Helen Singer Kaplan
Encyclopedia
Helen Singer Kaplan was an Austrian
-born American sex therapist and the founder of the first clinic in the United States for sexual disorders established at a medical school
. The New York Times
described Kaplan as someone who was "considered a leader among scientific-oriented sex therapists. She was noted for her efforts to combine some of the insights and techniques of psychoanalysis with behavioral methods." She was also dubbed the "Sex Queen" because of her role as a pioneer in sex therapy during the sexual revolution in 1960s America
, and because of her advocacy of the idea that people should enjoy sexual intercourse
as much as possible, as opposed to seeing it as something dirty or harmful.
, Austria
, on February 6, 1929. In 1940, she emigrated to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1947. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
from Syracuse University
in 1951, graduating magna cum laude. She was then educated at Columbia University
, where she received a master's degree
in psychology
in 1952, and then a PhD
in psychology in 1955. At New York Medical College
, she earned a medical degree
in 1959, and later completed a comprehensive course in psychoanalysis
there in 1970. She died of cancer at the age of 66.
as a triphasic phenomenon, consisting of separate—but interlocking—phases: desire, arousal, and orgasm. She concluded that "desire" phase disorders are the most difficult to treat, being associated with deep-seated psychological difficulties.
Kaplan wrote extensively on the treatment of sexual dysfunctions, integrating other methods with principles of psychotherapy. As did many other experts in her field, Kaplan believed that sexual difficulties typically had superficial origins. She suggested that premature ejaculation occurred if the subject did not have voluntary control over when he ejaculated, and that coitally anorgasmic women should not necessarily be thought of as having a problem.
Kaplan always encouraged people to enjoy having sex as much as possible. However, since the introduction of AIDS into the United States
in the early 1970s, she has had to add the caveat: "If you aren't extremely careful, it can kill you." Kaplan commented that she "absolutely hate[s] having to say that. [...] I have spent my whole life devising solutions to people's problems, telling them that sex is not dirty or harmful, but a natural function. And now I have to tell them, 'Hey, look out. You could die.'"
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
-born American sex therapist and the founder of the first clinic in the United States for sexual disorders established at a medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described Kaplan as someone who was "considered a leader among scientific-oriented sex therapists. She was noted for her efforts to combine some of the insights and techniques of psychoanalysis with behavioral methods." She was also dubbed the "Sex Queen" because of her role as a pioneer in sex therapy during the sexual revolution in 1960s America
Sexual revolution in 1960s America
The 1960s in the United States are often perceived today as a period of profound societal change, one in which a great many politically minded individuals, who on the whole were young and educated, sought to influence the status quo....
, and because of her advocacy of the idea that people should enjoy sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
as much as possible, as opposed to seeing it as something dirty or harmful.
Life
Kaplan was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, on February 6, 1929. In 1940, she emigrated to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1947. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1951, graduating magna cum laude. She was then educated at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where she received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1952, and then a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in psychology in 1955. At New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
, she earned a medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1959, and later completed a comprehensive course in psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
there in 1970. She died of cancer at the age of 66.
Sex research and therapy
A psychologist and psychiatrist by training, Kaplan viewed human sexual responseHuman sexual response
Human sexual response may refer to:* Human sexual arousal.* Human Sexual Response , a book by William Howell Masters and Virginia Eshelman Johnson.* Human Sexual Response , a New Wave musical group from Boston, Massachusetts, United States....
as a triphasic phenomenon, consisting of separate—but interlocking—phases: desire, arousal, and orgasm. She concluded that "desire" phase disorders are the most difficult to treat, being associated with deep-seated psychological difficulties.
Kaplan wrote extensively on the treatment of sexual dysfunctions, integrating other methods with principles of psychotherapy. As did many other experts in her field, Kaplan believed that sexual difficulties typically had superficial origins. She suggested that premature ejaculation occurred if the subject did not have voluntary control over when he ejaculated, and that coitally anorgasmic women should not necessarily be thought of as having a problem.
Kaplan always encouraged people to enjoy having sex as much as possible. However, since the introduction of AIDS into the United States
HIV/AIDS in the United States
[[File:New HIV Cases 22 States 2006 CDC.svg|thumb|300px|Estimated Number of New HIV Cases—22 States 2006...
in the early 1970s, she has had to add the caveat: "If you aren't extremely careful, it can kill you." Kaplan commented that she "absolutely hate[s] having to say that. [...] I have spent my whole life devising solutions to people's problems, telling them that sex is not dirty or harmful, but a natural function. And now I have to tell them, 'Hey, look out. You could die.'"