Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing
Encyclopedia
Richard Freiherr
von Krafft-Ebing (full name Richard Fridolin Joseph Freiherr Krafft von Festenberg auf Frohnberg, genannt von Ebing ) (14 August 1840 – 22 December 1902) was an Austro–German psychiatrist
who was born in Mannheim
in the historical state of Baden
, Germany. He studied medicine
at the University of Heidelberg, where he specialized in psychiatry
. He later practiced in psychiatric asylums
.
After abandoning his work in psychiatric asylums, he pursued an academic career as a professor, lecturer on psychiatry, forensics
expert, and hypnotist.
This book popularized the terms sadism
(derived from the brutal sexual practices depicted in the novels of Marquis de Sade
) and masochism
(derived from the name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
), although these terms apparently were in use prior to its publication.
Psychopathia Sexualis is a forensic reference book for psychiatrists, physicians, and judge
s. Written in an academic style, its introduction noted that the author had "deliberately chosen a scientific term for the name of the book, to discourage lay readers" and that he had written "sections of the book in Latin for the same purpose."
Psychopathia Sexualis was one of the first books about sexual practices
that studied homosexuality
. It proposed consideration of the mental state of sex criminals in legal judgements of their crimes. During its time, it became the leading medico–legal textual authority on sexual pathology
.
The first edition of Psychopathia Sexualis (1886) presented four categories of what Krafft-Ebing called "cerebral neuroses
":
As an Austria
n man of his time (1840–1902) and a Roman Catholic, Krafft-Ebing believed that procreation was the purpose of sexual desire and that any form of recreational sex was a perversion
of the sex drive. He perceived women as sexually passive, and thus he recorded no sexual case studies of sadistic
or fetishistic
women.
Given that procreation was the purpose of sexual intercourse, Krafft-Ebing concluded that homosexuals suffered a degree of sexual perversion because homosexual practices could not result in procreation. In some cases, homosexual libido
was classified as a moral vice
induced by the early practice of masturbation
.
Krafft-Ebing proposed a theory of homosexuality as biologically anomalous and originating in the embryonic
and fetal
stages of gestation
, which evolved into a "sexual inversion" of the brain
. In 1901, in an article in the Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen (Yearbook of Sexual Intermediate Stages), he changed the biological term from anomaly to differentiation.
Krafft-Ebing’s conclusions about homosexuality are now largely forgotten, partly because Sigmund Freud
’s theories were more interesting to physicians (who considered homosexuality to be a psychological problem) and partly because he incurred the enmity of the Austrian Roman Catholic Church when he psychologically associated martyrdom (a desire for sanctity) with hysteria
and masochism
. Moreover, in a footnote added to the 1915 edition of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality
(1905), Sigmund Freud urged that homosexuals not be segregated from mainstream society.
Charles Gilbert Chaddock translated four of Krafft-Ebing's books into English:
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
von Krafft-Ebing (full name Richard Fridolin Joseph Freiherr Krafft von Festenberg auf Frohnberg, genannt von Ebing ) (14 August 1840 – 22 December 1902) was an Austro–German psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was born in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
in the historical state of Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, Germany. He studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Heidelberg, where he specialized in psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. He later practiced in psychiatric asylums
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
.
After abandoning his work in psychiatric asylums, he pursued an academic career as a professor, lecturer on psychiatry, forensics
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
expert, and hypnotist.
Principal work
Krafft-Ebing's principal work is Psychopathia Sexualis: eine Klinisch-Forensische Studie (Sexual Psychopathy: a Clinical-Forensic Study) , first published in 1886. It is a series of 238 case histories of human sexual behaviour.This book popularized the terms sadism
Sadism and masochism as medical terms
In psychiatry, the terms sadism and masochism describe a personality type characterized by the actor or actrix deriving pleasure and gratification from inflicting physical pain and humiliation ; and from suffering pain and humiliation upon the self ; such pleasure often is sexual, but not...
(derived from the brutal sexual practices depicted in the novels of Marquis de Sade
Marquis de Sade
Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle...
) and masochism
Sadism and masochism as medical terms
In psychiatry, the terms sadism and masochism describe a personality type characterized by the actor or actrix deriving pleasure and gratification from inflicting physical pain and humiliation ; and from suffering pain and humiliation upon the self ; such pleasure often is sexual, but not...
(derived from the name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch was an Austrian writer and journalist, who gained renown for his romantic stories of Galician life. The term masochism is derived from his name....
), although these terms apparently were in use prior to its publication.
Psychopathia Sexualis is a forensic reference book for psychiatrists, physicians, and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s. Written in an academic style, its introduction noted that the author had "deliberately chosen a scientific term for the name of the book, to discourage lay readers" and that he had written "sections of the book in Latin for the same purpose."
