Sexual Deviations and Disorders | Freudian Psychology

The deviation is a term used for explaining significant differences from the average or norm. A deviant behavior is apart from or contrary to the established or acceptable behavior in a given culture or society. Sexual deviation, in this sense, does not conform to the norms of one’s culture, and society or culture may be regarded as normal or acceptable in another culture or society.  For example, kissing in public is an acceptable sexual behavior in most of the western countries, whereas it is regarded as a sexual deviation or even offense in many Eastern countries. Similarly, deviant behavior like homosexuality, exhibitionism, promiscuity, and prostitution, may be regarded as acceptable and normal in some cultures and societies.

George W. Kisker: sexual behavior is more likely to be considered abnormal or deviant only when it interferes with personal and social adjustment – when it is self-defeating or damaging to others.

Rosen Fox and Gregory: A failure of development associated with anxiety and conflict culminating in a persistent or frequently recurring preference for any form of sexual behavior that is a substitute for, and does not terminate in, genital coitus with an adult of the opposite sex, in a sexual deviation.

Anthony Storr: Sexual deviation can be understood as failure in the quite complicated process of learning how to love – it is the compulsive substitution of something else for heterosexual intercourse in circumstance where the latter is available.

In light of the above discussion and recent research in the field of human sexual behavior, the following conclusion may be drawn about the meaning and nature of sexual deviation.

  Sex is one of the major instinctual drives and essential needs. Although people live in spite of sexual deprivation, they may never live life to the full without its gratification. To enable one to gratify one’s sex need may be a natural instinct but to seek its gratification in some socially desirable ways is a matter of one’s learning from elders and the environment. In addition to being socially acceptable, normal sexual behavior should fulfill the following conditions.

• Sexual gratification is to be received from adult members of the opposite sex.
• Genital coitus is to be preferred to other modes of sexual gratification.
• It should not be engaged in the attitude of shame, disgust, fear, guilt, or inferiority.
• It should neither cause harm to the individuals concerned nor to others.
• It should not cause personal or social maladjustment.

This means that sexual deviation may be understood in terms of learned persistent habit patterns of sexual behavior which compel an individual to seek sexual gratification from unconventional sources and means other than genital coitus with an adult member of the opposite sex irrespective of the fact that such natural gratification is available.

Sexual deviation and sexual offense.

It is important to distinguish between “sexual deviation” and “sexual offense” Although most deviations are also sexual offenses and vice versa, it is not always true. Genital intercourse with an adult member of the opposite sex is considered normal behavior. But sexual intercourse with an adult member of the opposite sex without his or her consent cannot be termed deviance but a sexual offense in the form of rape and sexual assault. In some countries, forcible intercourse even with one’s spouse is termed a sexual offense. Similarly, extra martial intercourse even with an adult willing member of the opposite sex is a sexual offense, whereas it cannot be called sexual deviation or perversion in the strict sense of the term. A further distinction between these terms may be made on the ground that where there is unique stress or persistence in habit patterns in the case of sexual deviations, an occasional departure from an acceptable normal sexual behavior of the society or legal code is enough to label it a sexual offense.

Sexual deviation and sexual disorder. 

Sexual deviation refers to persistent habit patterns of compulsive preference for the unconventional objects or means for sexual gratification other than genital intercourse with an adult member of the opposite sex. One engages in such behavior of his own will and opposite and seeks the satisfaction of the strong sex urge or compulsion. Sexual deviation in this way is a psychological phenomenon. On the other hand, sexual disorders like impotence or frigidity involve the physiological systems too. There is a lack of coordination between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in impotence and frigidity. They may also be the result of psychological factors like anxiety or guilt. The individual is unable to derive gratification on account of the feeling of inadequacy or a state of incapacity caused by physiological or physiological factors. Such disorders cannot be termed sexual deviation as the individual does not deviate from the norms of sexual behavior. Moreover, sexual deviations cannot be termed sexual offenses and are not punishable by law as they are not social or legal offenses.