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Sexual Perversions

The word "perverted" comes from the Latin, meaning "turned the wrong way."  As we've discussed elsewhere on this site, there's a strong dualistic tradition in Western culture that views all sexual feelings and activites as perverted (which is why this site exists). 

So what really is "perversion," if it's not just some form of sexual activity you don't happen to like at the moment?  How can you recognize it? 

One reasonable criterion is harm: a perversion must, at the least, demonstrably harm people.  Although harm is a necessary aspect of perversion, however, it isn't by itself sufficient, because any reproductive activity, and especially human reproductive activity, is intrinsically dangerous.  Pregnancy is one of the most stressful conditions the body ever undergoes and it can cause all sorts of short- and long-term health problems.  Human childbirth has traditionally been extraordinarily (mortally)  hazardous for mother and child alike, and is by no means safe even today under the auspices of modern medicine.  Love itself routinely brings with it acute suffering and inflicts serious psychological wounds.  These are risks we all take when we enter the sexual arena. 

Perversion is the denial of sexual choice

The key criterion by which sexual perversions can be recognized and distinguished from other sexual hazards, in my opinion, is that they hinder or prevent free and open sexual choice.  This lack of consensuality is the essence of sex being "turned in the wrong way." 

Given that sex is so dangerous and so terribly important to us, it's essential that each of us be able to choose it fully, of our own free will.  This is not only a moral imperative, it's also very likely an evolutionary one — the capacity for intelligent sexual choice has probably played a crucial role in our becoming as smart as we are in so short a time. 

Using this criterion of consensuality, a good many sexual activities traditionally viewed in Western society as perverse don't actually belong in the category.  Gay sex, group sex, and most kinds of kinky sex are usually fully consensual, and don't harm the participants. 

A number of behaviors that most people would agree are perverted, such as rape and child abuse, do clearly fit this definition.  A number of common behaviors involving deceit and manipulation that are considered standard operating procedure in some circles would also qualify as perversions. 

Because perversions can do so much damage, it's worth trying to understand them and understand how to help people avoid them wherever possible.  One sad aspect of our sexual makeup, however, is that many of the most extreme and scary perversions seem to get hard-wired into people and are difficult to eradicate thereafter.  This is all the more reason to understand as best we can what causes such problems so we can prevent people from getting caught up in them in the first place. 


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