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Excerpts from the Professional Press on the work of DR. WM. STEKEL

We have lacked thus far a systematic clinical application of Freudian analysis. Stekel's work fills this need. Jung, in Mediz. Klinik.

... A standard work ; a milestone in the psychiatric and psycho- therapeutic literature.

Geh. Sanitatsrat Dr. Gerster, in Die Neue Generation.

It would be regrettable if the work did not attract fully the atten- tion of the scientific world ; its deep sobriety and the fulness of its details render it a treasury of information, primarily for the physician, but, in large measure, of interest also to the educationist, the minister, the teacher and, not least, to the student of criminology. . . .

Horch, in Auchiv f. Kriminalogie.

These case histories will be read with great interest by everyone, including those who are inclined to maintain a sceptical attitude towards psychoanalysis. Eulenburg, in Medizinische Klinik.

Stekel's work teaches practitioners a great many things they did not know before, particularly about the significance of psychology and sexual science in the practice of medicine,

Hitschmann, in Internat. Zeitschrift p. PsYCHOANAiiTSB.

It is Stekel's extraordinary merit that he compels us to take into account a pressing mass of data which he brings to light with a scien- tific zeal which is unfortunately still rare, — facts and observations so penetrating, so true to life that these often render unnecessary any formal statement of the obvious deductions which flow from them.

Die Neue Generation.

The most modern problems are considered, new viewpoints are brought out, while the excesses in the technique and interpretation of the earlier stages of psychoanalysis are avoided.

Kermauner^ in Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift.

All in all, Stekel's is a work for which I bespeak the widest inter- est not only among physicians, but also among jurists, educationists, sociologists and ministers. Only an understanding of the mental life of the individual will yield a proper view of our social life.

Liepmann, in Zeitschrift f. Sexualwissensch.

The work is a treasury for all who have occasion to probe the depths of human life and should be a source ol considerable information and stimulus to every jurist who takes in earnest his professional duties. Geh. Justizrat Dr. Eorch, in Archiv p. Kriminalogie.

It does not matter from what angle the work of Stekel is ap- proached. Any consideration of it reveals rich material. Stekel is a writer who handles his subjects in a lavish manner; lavish, but with that restraint which bends all to the urgency of his themes. He evi- dently approaches his clinical work with the same exuberant interest. There he reaps through psychoanalysis a rich harvest of results. He has collected these results and presented them for the dissemination of such knowledge of the sexual disturbances as he thus obtained. Facts are there in great number. They cannot be gainsaid. Stekel's own evaluation of such facts and his earnest plea for their consideration, both by the medi- cal profession and by the society of men and women where these facts exist, can speak only for themselves to the truly conscientious reader. There Is not much in tiiese books tliat the psych otherapeutist can afford to pass over. New York Medical Joukaai-.

BISEXUAL LOVE

THE HOMOSEXUAL NEUROSIS

BY DR. WILLIAM STEKEL

(viekna)

Aidhorized trcmslation by

JAMES S. VAN TESLAAR, M.D.

(For sale only to Members of the Medical Profession.)

BOSTON ^

RICHARD G. BADGER

THE GORHAM PRESS

Copyright, 1922, by Richabd G. Badoeb

All Rights Reserved

Made in the United States of America

The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.

PrefcLce

The present work is the English version of a part of one of the volumes in the author's massive series of clinical studies bearing the generic title, Disor- ders of the Instincts and Emotions and covering the whole range of the so-called Parapathic Maladies, The translation represents approximately one-half of the Homosexualitdt of the volume entitled Onum€ und Homos exualitdt, and bearing the sub-title, Die HomosexueUe Neurose. The balance of the Homo- sextuil Neurosis and the author's clinical study of Autoerotism are also translated and will appear "^shortly.

It is the author's intention, and mine as his trans- lator, to issue an English version of all the volumes in this comprehensive series. In addition to the subjects covered in the present volume and in the two volumes to follow shortly, the Disorders of the Instincts and the Emotions include the Anxiety States^ Female Frigidity, Male Impotence, Infantil- ism (including Exhibitionism and Fetichism), the Comptdsion Neuroses and Morbid Doubts. The range of the subjects and the plan of the volumes already published show that the series as conceived

IT Preface

by the author forms a complete clinical account of the psychogenetic disorders, and represents the most recent development of scientific research. Since the genetic study of these parapathic maladies involves a thorough understanding of the facts of sexual life Dr. Stekel's works on the Disorders of the Instincts and the Emotions constitute incidentally the latest practical reference Handbook of Sexual Science in the light of our newer knowledge and should prove also on that score of inestimable value to the med- ical and the allied learned professions.

The absence of formal systematic instruction in the Principles and Practice of Psychoanalysis in spite of the wide interest that the subject has de- servedly aroused in our midst is highly regrettable, the more so since the lack of systematic instruction in our country deprives the older practitioners as well as the oncoming generations of physicians of an opportunity to familiarize themselves with this most important branch of therapy. Even though the curriculum of instruction in our schools, and par- ticularly in our medical colleges, is admittedly bur- dened with a bewildering plethora of other branches of instruction, it is inconceivable that our colleges, our hospitals and psychiatric institutes, and our other institutions of higher learning will long con- tinue to neglect a subject of such vital importance as psychotherapy and re-education, now that the subject has been placed, at last, upon a solid basis

Preface ▼

through the application of the psychobiotic and genetic methods of approach. But it will probably take considerable time before competent instruction to fill the need will be available.

It appears therefore highly desirable that an English version of Dr. StekePs works should make their appearance at this time. For in the absence of formal instruction his clinical studies form an excel- lent substitute, perhaps the most suitable means available for post-graduate instruction in the clin- ical aspects of Psychoanalysis. And should system- atic courses be made available in the near future, in response to the urgent need, our instructors and students alike will undoubtedly find the Stekel series most valuable aids for study and guidance.

In a letter received from Dr. Stekel while this work was going through the press he states that a new edition of Onanie und Homosexualitdt is being issued in the original, bearing a dedication to the present translator.

V. T. Brookline, Mass.

CONTENTS

CHAPTKR PAffB

I KrafFt-Ebing considers onanism the cause of homo- sexuality— Confusion of cause and effect — The views of Krafft-Ebing— The views of Moll— of Havelock Ellis — of Bloch — of Magnus Hirschfeld — How is the diagnosis established? — The funda- mental bi-sexuality of all persons — Relation of neurosis and homosexuality — The family of the homosexual — The views of Bloch on the problem — The influence of the psyche on the organism — Wish as active factor of the psyche — My theory The theories of Kiernan, Chevalier and Lom- broso — The neurotic as a retrograded type — Early awakening of sexuality 11

II The development of sexuality — ^the bi-sexual ideal of all persons — The fundamental law of sexuality — The role of homosexuality in neurosis — Woman- ly men and mannish women — Gerontophilia — Love of prostitutes — The significance of sexual symbols — Various masks of homosexuality — Trans- vestites — A case of Transvestism — The signifi- cance of the hose as a symbol — Love at first sight — ^The critical age — The pleasure seeker — The case of a man passive through the critical age — Neurotic types of liomosexuality — The Don Juan type — Psychoanalysis of a Don Juan — — Passionate falling in love during advanced age, significant — Analysis of a Don Juan .... 53

III Diagnosis of Satyriasis — Priapism — A case of Saty- riasis— A second case of Satyriasis — A case of vii

viii Contents

OHAPTBR PAGB

nymphomania — Proof that the cravings repre- sented by this condition are traceable to the un- gratified homoseual instinct 129

IV Description of Don Juan types who are satisfied with conquest and forego physical possession — An unlucky hero, whose love adventures are in- terfered with by gastric derangements — A would- be Messalina who hesitates on account of vomit- ing spells — Influence of religion on neurosis . . 175

V Resistance of homosexuals against cure and their pride in their condition — Acquired vs. inherited — Insanity and alcoholism betray the inner man — Three cases by CoUa illustrating behavior dur- ing alcoholic intoxication — Observations of Numa Praetonis — The case of Hugo Deutsch — Views of Juliusburger — ^Two personal observations — A case of Moll — Views of Fleischmann and Naecke — A personal observation — Bloch on woman haters . 241

VI May disgust produce the homosexual attitude? Cases by Krafft-Ebing, Fleischmann, Ziemcke — Observation (personal) and case by Bloch — Late trauma as cause of homosexuality — ^Per- sonal observation of a case of late homosexuality — Two cases by Bloch — Further discussion of the problem — A case of Pfister's with the analysis of several dreams 279

VII Erotism and sexuality — The motive power of un- fulfilled wishes — The male protest — Tlie rela- tions of the homosexual to his mother — Hirsch- feld's schematic outline — Infantile impressions — — Influence of the stronger parent — Letter of an expert 331

Index 353

Krafft-Ebing considers Onanism the Cause of Homo- sexuality— Confusion of Cause and Effect — The Views of Krafft-Ebing— The Views of Moll — of Havelock Ellis — of Bloch — of Magnus Hirschfeld — How is the Diagnosis estab- lished?— The fundamental Bi-sexuality of all Persons — Relation of Neurosis and Homo- sexuality— The Family of the Homosexual — The Views of Bloch on the Problem — The In- fluence of the Psyche on the Organism — ^\Vish as active Factor of the Psyche — My theory — The Theories of Kieman, Chevalier and Lom- broso — The Neurotic as a retrograded type — Early awakening of sexuality.