Psychopathia Sexualis was one of the first books about sexual practices
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
that studied homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. It proposed consideration of the mental state of sex criminals in legal judgements of their crimes. During its time, it became the leading medico–legal textual authority on sexual pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
.
The first edition of Psychopathia Sexualis (1886) presented four categories of what Krafft-Ebing called "cerebral neuroses
Neurosis
Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, and thus those suffering from it are said to be neurotic...
":
- paradoxia — sexual desire at the wrong time of life
- anesthesia — insufficient sexual desire
- hyperesthesia — excessive sexual desire
- paraesthesia — misdirected sexual desire (e.g., homosexualityHomosexualityHomosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, sexual fetishismSexual fetishismSexual fetishism, or erotic fetishism, is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish, the person a fetishist who has a fetish for that object/situation. Sexual fetishism may be regarded, e.g...
, sadismSadism and masochism as medical termsIn psychiatry, the terms sadism and masochism describe a personality type characterized by the actor or actrix deriving pleasure and gratification from inflicting physical pain and humiliation ; and from suffering pain and humiliation upon the self ; such pleasure often is sexual, but not...
, masochismSadism and masochism as medical termsIn psychiatry, the terms sadism and masochism describe a personality type characterized by the actor or actrix deriving pleasure and gratification from inflicting physical pain and humiliation ; and from suffering pain and humiliation upon the self ; such pleasure often is sexual, but not...
, and pedophiliaPedophiliaAs a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
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...
n man of his time (1840–1902) and a Roman Catholic, Krafft-Ebing believed that procreation was the purpose of sexual desire and that any form of recreational sex was a perversion
Perversion
Perversion is a concept describing those types of human behavior that are a serious deviation from what is considered to be orthodox or normal. Although it can refer to varying forms of deviation, it is most often used to describe sexual behaviors that are seen by an individual as abnormal,...
of the sex drive. He perceived women as sexually passive, and thus he recorded no sexual case studies of sadistic
Sadism and masochism as medical terms
In psychiatry, the terms sadism and masochism describe a personality type characterized by the actor or actrix deriving pleasure and gratification from inflicting physical pain and humiliation ; and from suffering pain and humiliation upon the self ; such pleasure often is sexual, but not...
or fetishistic
Sexual fetishism
Sexual fetishism, or erotic fetishism, is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish, the person a fetishist who has a fetish for that object/situation. Sexual fetishism may be regarded, e.g...
women.
Given that procreation was the purpose of sexual intercourse, Krafft-Ebing concluded that homosexuals suffered a degree of sexual perversion because homosexual practices could not result in procreation. In some cases, homosexual libido
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
was classified as a moral vice
Vice
Vice is a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a defect, an infirmity, or merely a bad habit. Synonyms for vice include fault, depravity, sin, iniquity, wickedness, and corruption...
induced by the early practice of masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
.
Krafft-Ebing proposed a theory of homosexuality as biologically anomalous and originating in the embryonic
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
and fetal
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
stages of gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
, which evolved into a "sexual inversion" of the brain
Human brain
The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times larger than the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size. Estimates for the number of neurons in the human brain range from 80 to 120 billion...
. In 1901, in an article in the Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen (Yearbook of Sexual Intermediate Stages), he changed the biological term from anomaly to differentiation.
Krafft-Ebing’s conclusions about homosexuality are now largely forgotten, partly because Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
’s theories were more interesting to physicians (who considered homosexuality to be a psychological problem) and partly because he incurred the enmity of the Austrian Roman Catholic Church when he psychologically associated martyrdom (a desire for sanctity) with hysteria
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
and masochism
Masochism
The word masochism could refer to:*Sadomasochism*Self-defeating personality disorder...
. Moreover, in a footnote added to the 1915 edition of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality
Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality
Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality is a 1905 work by Sigmund Freud which advanced his theory of sexuality, in particular its relation to childhood...
(1905), Sigmund Freud urged that homosexuals not be segregated from mainstream society.
Works
- Die Melancholie: Eine klinische Studie (1874)
- Grundzüge der Kriminalpsychologie für Juristen (second edition, 1882)
- Die progressive allgemeine Paralyse (1894)
- Nervosität und neurasthenische Zustände (1895)
Translations
- Dr. Domino Falls translated and edited the case histories in Psychopathia Sexualis:The Case Histories (1997) ISBN 978-0-9820464-7-0.
Charles Gilbert Chaddock translated four of Krafft-Ebing's books into English:
- An Experimental Study in the Domain of Hypnotism (New York and London, 1889)
- Psychosis Menstrualis (1902)
- Psychopathia Sexualis (twelfth edition, 1903)
- Text Book of Insanity (1905)
External links
- Psychopathia Sexualis, with especial reference to the antipathic sexual instinct, a medico-forensic study An early English translation available at archive.org.