;
- psychosexual disorders;
- social impact;
- alcohol abuse
- physiological reasons.
Today, experts have compiled a list of some unusual perversions of a sexual nature:
- Narratophilia means a feeling of agitation from hearing vulgarity or swearing.
- Pictophilia is a perversion, according to which the individual enjoys viewing pictures, preferred instead of sexual intercourse.
- Mechanophilia is a sexual attraction to mechanisms and arousal from speed.
- Pyrophilia - getting sexual pleasure at the sight of fire.
- Podophilia - is related to the foot fetish, which is characterized by attraction to the soles of the feet.
Is it possible to treat sexual perversions
It should be noted that when specialists observe mental abnormalities, the problem is not limited only to how to distinguish perversion from the norm, it is complicated by the careful concealment of the disease by the patient from his surroundings. He fears disclosure and criminal punishment. Due to this behavior, the disease can only worsen.
If the cause of sexual perversion is trauma or pathology, this perception can be adjusted with the help of a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, sex therapist, surgical and other methods of therapy.
Only the patient’s exact setting for long-term and systematic treatment, including psychotherapeutic methods with the aim of displaying adequate libido and suppressing the unhealthy, can lead to positive results. Unfortunately, tranquilizers suppress the libido itself, but do not eliminate the patient’s orientation. Therapy involves the early recognition of mental disorders, the prevention of communication disorders, the prevention of corruption.
The word "perversion" has a second meaning - to pervert (distort) someone's words, the law, the meaning of what was said. A synonym for this expression may be the phrase “turn upside down”, or deliberately distort it.