Lehen — ist das nicht gerade ein AndersseinwoUen, als die Natur ist? — Nietzsche,

BISEXUAL LOVE

Living^ — is it not the wUl to he othenmse than nature is? — Nietzsche,

That there are preeminent physicians who earnestly look upon masturbation as the cause of homosexuality seems hardly believable. It would be as proper to consider masturbation the cause of sexuality. We have shown elsewhere that onanism may be the result of ungratified homosexual trends* At times it may stand as a substitute for some homosexual act. It then replaces for a time the adequate temporary form of sexual gratification. I state "temporary form," because the sexual object itself does not remain permanently the same and the sexual directive goals, — to use the excellent expression of Hans Bliiher ^ are often abandoned. The false notion that onanism is responsible for homosexuality has been preconized by Krafft-

* Hans Bluher: Studien ueber den perversen Charakter. Ztrbl. f. Psychoanalyse, Oct., 1913.

11

12 Bi-Sexual Love

Ebing, whose great authority in matters of sexual psychopathology persists to this day. His services are significant, indeed, and we must observe that he has at last accepted the view of Hirschfeld that homosexuality is inborn, — that there is an acquired and a hereditary homosexuality.^ But in the last (14th) edition of Krafft-Ebing's work, which has appeared in 1912, his editor, Alfred Fuchs^ pre- serves the statement about onanism at the head of the chapter and he even underscores the conten- tions of his great teacher on this particular sub- ject.2

* Neue Studien auf dem Gehiete der Homosexualitaet. Jahrb. f. Sexuelle ZwischenHufen, vol. Ill, Leipzig.

^ This view of Kraft-Ebing is by no means "antiquated." It is still maintained hj Stier (Zur Aetiologie des kontraeren Sexualgefuehls. Monatschrf. f. Psych, u. Neurol., vol. XXXII, 1914) and very energetically criticised (ibid.) by Hirschfeld and Burchard. "It is inconceivable," state the above named authors, "how Stier can ascribe an etiologic significance to onanism in connection with homosexuality. Its distribution, ubiquitous — in the opinion of most specialists, would permit one to hold masturbation responsible for any other sexual development as well." According to Stier, early and long- continued onanism (especially mutual) is harmful because "it does away with the feeling of shame in connection with one's sexual organs and makes for readier handling even by the uncorrupted adult." Fleischmann also finds 33 excessive onanists among 60 inverts and concludes (Beitr. zur Lehre der kontraeren Sexualempfindung, Zeitschr. f. d. ges. Neur. u. Psychol., vol. VII, 1911) that "like alcoholism, masturbation must influence the development of the perversion." Many of his patients mentioned the habit in a casual relation. We know well that the sense of guilt is attached to the habit of masturbation. But Fleischmann sees in that a proof. "Onan- ism plays a role in the development of the sexual perversion," he argues, "because it rouses an increased sexual excitability while the will power is weakened by it at the same time an^

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 13

My work proves that we must abandon the merely descriptive method of sexual research. The subject's first account is only a statement of the manifest content of his consciousness concerning his paraphilia. We must look into the latent con- tent, into the unconscious and quasi-conscious forces involved. The descriptive form of sexual re- search must be replaced by the psychological, in keeping with the spirit of our times. In no other field does analysis so convincingly and completely prove its claims.

What was the status of the subject before the advent of analysis? Krafft-Ebing originally looked upon homosexuality as the result of a hereditary transmission, a hypothesis not corroborated by the observations of subsequent investigators. Certain circumstances favor an outcropping in manifest form of the latent homosexuality common to all per- sons,— a fact which complicates this problem. En- vironment also comes into play. An environment such as is furnished by some nervous or psycho- pathic parents naturally plays a role. This sub- ject we shall take up later. The alleged heredi^ tary transmission is supposed to-ishtrw itself in the homosexual through the early awakening of the sexual instinct and by "the' appearance of masturba- tion during early childhood. But we know that

there follows a progressive wandering of the sexual instinct away from the normal sexual aim and object."

14 Bi-Seocual Love

the homosexuals share this peculiarity with all others, especially with neurotic persons. A strong flaring up of instinct is not the consequence but the cause of the neurosis. But according to Krajft- Ehing masturbation during childhood is the cause of homo- or pseudo-homosexuality breaking forth at a later period. "Nothing is more likely," he states, "than masturbation, so to disturb and oc- casionally thwart all noble emotions at the source as they arise spontaneously out of the sexual feel- ing.-'^ The habit robs the nascent feeling of charm and beauty leaving behind only the husk of grossly a-nimal craving for sexual gratification. An indi- vidual, so thwarted, attains the age of maturity lacking the esthetic, ideal, pure and undefiled longing which leads to the other sex. At the same time the heat of sensuous passion cools off while the in- clination towards the other sex is significantly weakened. This deficiency embraces the morals, the ethics, the character, the phantasy and the dis- position of the youthful masturbator as well as his emotional and instinctive life and holds true of both

* This contention is altogether wrong. I have never seen so many and such pronounced idealists as among masturbators. Young artists, poets and musicians in particular often show, I have found, a strong tendency to masturbation, and this agrees with the pronounced bisexuality of all artists, which has been particularly pointed out by Fliess. The youths of this type are often so delicate and sensitive that they see in the sexual act only animal brutality and hide their own sexuality from the whole world. Among masturbators we find the champions of truth, the over-moralistic preachers, the ethical reformers and dreamers.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosextiality 15

sexes, occasionally reducing to zero the yearning after the opposite sex, so that in the end masturba- tion is preferred to every other form of gratifica- tion."

Imagine the injurious effect of such statements upon the masturbating youth; particularly when he reads that the best way to combat homosex- uality is to fight against masturbation (p. 336, lac. cit.).

The great investigator has confused here cause and effect. The masturbators avoid the path leading to woman not because they masturbate. They indulge in the habit because the path towards womanhood is closed to them. For many persons masturbation is the only available method of sexual gratification. Persons with a strongly accentuated homosexual tendency often find no other path open at all, particularly when the intercourse with woman becomes impossible for them on account of some definite traumatic incidents, such as we shall discuss fully later.

Masturbation is never the cause of homosexuality. Homosexuals do not contract the habit early, as Krafft-Ehmg claims, — it is an early, a very early habit of all persons — and that without any ex- ception. The homosexuals do not forget their childhood onanism because there are other, more painful memories for them to repress and drive out of memory. Again we shall speak fully of that

16 Bi-Sexual Love

later. More important for the present is the question: how does homosexuality arise? Is the condition hereditary or acquired? Is it something fatally predetermined or is it only the result of certain definite constellations of the family circle? May it be ascribed to a hereditary taint? Krafft^ Ehing was at first of the latter opinion and pro- pounded the thesis that "we may doubt whether a person of the same sex ever has a sensuous attrac- tion for a normally predisposed individual," but later he changed this opinion fundamentally and expressed the conviction that there is an inborn homosexuality though the condition is found only among the hereditarily predisposed.

He propounded the following theses:

"1. The sexual life of such persons manifests itself as a rule very precociously and consequently, is of abnormal strength. Not rarely the peculiar attraction for members of the same sex which in itself marks the abnormal direction of the sexual instinct is associated with other perverse manifesta- tions.

"2. The spiritual love of these persons is fre- quently an exalted dreaming just as their sexual instinct as a whole penetrates their consciousness with a peculiar and even compulsive strength.

"S. In addition to the functional signs of de- generation manifested in the contrary sexual in- stinct often there are found also other functional

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 17

and frequently also anatomic stigmata of degenera- tion.

"4. Neuroses are present (hysteria, neuras- thenia, epileptoid states, etc.). Neurasthenia, transitional or chronic, is nearly always manifest. This is usually a constitutional state induced by inborn conditions. It is awakened and sustained through masturbation or compulsory abstinence." -^

These statements are relatively milder and here the ideal traits of homosexuality are also given some recognition, although — as we know well — all without exception are addicted to masturbation. Krafft-Ehing does not know that all artists are neurotics and that neurosis stands in intimate con- nection with creative ability. He also makes a distinction between true and false homosexuality, — bisexuality (psychic hermaphroditism) and other forms, as described by Hirschfeld.^

*Cf., on the other hand, the views of Block: "That the con- trary sexual instinct-feeling in itself is not a sign of psychic degeneration and need not be looked upon at all as morbid, is shown among others, by the fact that the condition is often associated with spiritual superiority. As proof we find, among all nations, men of proven homosexuality, who are the pride of their respective people as writers, poets, artists, military strategists, or statesmen. Further proof that the contrary sexual feeling is no disease and does not necessarily lead to immoral tendencies may be seen in all the noble qualities of heart which it is capable of generating, precisely as the heterosexual attraction, such as courage, self-sacrifice, altruism, artistic feeling, creative energy, etc., just as it may be respon- sible also for any of the morbidities and failings of hetero- sexual love (jealousy, suicide, murder, unhappy love with its deleterious effects on mind and body, etc.)

" It was clearly the duty of the new editor of Krafft-Ebing's

18 Bi-Sexual Love

Krafft-Ebmg points out a certain relationship between homosexuality and neurosis. But since he still preserves the concept of degeneration, he is forced in the end to admit that homosexuality may also appear in the normal and is not necessarily a morbidity.

