Richard+von+Krafft-Ebing

Richard von Krafft-Ebing was a German psychiatrist as well as a sexologist. After studying medicine in Germany, Krafft-Ebing continued on to be a psychiatrist working at asylums however wasn’t pleased this field of work. From there, he moved on to teaching and became a psychiatry professor while researching and studying the psychological effects of sex. Krafft-Ebing is most well known for his book, //Psychopathia Sexualis//, which reviews his studies of sexual deviation and homosexuality (Bauer, 2003). **Psychopathia Sexualis** //Psychopathia Sexualis// was published in 1886 and according to Dr. Daniel Blain (1965), it was a “landmark in the history of psychiatry.” Krafft-Ebing spent a great deal of his life perfecting this book and wrote twelve editions, each with new studies, experiments and theories. The book is comprised of hundreds of interviews done by Krafft-Ebing of people who have sexually deviant behaviors. It was intended to be read by doctors, lawyers and judges which is why some parts of the book were published in Latin. It was not meant for the general public because there were many controversial topics and he did not think society would use his book the way he intended it to be used. Through all his case studies, Krafft-Ebing developed many important theories about sexual behaviors, some of which are still proving to be accurate today (Blain, 1965). **History of Sex** //Psychopathia Sexualis// examines the history of sex and how it has changed through time. Sex began as an open action that was not hidden and was not something to be ashamed of. It was a biological necessity performed between men and women for needs of survival. However as people became more refined, sex became a hidden act which was performed in private. Christianity also changed sex so that it was an act performed between married people, making it religious and not as socially accepted by those not married. Overall, Krafft-Ebing believed sex was the “root of all ethics” and that humans have a natural desire to engage in sexual intercourse (Krafft-Ebing, 1886). **Men and Women** //Psychopathia Sexualis// explores the differences between men and women and explains women as being more sexually conscious. Women care for men differently and focus on mental aspects rather than physical qualities in the opposite sex. They also focus on love more so than men and think of love as being one of the most important things in life. This explains why women experience more pain when love fails because they care about it more. On the other hand, men are enslaved by women because men have such great sexual desires. When men do not have their sexual desires met, they grow weak and become vulnerable. Men chose women based on physical attributes and do so in order to produce the best, strongest offspring (Krafft-Ebing, 1886). **Sexual Perversions** Krafft-Ebing studied many people who were sexually deviant and he explored many acts which were considered to be unspeakable and nearly criminal (Hanson, 2004). This topic was very new during the time the book was publish however Krafft-Ebing wanted to educate people on a topic that was nearly forbidden. Many cases were explored regarding people with a fetish, which is when someone relies on an object for sexual gratification (Lum, 2008). They are strong associations the person has between the object and someone they love. There are many types of fetishes explored in //Psychopathia Sexualis// such as erotic fetish and religious fetish. The book also explains masochism and sadism. Masochism is the desire to suffer and experience pain while having sex. He explained it as being abnormal but it is an act which can be necessary for certain people. There is an intense gratification for painful bondage which he studied through many people. This is a psychological need which is rooted in the desire of tyranny and power. Sadism is the pleasure of inflicting pain on others during sex and this was a term and mental problem Krafft-Ebing developed himself (Lum, 2008). He found there was a psychological oddity regarding people who enjoyed sadism; however he believed the proper cure was to have masochists and sadists are in relationships together in order to satisfy their sexual desires for pain (Krafft-Ebing, 1886). **Homosexual** Krafft-Ebing was the first to categorize and explain homosexual behavior and examined many cases with homosexuals. He was the first to research homosexuals and found that it was an inherited behavior and was caused by psychological reasons. He focused on studying gay males and found that they had always demonstrated female behaviors even when they were younger. Males who were homosexual were shown to have had special interests in toys, clothing and behaviors that were associated with females. Krafft-Ebing didn’t think there was anything mentally wrong with homosexuals except that it created a group of people who were negatively prejudiced and face social banishment. He also explained how homosexuals couldn’t change their views through psychological help because it was an inherited and biological problem. This made it important to not try and change homosexuals but to learn to accept them (Krafft-Ebing, 1886).. **Effects of his work** Because of the research and theories Richard von Krafft-Ebing performed, the world of sex knowledge and psychology has been changed. Today, many of his theories have been supported which goes to show how revolutionary his ideas were. He was the pioneer for sexual education and communicated his ideas through his twelve editions of //Psychopathia Sexualis//. Krafft-Ebing also gave many speeches to help express his knowledge about sex with hopes to clear up many doubts and stipulations (Hanson, 2004). **References**
 * History**

1. Bauer, H. (2003). Richard von Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis as Sexual Sourcebook for Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness. //Critical Survey//, 15(3), 23-38. doi:10.3167/001115703782153501 2. Hanson, Julie. (2004). "Krafft-Ebing." //McMurry University | Christian College | Universities In Texas//. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .\ 3. Lum, Milton. "Sexual Deviation." //The Star Online//. 10 Dec. 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . 4. Kraft-Ebing, Richard. //Psychpathia Sexualis//. Bloat, 1886. Print. 5. Blain, Daniel. //Richard Von Krafft-Ebing and Psychopathia Sexualis//. Philadephia, 1965. Print.