Moll, to whom we owe the first great comprehen- sive work on homosexuality, is of an entirely differ-

popular work to have recorded therein the author's latest views. In his "Neuen Studien auf dem Oebiete der Uomo- sexualitaet" he states: "In contrast with the conception that contrary sexuality is an inborn anomaly, a disorder in the evolution of the sexual function of monosexuals and of the glandular development of the sex glands, the conception of 'morbidity' is untenable. We may rather speak in this con- nection of a malformation and compare the anomaly with bodily malformations, — for instance, with the anatomic devia- tions from the average type. But the concept of a simultaneous psychopathic state remains a legitimate assumption, because subjects presenting anatomic as well as functional deviations from type {stigmata degemerationis), vfiay preserve good physical health for a time, and may even show points of superiority.

"At the same time so tremendous a deviation as contrary sexual feeling must have a far wider influence upon the psyche than many of the anatomic or functional stigmata of degenera- tion. That is the reason why any disturbance in the usual development of a normal sexual life reflects so commonly in an unfavorable sense upon the harmonious psychic development of personality. Victims of contrary sexual feeling often show neuropathic and psychopathic predispositions, such as, for in- stance, a tendency to constitutional neurasthenias and hysteria, milder forms of periodic psychosis, inhibitions against the unfoldment of psychic energies (intelligence, moral sense), including moral inferiority, especially associated with hyper- sexuality, eventually leading to most serious disorders of the sexual instinct. At any rate, it can be shown that, relatively speaking, heterosexuals prove greater cynics about sexual matters than the homosexuals. Also that other degenerative signs upon the field of sexuality, such as sadism, masochism, fetichism, etc., are much more commonly foimd among the former. . . ."

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 19

ent opinion. He states: "Considering the sexual instinct not as a means for the attainment of pleas- ure but as standing in the service of procreation we must look upon exclusive homosexuality as be- longing to the realm of pathology." {Die kon- traere Sexualempfindtmg, Berlin, 1899, 3rd edn.) This is an untenable argument. For there is no procreative instinct as such^ only a sexual instinct. Science is not concerned with the study of purpos- iveness, it is interested in the ascertainment of facts. Science must not and cannot be placed in the service of teleology. At any rate Moll is inclined to look upon homosexuality as a neurosis: he claims to have found in recent years a growing tendency among investigators to establish a border province between mental health and disease, "and into that realm have been relegated many cases of psychic degeneration — I may mention, for instance, certain compulsory neuroses. I believe it is proper that we should place in the same category the contrary sexual feeling." {Loc. cit, p. 435.) He refers here to Westplial who compares homosexuality to moral insanity.^

Notwithstanding MolVs opinion we must stat^ that most modern investigators declare that they have examined many homosexuals whom they have found normal or have at least designated as normal.

* Die kontraere Sexualempfndunff, Symptom eines neuro~ patischen (psychopathischen) Zustandes. Arch. f. Psych. «. Neurol, vol. 11, p. 106, 1870.

20 Bi-Seccual Love

Haveloch Ellis and Albert Moll ^ very appropriately state in their last joint work:

^^NaecTce has repeatedly maintained that the homosexuals are perfectly healthy and aside from their specific deviation may be normal in every respect. We have always maintained this view al- though, contrary to Naeche, we assume that Jiomo^ sexuality is very frequently found in imlvmate as- sociation with minor nervous states. We agree with Hirschfeld that heredity plays a role in no more than 25 per cent of the cases of homosexuality and that, although a neuropathic background may be present in homosexuality, the degenerative factor plays but a small role." These authors find the hypothesis that every person's constitution com- bines the male and female elements a keen concept though rather hypothetical. *'But still it is un- doubtedly justified, if we look upon homosexuality as an inborn anomaly or, to speak more correctly, as an anomaly resting on constitutional traits, which if morbid, are so only in Virchow*s sense, ac- cording to whom pathology is not the science of diseases but of deviations, so that the homosexual may be as healthy as the color blind. Inborn homosexuality ranks on the level of a biologic variation: it is a variation, representing perhaps an incomplete phase of sexual differentiation, but

^Handbuch der Sexualwisserischaften {Die Funftionsstwr- rungen des Sexuallebens.) Leipzig, Verlag F. C. W. Vogel, 191S, p. 65S.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 21

bearing no discernible relationship to any morbid condition of the individual."

I am inclined to doubt this view. What proof have we that the homosexual is perfectly healthy when any criterion of health we may accept must be artificial? On this point we have only the state- ments of the involved persons to rely upon. All describe themselves as healthy. Do not advanced psychopaths do the same? They lack any feeling of illness. This seems to be characteristic of homosexuals in particular. They want their con- dition to be looked upon as normal. They claim to be in good health, seldom wish to change their condition, and usually do not call for medical ad- vice unless they come into conflict with the law and find themselves in danger. The authors themselves very properly remark: "As to the men, the homo- sexuals prefer to hold themselves as normal and endeavor to justify that contention. Those who struggle against their instinctive craving, who look upon their conduct as peculiar or so much as en- tertain any doubts about it, are in the minority, — less than 20 per cent."

Naturally the large number of homosexual phy- sicians have always tried to convince their ob- servers that they are normal and that they do not differ from other persons in any other way. But all unprejudiced observers have to admit the presence of numerous neurotic traits in connection

22 Bi-Sexual Love

with homosexuality. This I have undertaken to prove sme ira et studio having met numberless homo- sexuals and having become very closely acquainted with many of them. / have never yet fownd a homosextud who mas not a neurotic. He is neces- sarily that, as I shall later prove. He must be neurotic, the same as the heterosexual, who struggles to overcome and repress a vast portion of homosexual longing with him. Havelock Ellis and MoU as well as Krajft-Ehvng also lay stress upon the tendency to neurasthenia. But who nowadays is not neurasthenic? is a question frequently heard. Such an unprejudiced investigator as Iwan Block becomes convinced and recognizes an inborn homo- sexuality which must not be conceived as a mor- bidity. For a long time Bloch preconized a dif- ferent view but changed his opinion convinced by Hirschfeld^s work and through his own profes- sional contact with homosexuals. He is now a be- liever in the theory of inborn homosexuality having been led to this view particularly by the statements of the homosexuals. Later we shall prove how un- reliable such statements must be. At any rate so keen an observer as Bloch could not fail to note the striking percentage of neurotic homosexuals. But he thought they were nervous because "homo- sexuality acts upon them as a psychic trauma." Further he states: "According to my investiga- tions and observations the relationship between

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 23

health and disease among homx)seonuils is originally the sarnie as among lieterosexuals and in time, on ac- count of the social and individual isolation of the homosexuals, acting like a psychic trauma, mor- bidity becomes accentuated; usually we encounter* nervous complaints and difficulties of an acquired character, and we note the development of a typical 'homosexual neurasthenia,' which may readily enough lead some superficial observers to confuse post hoc with propter hoc.'''' Undoubtedly the dangers of homosexual activity favor the develop- ment of anxiety states. But such nervous states are found also in cases showing no predisposition towards anxiety, and anxiety states are en- countered without any relation to homosexuality.

Magniis Hirschfeld places himself with all the weight of his personality and experience squarely in favor of the contention that homosexuality is a noiTTial state. His investigations touching upon this field are numerous. We also owe to his labors that great work on the subject: Die Homosexual- itaet des Mannes und des Weihes, (The Homo- sexuality of Man and of Woman, Verlag L. Marcus, Berlin, SW, 61.) No investigator interested in this subject can neglect this fundamental and ex- haustive treatment of it. Subsuming the views of Hirschfeld we may state: There is a genuine inborn homosexuality which must rot be looked upon as a morbidity. Tltis homosexuality should be con-

24 Bi-Sexual Love

fused neither with bisexuality nor with pseudo- homosexuality. Hirschfeld, too, has changed his views in the course of time. He had conceived homosexuality as a sexual intermediary stage be- tween man and woman and proposed the famous term: the third sea:. As is well known all persons are bisexual. Hirschfeld looked for the well known physical stigmata of bisexuality among the homo- sexuals. He found among men enlargement of the breasts, female hips, delicate skin, etc., and among women growth of facial hair, male, energetic traits, etc. In his work entitled, Der Urnische Mensch, he maintained: "A homosexual not differing bodily, physically and mentally from the full grown man I have not found among 1500 subjects and I am therefore disposed to doubt the occurrence until I shall meet such an individual." But in his more recent work he declares: "The androgynic type of man and the gynandric type of woman are not nec- essarily homosexual. There are types of persons which may be described as eunuchoid, — they give the impression of castrated persons without hav- ing undergone the operation, — they possess female bodies, high voice and beardless face. Generally there is azoospermia, frequently anorchia. There are corresponding types in the female sex, — persons with bodies showing many masculine traits. These marked womanly men and mannish women are often considered homosexual, but it is not uncommon to

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 25

find them completely heterosexual inasmuch as they find complementary individuals among the types be- longing to the opposite sex. The types which at- tract them are also androgynous." ^

Hirschfeld does not admit the influence of latent homosexuality in the choice of this androgenic type. A homosexual whose condition is not manifest he does not recognize. His ground for diagnosis is no longer similarity of bodily traits when compared with the opposite sex. The determining factor for Hirschfeld is only the subject's feeling. If lie is homosexually inclined {particularly if so disposed from childhood), the subject is homosesnial, Hirschfeld' s own statement is as follows : "The de- termining factor in the diagnosis of homosexuality remains as before the contrary feeling proper; the diagnosis is strongly supported by a negative atti- tude towards the other sex, as well as by altero- sexual episodes, although these two features in

*I find a very interesting observation bj Block, one which deserves to be widely circulated: "A final and not unimportant form owf Pseudo-homosexuality is hermaphroditism {das Zvnt- tertum). It is remarkable that science has concerned itself only in recent years with the close study of hermaphroditic conditions which have not received heretofore the attention warranted by their sociologic bearings and their frequency. It is a great merit of Neugebauer and of Magnus Hirschfeld that they have called general attention to these remarkable sexual Zwischenstufen, intermediary states, and have pointed out their great practical significance, a matter of which no one has thought before, as is shown by the significant fact that the new German civil code has done away with the legal proscriptions of the old Prussian law concerning the Zwitter (hermaphrodites), upon the contention that no person is of unknown or unascertainable sex.

26 Bi-Seamal Love

themselves are not capable of establishing the diagnosis.'^ Since Block also admits that ther'e are many virile homosexuals with bodily structures wholly male, it follows that the organic diagnosis of homosexuality is altogether unreliable. Hans EUiher, a reliable expert on homosexuality, also recognizes the pure homosexual, which he calls the "male hero" type, whose character and habitus is completely male, thus differing from the second type, the "woman-like invert" (invert ierter Weib- ling). The latent homosexual he considers a third type. (Vid. Die drei Grundformen der Homo- sexualitaet: Evne sexwologische Studie, Jahrbuch f. sexuelle Zwischenstuffen, vol. XIII).

Let us repeat and underscore the far-fetched feature of this method of diagnosis. According to it there is no objective means for as cert aiming homosexuality/. The only diagnostic guide is the homosexu£il*s declaration that he has always felt homosexually inclined and that he is indifferent to- wards the other sex.

The analyst is well qualified to recognise the utter weakness of such a diagnostic guide. We meet continually persons who claim to know them- selves thoroughly; they claim that they have in- vestigated their own state very conscientiously but after a few weeks, often only after a few days (il- lustrations will be fully given in this book) the subject must admit that he did not know himself,

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 27

that, in fact, he had avoided knowing liimself. All persons lie about sexual matters and deceive them- selves in the first place. All play Vogelstrauss- politik, the ostrich.

All neurotics falsify their life history or at least retouch it. They simply forget the facts which do not suit their system of thinking. We must also bear in mind Havelock Ellis'' statement that the honlosexuals prefer to consider themselves as normal. Similarly the childhood history is distor- ted consciously or unconsciously and a life history is reconstructed (in retrospect) from which all heterosexual episodes have been eliminated.

Psychoanalysis has proven that all homosexuals, without exception, shown heterosexual tendencies in early life. There is no exception to this rule. There are no monosexual persons! The hetero- sexual period stretches far into puberty. All per- so'iis are bisexual. But persons repress either the homosexual or the heterosexual components on ac- count of certain motives or because they are com- pelled by particular circumstances and conse- quently act as if they were monosexual. Even the "male hero" (Maennerheld) type and Hirschfeld*s ''genuine" homosexual is only apparently mono- sexual. A glance through the confessions dis- closed by all writers is enough to convince one of this fact. Hirschfeld himself points out that it is to the credit of psychoanalysis that it has revealed

^ Bi-Sexwal Love

the transitory heterosexual cravings of the homo- sexual.

The instmct of the homoseocual originally is not exclusively directed towards the sajne sex. Orig- inally the homesexual is also bisexual. But he re- presses his heterosexuality just as the heterosexual must repress his homosexuality. Blither who is un- willing to recognise a pathogenesis of homosexuality for the 'male hero' type, contends that one could claim with equal relevance that there is a patho- genesis of heterosexuality.

That is a fact. Every monosexuality is other than normal or natural. Nature has created us bi- sexual beings and requires us to act as bisexual beings. The purely heterosexual is always a neu- rotic in a certain sense, that is, the repression of the homosexual components already creates a pre- disposition to neurosis, or is in itself a neurotic trait shared by every normal person. The psy- chology of paranoia, for whose investigation we are indebted to the genius of Frewd, shows us the ex- treme result of this process of repression on one side, just as homosexuality shows us the other side of the same process.

There is no homosexual who is not more or less neurotic, that condition being due to the repression of the heterosexuality. The repression is a purely psychic process and has nothing to do with de- generation. Homosexuality is not a product of

Theoretical: My Theory of Hovnosexuality 29

degeneration in the ordinary sense. It is a neu- rosis and displays the etiology of a neurosis, as we shall prove later.

I revert to Hirschfeld. Regarding the relation- ship of neurosis and homosexuality he states:

"1. Pronounced physical and mental stigmata of degeneration are relatively rare among homosexual men and women; at any rate such signs are not more frequent in proportion to the total number of homosexuals than among the heterosexuals of both sexes.

"2. On the other hand we find frequently and not merely as a result of homosexuality, a greater instability of the nervous system (frequently shown in the periodic character of endogenous temper- amental instability) {endogene Stimmwngsschwan- kungen).

"3. The family of the homosexual often contains a larger number of nervous persons and such as deviate from the normal sexual type. (Hirschfeld, Lc.y p. 338).

Hirschfeld also emphasizes the labile character of the nervous system among homosexuals pointing to the large number of abnormal sexual types in the family of the homosexual. That undoubtedly is a correct observation. It may be explained in two ways: (1) as the result of heredity; (2) as a con- sequence of a common environment. The extent to which these two factors are at work in particular in-

30 Bi-Sexual Love

stances may be ascertained only on the basis of specific inquiries.

I can state from my own professional experience that the parents of homosexuals always show ab- normal character traits. With remarkable fre- quency male homosexuals have mothers who are melancholic, or subject to depressions or who are advanced hystericjals. All gradations are found, from the emotional, domineering type of woman to the solitary, quiet, submissive woman who becomes a prey to melancholia and eventually must be in- terned in some institution. Urlinds show just as frequently a pathologic father, a home tyrant, a drinker, morphine fiend, dissolute fellow, *lady kil- ler,' epileptic or hysterical. We will determine later to what extent such parents influence psychi- cally their offspring and the attitude of the children towards them. Careful investigation of life histories will make the subject plain.

How do the various writers explain the rise of homosexuality? We have mentioned already that Hirschfeld and all investigators deriving their in- spiration from him hold to the theory that homo- sexuality is inborn. According to them, therefore, it is part of inexorable fate, like the law of the planets. . . .

But Bloch finds the condition baffling in spite of all the explanations furnished by Hirschfeld and

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 31

reverting to the latter's chemical theory {amdrm and gyiiecin) he concludes:

"(1) The so-called 'undifferentiated' stage of the sexual instinct {Si ax Dessoir) is often elimin- ated when the sexual instinct becomes directed to- wards a definite particular sex among heterosexuals or homesexuals before the advent of puberty. Homosexuality shows a definite, clear direction of the sexual instinct towards the same sex long before puberty.

"2. A comprehensive theory of homosexuality must also explain the extreme cases, particularly male homosexuality coupled with complete virility.

*'3. Sexual parts and genital glands cannot de- termine homosexuality in those possessing tj^pical normal male genitalia and testicles ; neither can the brain itself be the determining factor in genu- ine homosexuality, because homosexuality cannot be rooted out by the strongest conscious and un- conscious heterosexual influences brought to bear upon thought and phantasy, — the condition de- veloping in spite of such influences.

**4. Since as a predisposition (not as sexual in- stinct) homosexuality appears long before puberty and before the actual functioning of the respective genital glands, it suggests that in homosexuals some physiologic action pertaining to 'sexuality' but not necessarily related to the functioning of the genital

32 Bi-Sexual Love

glands undergoes some subtle change as the result of which the sexual instinct is turned from its goal.

"5. The condition suggests chemical changes, alterations in the chemism of sexual tension, the latter being fairly independent of the activity of the sexual glands proper, as is shown by the fact that it may be preserved among eunuchs and others who undergo castration." (Block, loc. cit. p. 589).

Further he states: "In my opinion the anatomic contradiction, the biologic monstrosity of a woman- ly, or unmanly psyche in a typical male body or a womanly-unmanly sexual psyche in the presence of normally appearing and functioning male genitalia can be solved only if we take into consideration this intercurrent third factor. The latter may be traceable to some embryonal disturbance in the sexual chemism. That would also explain why homosexuality often appears in the midst of healthy families as a singular manifestation, having no relation to any possible hereditary transmission or degenerative taint. On the other hand, the con- tention of V, Roemer that homosexuality is a re- generative process has hardly any points to sup- port it. The root o? the riddle of homosexuality lies here. At least I conceive it to be a riddle. With my theory I endeavor to cover merely the facts and the probable physiologic relationship of homosexuality with particular reference to tb' bio- logic aspect of the problem and to do it more closely

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 33

than the previous theories have done it. But my theory does not attempt to explain the ultimate ori- gin of the relatively frequent condition known as homosexuality.

"I do not claim to be able to penetrate into the last ultimate causes. This remains a riddle to be solved. But from the standpoint of culture and procreation homosexuality appears to be a mean- ingless and purposeless dysteleological manifesta- tion, like many another natural appearance, such as, for instance, the vermiform appendix in man. In a former chapter I have already pointed out that the progress of culture has been in the direction of a sharper differentiation of sexes, that the antitli- esis male and female, becomes progressively sharper. Sexual indifference, genital transition- forms are of primitive character and Ediiard v. Mayer is correct when he holds that homosexuality was much more widespread during the prehistoric age than it is today and considers it as' com- mon, genetically, as heterosexual love. Through heredity, adjustment and differentiation, culture has progressively repressed the homosexual lean- ings." {Bloch, loc. cit. p. 590.)

Concerning these novel theories of homosexuality I must remark: It is not correct that the homo- sexuals before puherty show an exclusive definite irv- cUnation towards their own sex and only towards their own. The truth is that like all other persons.

34 Bi-Sexual Love

the homosexuals show a bisexual period (the undiffer- entiated stage of Max Dessoir) before puberty. Only they forget their heterosexual experiences. The truth is that a comprehensive theory of homo- sexuality ought to explain also the extreme cases, specifically male homosexuality coupled with complete preservation of vitality and female homo- sexuality with the preservation of all feminine char- acters. Such cases are covered neither by Hirsch- f eld's theory nor by that of Block, The third point is equally pertinent. It cannot be a question of brain and genital gland. Chemical influences are likely, but difficult to prove.

The baffling feature of the proHem is due to the fact that the attempt has been made to explain all cases of homosexuality on the basis of a single plan.

As a matter of fact homosexuality may develop in a number of ways and each one must be taken into consideration. That the genital glands play a role in homosexuality seems to me very likely. But while these influences may be suspected they cannot be proven. What I am able to prove on the basis of my data are the psychic factors.

Nor must we forget that not only does the body influence the mind, but that the reverse is also true: the psyche builds up the body in accordance with its predispositions. We find that the artist's physiognomy differs from that of the artisan, and the physician's differs from that of the attorney.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 35

The mind also models the body. A man who feels himself woman-like and who longs to be a woman will unconsciously adopt woman's ways and imitate woman. In the course of time even his appearance will be womanly. Possibly — that agrees with my view — the transformation is conditioned by glandu- lar changes. We may presuppose that, but the notion appertains to the realm of hypothesis, which I prefer to avoid.

All writers sem to neglect the powerful role of the psychic factors. These factors may seem un- real to the upholder of mechanistic theories. Un- fortunately most physicians underestimate the power of the unconscious wish as a plastic and sjm- thetising energy within the human organism. The wish to be a man may raise boys to manliness ; the wish to remain a child hinders development towards adulthood; the wish to be a woman makes for femininity. Any one familiar with Pawlow^s in- vestigations of the ^conditioned reflex' will readily see that certain particular wishes may exert a defi- nite influence upon the activity of the genital glands. The wishes are certainly capable of influencing the appearance, action, activity and features of the in- dividual.

When a boy acts like a girl, it does not neces- sarily mean that he has that kind of a predisposi- tion. It may only signify his identification with his mother or with a sister.

S6 Bi-Sexual Love

Very clearly on this point is the testimony of a case of which I find an account in Hirschf eld's book,

A homosexual woman writes: "I was bom in the country, where my father owned a large estate, and there I was brought up till my 14th year. I was the youngest. My oldest brother had girlish ways about him and was mother^s pet rather than father's, whose favorite child, in turn, was my eldest sister. On my part I am the thorough image of my father in all character traits and in my sen- suous predisposition as well. In later years father^ had often said: 'With you and Ludwig (the elder brother) nature made a mistake; you should have been a boy and Ludwig a girl.' Nevertheless I am certain that father knew nothing about homo- sexuality, also that my brother was not homosexual. My peculiar predisposition showed itself already while I was a child, for it was always my greatest desire to be a boy. As a child two or three years of age, I put on some of father's clothes, played with his cap dnd promenaded around the yard with his walking stick." {Hirschfeld, loc, cit., p. 43).

We see clearly that this young woman identified herself with her father. She wanted to be a man like her father.

The remarks of Ulrichs (vid. Inclusa, p. 27 ffl.) may be understood in the same sense: "As a child the urning shows an unmistakable predisposition towards girlish occupations, intercourse with girls,

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 37

girlish games, and playing with dolls. Such a child is very sorry that it is not 'boy-like' to play with dolls, that Santa Claus does not bring him also dolls and that he is not allowed to play with his sister's dolls. Such a child shows interest in sew- ing, knitting and cutting, in the soft and delicate texture of girls' clothes, such as he, too, would like to wear, and in the colored silks and ribbons of which he delights to abstract some specimens as keepsakes. He avoids contact with boys, he avoids their plays and games. The play horse leaves him indifferent. Soldier games, so much in favor with boys do not attract him. He avoids all boyish rough plays, such as snow-balling. He likes or- dinary ball games but only with girls. He throws the ball with the girl's light and stilted arm move- ment not with a boy's free and powerful arm swing. Any one who has occasion to observe a boy urning and does it carefully may verify these or similar peculiarities. Is that all only imagination? I had observed in myself long ago the peculiarities mentioned above and, moreover, they always im- pressed me, although I did not at first recognize their female character. In 1854 I related the facts to a relative of mine, intimating that they must have some bearing on my sexuality. He scorned the idea and I yielded to his opinion at the time. But in 1862 I took up that matter again with him : meanwhile I had had opportunity to observe other

58 Bi-Sexual Love

urnings and I noted that the female habitus re- curred in every one, although not precisely with the same particular features. But the female habitus differs also among women with regard to certain de- tails. In my case, as a boy of 10 or 12 years of age, how often my dear mother sighed as she ex- claimed: *Karl, you are not like other boys.' How often she warned me: 'You will grow up a queer fellow, if nothing worse!'" {Hirschfeld, I, c, p. 117).

What do these fine observations prove .^^ Any one who understands the playful character of children, their early directed psyche, must recog- nise that such conduct results through the influence of a wish.

No — these observations do not prove at all that the contrary sexual feeling is innate. Hirschfeld contends: "these accounts (referring to previous statements) show a remarkable absence of tender- ness among the urning girls. An expert thorough- ly familiar with their psyche, not without reason states that we must watch the girl who passes carelessly by a looking glass without stopping in front of it when dressing and we must watch the boy who clings with pleasure to the looking glass returning to it again and again, for thereby both betray early their homosexual nature." {Hirsch- feld, loc. cit. p. 119). I see nothing in these state-

Theoretical: My Tlieory of Homosexuality 39

merits but an attempt on his part to differ from the other colleagues.

Finally I turn to my own conception of homo- sexuality, formulated, on the basis of psycho- analytic data and as an outgrowth of the teachings of Freud,

All persons originally are bisexual in their pre- disposition. There is no exception to this rule. Normal persons show a distinct bisexual period up to the age of puberty. The heterosexual then re- presses his homosexuality. He also sublimates a portion of his homosexual cravings in friendship, nationalism, social endeavors, gatherings, etc. If this sublimation fails him he becomes neurotic. Since no person overcomes completely his homosex- ual tendencies, every one carries within himself the predisposition to neurosis. The stronger the re- pression, the stronger is also the neurotic reaction which may be powerful enough in its extreme form to lead to paranoia (Freud's theory of paranoia). If the he tero sexuality is repressed, homosexuality comes to the forefront. In the case of the homosexual the repressed and incompletely conquered heterosexual- ity furnishes the disposition towards neurosis. The more thoroughly his heterosextiality is sublimated the more completely the homosexual presents the pic- ture of a normal healthy person. He then resernbles the normal heterosexual. But Uke the normal hetero-

40 Bl-Sexual Love

sexum individiial, even the "male hero" type displays a permanent latent disposition to neurosis^

The process of svhlimation is more difficult vn the case of the normal homosexual than in the case of the normal heterosexual. That is why this type is extremely rare and why a thorough analysis always discloses typical neurotic reactions. The neurotic reactions of repression (Abwehr, Freud) are anxiety, shame, disgust and hatred {or scorn). The hetero- sexual is inspired with disgust at amy homosexiuil acts. That proves his affectively determined negor- tive attitude. For disgust is hut the obverse of at- traction. The homosexual manifests the same feel- ing of disgust for woman, showing him to be a nev/- rotic. (Or else he hates woman.) For the normal homosexual — if there be such a type — would be in- different towards woman. These generalisations al- ready show that the healthy person must act as a bisexual being.

We know only one race of people who recognised formally the bisexual nature of man: the Greeks. But we must recognise also that the Greeks had at- tained the highest level of physical and cultural de- velopment. We shall have to inquire into the reasons why homosexuality fell into such disrepute and why the example of the Greeks found no imitation among the modems, despite the recognition accorded the tremendous cultural achievements of the ancient Greeks. That will be done later. We conclude:

Theoretical: My Theory of Hoinosexuality 41

Tliere is no inborn homosexuality and no inborn hetero sexuality. There is only bisexuality} Mono- sexuality already involves a predisposition to Tiew- rosis, in many cases stands for the neurosis proper. The theory is not a novel one. New is only its association with neurosis. The merit to have been the first to express it belongs to Kiernan (Medical Staiidard, 1888). Kiernan started with the fact that all lower animals are bisexual and conceived homosexuahty as a retrogression to the primitive hermaphroditic form of animal existence. We must note this theory as we shall have occasion to revert to it when discussing the predisposition to neu- rosis. Chevalier (Inz^rsion Sexuielle, 1893) also begins his inquiry with a consideration of the aboriginal bisexuality of the foetus. Two other in- vestigators may be mentioned in this connection: Lombroso, to whom belongs the credit of having called attention to the manifestations of retrogres- sion (atavisTn) and Bvnet, who maintains that homo- sexuality arises when the aboriginal undifferen- tiated sexual instinct (consequently the bisexual in- stinct) is aroused through some early experience in

* Hirschfeld emphasizes the fact that homosexuality has noth- ing to do with organic bisexuality. He states:

"I deem it important to point out this fact: The most extreme deviation of sexual type approaching the opposite sex, such as hypertrophy of the clitoris and full facial hair growth in the female, or hypospadia penis-scrotalis and gynec- omasty in the f^ale are found linked with heterosexuality more often than with homosexuality."

42 Bi-Sextial Love

assoc'ation with a person of the same sex. Here we have an adumbration of the theory of infantile trauma which plays such a tremendous role in Frevd*s work. In the following chapters a num- ber of cases will be recorded clearly illustra- ting the latent influence of infantile experi- ences.

But we must guard against assuming as true all the traumas which are reported to us. Some of the incidents are interpolated into the life history and only subsequently assume significance. But nothing is so dangerous in psychology as one-sidedness. The etiology of homosexuality is a particularly fruitful field in which to prove, here and there, the role of infantile traumatic experiences. Krafft- Ehing holds that Bmefs theory will not stand close critical analysis but expresses himself very unfav- orably regarding the importance of psychologic re- lations as a whole. He states: "Psychic forces are not sufficient to explain so serious a degenerative process." This depreciation of psychic influences was not very surprising at a time when the prev- alent tendency was to explain nearly everything through heredity or taint.

Before attempting to give an exposition of the psychologic theory of homosexuality I must discuss the relations between homosexuality and neurosis. All investigators, we have already seen, agree that a relationship exists between them. The question

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 43

is: does the homosexual become neurotic because he fears coming into conflict with the penal laws, be- cause he feels his unfortunate predisposition is something contrary to nature (to adopt his own expression), — ^briefly because he is homosexual, or is he homosexual because he is neurotic?

Here we naturally encounter the need of defining the meaning of neurosis. What is neurosis and who is neurotic? I call neurotic the person who has not successfully overcome the asocial cravings which he perceives to be unethical. I call asocial cravings all instincts which society rejects as con- flicting with its cultural demands. That in itself shows that the essence of neurosis must diff^er in diff'erent countries. In one instance we find re- pression of normal sexuality, because sexual activity itself is considered unmoral. (Example : the properly brought up girl in good society who must remain coy.) In another, we find a struggle with instincts which society decrees as morbid. (Ex- ample: the actress who maintains many friendships and must suppress her homosexual longings.) In the same way criminal tendencies may play a role in the development of a neurosis. The neurosis is • the result of the struggle between instinct and in- I hibition. There are, therefore, two paths for the development of the neurosis: a strong instinctive craving which naturally endeavors to break through the inhibitions and powerful inhibitions which re-

44 Bi-Sexual Love

duce to a minimum the voicing of sexual needs even under the impulsion of strong* instincts.

The predisposition to neurosis, therefore, is in- timately linked with our instincts. The progression of the human race requires the frequent suppression of certain instincts and every step in ethical and cultural progress involves giving up some portion of instinctive cravings. The laws are a protection of society against the instinctive cravings of its members. Society tolerates but a portion of the instincts to a certain extent and all others it out- laws as asocial. The evolution of the race may eventually reach a stage wherein the instincts will have been placed altogether at the service of society: the domestication of the instinctive crav- ings. This is the meaning of the struggle of cen- turies between brain and spinal cord. The re- sults of this struggle may be determined only if we contrast a truly aboriginal man with a typical representative of culture. What remarkable prog- ress has been attained in the conquest of instinct! Society goes a step further. It takes care that in- dividuals possessing asocial instincts should be un- able to propagate their kind. Criminals are ren- dered innocuous, the asocial person finds the environ- ment unfavorable and disappears.

But — as I have already stated in my book, Die Trdume der Dichter ^ — the creative urge of nature * English version by J. S. Van Teslaar, in preparation.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexiudity 45

docs not mollify man's asocial requirements. The struggle between nature and culture keeps up un- abated and the result is neurosis. All paraphilias are a compromise between instinct and repression.

I must revert here to my theory of neurosis which I have expressed first in my work entitled, Die Trdinne der Dichter,^ The neurotic is a retro- graded type. He represents a conquered stage of human evolution. He must personally undergo the struggle through which the human race as a whole has already passed. The ontogenesis of culture! Whenever nature attempts the creation of some- thing great, powerful or sublime it turns to the great reservoir of its past. Recessive types mani- fest more powerful instincts. The neurotic, crim- inals and the specially gifted persons have that in common. Three paths are open to the man with heightened instincts: he sublimates his selfish ten- dencies, his criminal cravings, his asocial attitude derived from previous epochs and becomes a creator (poet, painter, sculptor, musician, prophet, inven- tor, etc.); he works out his instincts untrammelled and becomes a criminal; or the sublimation is but partly successful and he becomes a neurotic.

My theory of homosexuality thus links itself to the view of Lomhroso, The homesexual, in the first place, is a recessive character. He shows a pre- cocious development of an instinct which does not

* Verlag J. F. Bergmann, Wiesbaden, 1913. Vid. note above.

46 Bi-Sexual Love

fit the requirements of culture; but biologically he stands nearer the aboriginal bisexual predisposition of mankind than the normal person who is typical of the current age. This conflict manifests itself in various over-compensations, so that the neurotic advances beyond his age and becomes a creator of the future. I must ask my readers to consult my works quoted above for further details on this sub- ject. I have here merely stated in brief what may have a bearing on our present theme.

The specially gifted, the artist, the criminal and the neurotic manifest the same characteristic: over- stressing of instinctive cravings. The criminal carries out his promptings, the artist sublimates them in his works {Shakespeare conceived so many murders and that saved him from becoming a, murderer . . . states Hebhel) while the neurotic meets in them his unsolvable conflicts. He is the criminal without the criminal's courage to commit asocial deeds. He is the Don Juan of phantasy, the Marquis de Sade of his own day dreams, the Jack the Ripper, without knowing it.

These considerations justify the assumption that poets, artists and neurotics must show* a precocious development of the instinctive cravings, particu- larly of the sexual. That is in fact the case. With regard to artists this is well known,^ the fact has

^Cf. Dichtung tmd Nmrose, J. F. Bergmann. Authorized English version by James S. Van Teslaar.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 4il

been repeatedly mentioned as typical of criminals and with regard to neurotics the analysts have been able to prove it again and again.

We may now appreciate why all investigators found that the sexual instinct awakens early in all homosexuals. I want to make myself clear. We owe to psychoanalysis the recognition of the fact that the sexual instinct awakens early in all persons, — a fact I have pointed out already during my pre- Freudian period in my essay on ^^Coitus during Childhood" But most persons repress their in- fantile memories and later recall nothing about these occurrences dating from their childhood. The homosexual remembers everything and that fact is pointed out as proof of his sexual precocity. Al- ready as a child he knew that certain things per- tain to the forbidden realm of the sexual. He re- pressed from memory numberless particular inci- dents among the vast number his memory could hold. The fact of his precocity, he does not forget. But at the same time all memories which do not happen to fit into his system of ideas are either bedimmed in consciousness or lost from memory altogether. Sexual precocity is a fact brought out in all life histories and confessions of homosexuals. And that very sexual precocity shows us that the conditions which lead to the repression of heterosexuality, are traceable far back into the past and stretch well beyond ordinary memory recall. Therefore,

48 BiSexual Love

Krafft-Ehing finds: "The sexual life of persons of this type is usually manifest very early and is ab- normally strong. Not infrequently it is associated with other perverse manifestations, in addition to the perverted direction of the sexual instinct peculiar to this type of sexual feeling."

Further in the same work: "There are neuroses present (hysteria, neurasthenia, epileptoid states, etc. ). Nearly always there is also present either temporary or permanent neurasthenia." (P. 259.)

We see now that the two statements correspond. The individual becomes neurotic because he is un- able to overcome the abnormally strong instincts. Epilepsy as well as grand hysteria serve as means for releasing the abnormally stressed instincts dur- ing slumber states.^ It would appear therefore that a certain relationship must exist between homo- sexuality and epilepsy ; in fact we shall take the op- portunity later to report in full a case illustrating that relationship.

These instincts involve not only homosexual and heterosexual cravings. They include also sadistic tendencies and mysophilia, koprophilia, necrophilia and particularly the linking of sexual and criminal tendencies. Neurosis represents them under gro- tesque changes, attenuations, transformations, sub- stitutions and exaggerations, all having counterpart

^ Nervose Angstzustaende. Die psychische Behandlung der Epilepsie, 2nd edition, p. 336.

Theoretical: My Theory of HoTnosexuality 49

in the homosexual neurosis. The relations between homosexuality and sadism are particularly interest- ing and will be considered fully in the following pages.

We may formulate our notion of the development of homosexuality as follows : A person with abnor- mally strong instinctive cravings is induced early i/n life to surround tliese cravings with inliibitions. The early awakening of his sexuxd instinct and its prococious functioning bring him into conflict. The processes of repression and of sublimation set in to deal with these cravings much earlier than in other persons. For one reason or another tJie heterosexual components are repressed and the homosexudl are evolved. The heteroseximl cravings are hemmed vn and rendered useless by disgust, hatred or fear.

Homosexuality arises out of bisexuality as a re- sult of certain particular attitudes which become de- termined very earl}" in life. But not always. Such traits may appear also relatively late in life. Why and under what conditions does that happen? In the chapters next following we propose to take up this problem.

The development of Sexuality — The Bisexual Ideal of all persons — The fundamental Law of Sex- uality— The role of homosexuality in Neurosis — Womanly men and mannish women — Geron- tophilia — Love of Prostitutes — The signifi- cance of Sexual symbols — Various masks of Homosexuality — Transvestites — A case of Transvestitism — The significance of the hose as a Symbol — Love at first sight — The critical age — The pleasure Seeker — The case of a man passing through the critical age — Neurotic types of homosexuality — The Don Juan type — Psychoanalysis of a Don Juan — Passionate falling in love during advanced age, signifi- cant— ^Analysis of a Don Juan.

Das Christ entwm gab dem Eros Gift zu trinken: — er starb zwar mcht daran, aber er entartete zwm Laster, — Nietzsche^

n

Christiamty has given Eros a poison cup; Eros was not killed thereby hut has been turned mto a taint. — Nietzsche.

Freud who supports the theory of bisexuality with all the weight of his authority, points out that liitherto we have entertained wrong notions con- cerning the nature of the relations between sexual instinct and sexual goal. The sexual instinct is at first independent of its object and owes not its origin to the excitations roused by the sexual ob- ject. The earliest stage of man he has designated as autoerotic and he has described for us the infan- tile form of onanism.

The development of sexuality may be conceived, broadly, as follows : the first stage is autoerotic, al- though allerotic stimuli are also present (suckling at the mother's breast, caressing of the infant, etc.). The child is more sensitive to all forms of excita- tion and all vegetative functions are surcharged with pleasurable feelings more strongly in him than in the adult. Sexual life is autoerotic, but it is bi-

53

54 Bi-Sexual Love

sexually autoerotic. The child makes no distinc- tion between the persons to whom it is attached. Young or old, male or female, — it is all alike to him. But autoerotism is characteristic of this sex- ual life. Gradually this feature is overshadowed by the appearance of the all-erotic tendency. At first the child seeks to find the goal for its sexuality among the possible objects of his limited surroimd- ings. Just as the first period of autoerotism is overcome so the normal fixation upon one's family must be eventually outgrown. (Thou shalt leave thy father and thy mother and follow thine hus- band!) But even during the earliest period all libidinous excitations are distinctly bisexual. This bisexuality persists until the period of puberty, that is, throughout that stage of sexual indifference, of which Desoir also speaks. But the tendency to bi- sexuality is unable to withstand the powerful stress of puberty. The girlish boy becomes a man, the tom- boy girl becomes a young woman. The develop- ment of the secondary sexual characters displace man's heterosexual characteristics with the stamp of monosexuality. Usually at this time there de- velops also a decisive struggle against homosexuality leading, sooner or later, to the complete suppres- sion of that tendency. (Naturally there are ex- ceptions, as some persons retain their bisexual character traits without trouble throughout life.) / hafV€ not examined a person thms far m whom I

Latent Homosexuality ^5

failed to recognise clearly the signs of juvenile homosexuality.

It is proper to hold that the neurotics show them- selves functionally bisexual. Among the neurotics the males often have little or no beard growth, plump and roundish bodily figure, high voice and soft facial features, especially nose and lips; they have small hands, small feet, their penis is remark- ably small, scant hairy growth upon their mons veneris, cryptorchism (undescended testicle), her- nias. On the other hand neurotic women show hairy growth on face, flat chest , strong, male figure — more angular than is characteristic of women, — ^large, full hands, large feet, disorders of menstruation including amenorrhea (complete sup- pression), infantile uterus, male larynx and deep voice. I do not maintain that this is invariably the case. Now and then I have met with excep- tions; but I believe that a thorough investigation would support this contention.

The tendency to neurosis is due to the strong in- stinctive cravings which manifest themselves bi- sexually.

There is a process at work which I am inclined to designate as the fundamental law of sex. Accord- ing to this law every individual tends to sum up all his instinctive sexual cravings in one image. Every person seeks the sexual ideal capable of satisfying all his sexual longings.

[

56 Bi-Sexual Love

The sexual ideal of the ancients was, clearly, a bisexual being. Divinity is the ideal erotic goal magnified. The first divinities were always bi- sexual. They were either women with a penis or men with a female breast. The longing for the bi- sexual ideal may be traced throughout humanity. In his Banquet, Plata has excellently expressed this longing in the well-known words of Aristophanes.

We feel that we are utilizing but a portion of our sexual energy and that the remainder is allowed to remain fallow. The various sexual trends are sometimes so split up in life that no part of them is sufficient alone to furnish the whole driving power for the proper sexual activity. This is the case with those who apparently manifest a di- minished sexual craving, as Freud and Hafvelock Ellis have observed with reference to certain homo- sexuals. This condition is only apparent, how- ever, and analysis discloses that it is not real. Persons of this type, apparently asexual, really vac- cilate back and forth between various possible sexual goals never reaching the stage of aggression, because they are incapable of attaining a sufficient summation of sexual libido. Their libido splits up into a number of autoerotic acts, through which the fore-pleasure instead of centering on a focus is expended in small instalments, as I have pointed out when I described the various forms of cryptic onanism.

Latent HomosexiuiUty 51

I repeat: the ideal of every person is to be able to concentrate all libido upon a single goal. That explains why the homosexual does not seek the typical male, except in the rarest instances. Freud has drawn our attention to this apparent contrast. Many homosexuals, particularly those who, them- selves, possess strong virility, do not seek out the complete male for their ideal, but the womanly male. They prefer the female type of man, men in female clothes, or of female habitus, — a fact which has shaped a great deal the course of male prostitu- tion. The male prostitute endeavors always to imitate the female through the use of trinkets, cor- set, the adoption of articles of female apparel, close shaving, peculiar gait and speech.

What the homosexual seeks consciously the latent homosexual, as we designate the neurotic and, in smaller measure, every individual who acts exclusively as a heterosexual, endeavors to attain through vague yearnings which he fails to understand but which are strong enough to break through.

Let us now turn our attention to these hidden forms of sexuality, before attempting to explain the rise of the manifest and of the overt forms of homo- sexuality. Among the latent homosexuals who struggle with all the problems of bisexuality which to them appear unsolvable and inscrutable, and who have recourse to various compromises which bring them some temporary relief, we may find the various

58 Bi-Sexwal Love

transitional stages leading all the way up to the overt forms of homosexuality.

Latent homosexuality is a fact, not uncovered by analysis, but analysis has tremendously enlarged our understanding of the mental processes involved. The deeper we penetrate into the psychic mechan- ism of the neuroses and psychoses, the more vital appears to us the role of homosexuality. The dif- ference between my method of analysis and the customary anamnesis is shown nowhere so clearly, as in connection with the disclosures of the neurotics regarding their hidden homosexuality. No other component of the sexual instinct undergoes repres- sion to such an extent or shifts so far from the sphere of ordinary consciousness. I know persons who have frankly adopted a great many forms of paraphilia but have completely repressed the homo- sexual component of their condition. I have an- alysed, for instance, a young woman who had quite an eventful life history. She became neurotic be- cause she could neither master nor suppress her- homosexuality. Like all other neurotics she skil- fully covered her homosexuality and this trait of hers remained unknown to her consciousness.

It will be helpful to the beginner, therefore, to know the various disguises which serve as masks for homosexuality. As is well known, all neurotic symp- toms are the results of compromise and they cover, on the one hand, as much as they disclose, on the

Latent Homosexuality 59

other. The tendency to adopt compromises, which is typical of the split personality, is a subject worthy of special consideration. The most antagonistic impulses are stressed and summed up under the same symptom. Tliis tendency to adopt compromises governs the mental life of the neurotic. It is seen in dreams as well as in political life, in artistic prod- ucts no less than in neurotic symptoms. If the need to adjust opposing tendencies under some com- promise is not met successfully a condition of un- certainty arises, — of vacillation and doubt. Doubt is the result and the sign of unsuccessful com- promises.

This superficial building up of compromises is seen most clearly in the case of homosexuality. The neurotic endeavors to focus the most divergent tendencies of his psyche upon the same goal. His ideal is a being at once male, female, and infantile (and perhaps also beast and angel at the same time).

The neurotics always describe their ideal in a way which corresponds to this polymorphous picture. The males rave about women of a strikingly manly bearing; heavy, angular figure, flat chest, energetic, bony facial features, short hair, deep voice, traces of facial hair or of a mustache. The hidden bi- sexual ideal is thus partially fulfilled (Woman with penis or man with vagina!). The repressed crav- ings, thus partly freed, serve during sexual agres- sion and further the attainment of gratification.

L

60 Bi-Sexual Love

When nature fails to meet these needs, external features, such as dress and ornaments are brought into play to enhance the illusion. The symbol is made to replace reality. Men fall in love with women who wear tights (or who sport mannish hats, officers' coats, walking canes, etc.) and con- sequently they are attracted by actresses, fencers, cycle-riders, mountain-climbers, horseback-riders, or by girls whom they chance to see in under-pants. Others require of their sexual objects the adoption of various male symbols before their libido is roused. The woman, appeals to them, for instance, at best, wearing a military blouse, a mannish hat, or in some male attitude or other, capable of yielding a suggestion of something genuine.

Women display parallel tendencies. They fall in love with men who are beardless, gynecomastic, men who have a large panniculus adiposus, broad hips, delicate throat, female voice, or who wear long coats and long hair. I will quote here only a few examples: the priest, the physician in his hospital coat, particularly surgeons with graceful arms, female impersonators, beardless men, or men with high voices who perfume themselves and wear bracelets, and artists with long, flowing locks of hair are likely to prove very attractive. (Perhaps the great erotic attraction exercised by all artists is due to their pronounced bisexual character.)

Physical factors are also of great significance.

Latent Homosexuality 61

Women who smoke, ride, go mountain climbing and who are generally aggressive, make a very strong impression upon the neurotic. This is true also about the influence of men with strong womanly features upon women. Many neurotic men dream of being overpowered. (The "pleasure without guilt" principle!). Energetic women fascinate them, just as delicate, sensitive men fascinate the hysterical woman.

Less known are other maskjs of homosexuality which I now mention. The love of old women (gerontophalia) and passion for children often covers a homosexual tendency. Persons deviating from the complete male or female type often prove irresistible for the same reason. Age eventually wipes out the typical secondary sexual characters. Man becomes like an old woman and old women ac- quire remarkable male features (including mus- tache) and male habits. Children also may figure as a strong bisexual attraction since they lack the secondary sexual characters.

A peculiar cryptic form under which male homo- sexuality manifests itself, is the love of prostitutes. The unconscious factor which here appeals to the homosexual component of the sexual libido is the fact that the body of the prostitute has been prev- iously enjoyed by other men.^

* Hirschfeld relates several instances illustrating how hetero- sexual potence may be increased by the fires of homosexual

62 Bi-Sexiial Love

This process, — ^mediation through the other sex, — plays a great role in homosexuality in various other ways. The prostitute may be enjoyed only in the presence of one or more male witnesses. The carrying out of coitus jointly in one room, looking

passion: A merchant relates: "I ani able to carry out sexual intercourse with women, only if I keep thinking of the man who possessed the woman before me." A young workingman from Berlin relates: "When I was 17 years of age and I saw young men of my age pick out sweethearts for themselves I did the same. Later, as man, it seemed natural to me to get a woman, although my own inclination had little to do with it. The physical excitation necessary for the carrying out of the sexual act I could rouse in myself only by thinking of some male person. This sort of thing exhausted me and after a time I decided to give it up. I felt myself strongly attracted to a relative at that time. He was younger and as I had greater influence over women I helped him by putting him in touch with some and so we often carried out coitus together. Seeing him [go at it so hotly] excited me tremendously and then I carried out coitus without any difficulty." The proprie- tor of a German hotel also relates that, before intercourse with his wife, he was in the habit of rousing his passion by kissing his head waiter. This furnished him the' requisite sexual preparedness and as quickly as possible he hurried to his wife, whose bed was in the next room." Hirschfeld writes further: "These sketches from life I want to conclude with the account of a patient who consulted me for sexual hyperesthesia which in his case was so keen that seeing the statuettes of naked children ornamenting the Berlin castle bridge while crossing it was enough to cause erection. He was a merchant, 42 years of age. In order to obtain potentia coeundi it was necessary for him not only to think, but also to speak aloud of some pleasing man, in some such manner: "Did you notice that servant of the count's, who called for a bundle this forenoon, how did you like him? A neat boy, what? His livery seemed quite new! Didn't you think it fitted him a bit too tightly? How old should you say he was?" Only by carrying on such talk with his wife, and he had to exercise the greatest in- genuity in order to cover his object wliile doing so, was he able to achieve ejaculation, and to beget children, — he was the father of three."

Latent Homosexiuility 65

on, or allowing onlookers, also betray this motive besides others.

In many cases the form of sexual intercourse preferred betrays a latent homosexuality. Men choose to lie underneath, or carry out coitus a posteriori, or per anum. Women show correspond- ing preferences. They attain supreme enjoyment only if they are on top during intercourse. Many parapliilias (fellatio, cunnilingus) betray a homo- sexual trend besides showing sexual infantilism.

Various external signs may betray a strong homo- sexual trend or mark a sudden outbreak of it. Men suddenly decide to cut or shave off their beard. They unexpectedly turn their interests to sports which give them the opportunity of watching men undressed. They become passionate fans around prize rings, are seen at sun bathing establishments and sporting places, or rave about the culture of nakedness as a hygienic fad, etc. Women suddenly find that they cannot possibly wear their long hair and decide to cut it short. Sometimes they do it without telling their husband so as to 'pleasantly' suprise him. They change fashions, take readily to English jackets, tight coats and Girardi hats and begin to show tremendous interest in the emancipation of women.

Joint suicide as a mask is a subject to which I can only refer briefly. Persons who do not have

64i Bi'Sexual Love

the courage to live together are the ones likely to commit sjiicide jointly. The suicide of two friends, male or female, is often due to unsatisfied homo- sexuality, however ideal, apparently, the motives may be. A life which does not yield to the full gratification craved by the unconsciously operating instincts, loses its zest. Frenssen states: "Sun, moon and stars no longer carry any message to one who has lost interest in them; a thing degenerates unless cultivated assiduously; it is so with every- thing. Indifference deadens; love breathes life into everything. '^

I have already pointed out in my treatise on Onanism that those who have not given up the habit may give expression to tendencies distinctly homosexual through their autoerotic acts. The feeling of guilt is due in part, although only in part, to this cause. The greater hold the habit has upon the individual the stronger also seems the homosexual trait back of it. Many onanists are asocial in their inclinations and avoid group life. But I know a number who are enthusiastic 'joiners,' belonging to numerous organisations and always eager to assume honorary membership in all sorts of clubs. That female lawyers are particularly apt to show homosexual tendencies is well known and the fact is often exploited in the comic papers under §light disguise.

Latent Homotextwlity 65

Lastly, I must mention another important form of masked homosexuality: the artistic. Poets whose preference is the delineation of female characters are partly homosexual. They perceive accurately the female emotions, they are able to portray with fidelity the life of that sex, because they carry within their breast, as it were, a goodly portion of womanhood. Chamisso described so wonderfully womanly love, because he himself was largely woman, as his portrait is enough to indicate. Painters may also show the reverse tendency. They paint pref- erably male scenes or, as sculptors, create statues of men. Their appraisal of esthetic values betrays their hidden homosexuality. Some artists find the male figure much more beautiful than the female, others find the male body repulsive. An overstressed aversion betrays the homosexual trend as clearly as an emotionally overstressed preference.

The choice of a pseudonym may also prove a characteristic sign. Just as the transvestites (wearers of clothes of opposite sex) clearly show their homosexual peculiarities thereby so do men choosing a female pseudonym for their contribu- tions or writings, often betray their homosexuality by the act. Of course, in the case of women, the choice of a male nom de plume is determined partly by the well known common notion that works obtain a wider circulation if attributed to male author-

66 Bi-Sexwal Love

ship. At any rate, it betrays a desire to be taken for a man, by the readers, at least. A woman writer whom I know and who is active under a male nom de plume has told me, as an objection to this view, that she is decidedly interested in men. She confessed herself a Messalina. But back of such an unsatisfied craving, there stands, as I have al- ready mentioned, homosexuality, the blind instinct, ungratified. This woman preferred relations with well known "women killers," typical Cassanovas. Obviously, the thought of the numerous female con- quests must have furnished here the chief attraction. Such men carry about them the aroma of many women. They must be proven masters of the art of love and a woman is disposed to expect of them special thrills and, possibly, new refinements of the art; but the heroes, as a rule, when tried fail to come up to the expectations lodged in them ; they in turn become easily tired of their new conquest. The unsatisfied homosexual male is incapable of grati- fying completely the love hungry homosexual woman. (That is the tragedy back of many un- happy marriages.) It is also significant that this woman, who otherwise had allowed herself an un- usual degree of freedom about sexual matters, looked upon homosexuality as Tabu.

I have mentioned only a small number of the possible masks of homosexuality. Some of the

Latent Homoseocuality 67

screens are so transparent they cannot but be noticed even by those who are still novices in psycho- analytic matters. One marries a girl, for instance, after falling in love with that girl's brother; or a girl marries the brother of lier homosexual choice, as I have clearly shown in connection with the highly instructive case history No. 93, in my study of Anxiety States.

For this reason a friend's wife may be a very dangerous person and this mediation of homosex- uality through a third person has often been the cause of terrific household dramas. I know men who are regularly prone to fall in love with their friends' sweethearts, naturally, without suspecting that back of this proclivity there stands the hidden passion for their friend.

In conclusion I may point out another very sig- nificant mask of homosexuality. I refer to psychic impotence, which shows itself particularly during attempted intercourse with respectable women. Men potent with prostitutes but unable to carry out coitus wdth a 'decent' woman, are latent homosex- uals whose libido is sufficiently roused in the pres- ence of the prostitute by the realisation that the woman has been used before by another man. Of course, a relative impotence of this character has many other determinants. But the factor here men- tioned is never absent.

68 Bi-Sexual Love

The study of this cryptic form of homosexuality alone will enable us to appreciate the inestimable role of bisexuality in the mental life of modern man.

Other forms of masked homosexuality, manifested in phobias and compulsion, I must mention only superficially. There are men who become extremely uneasy if some other man walks directly behind them, men who are unable to remain with another man alone in a room, men who always dream of scenes in which some man points a revolver or knife at them, or who have the uncomfortable feeling that some hard substance, perhaps nothing more than an indurated cylindrical mass of faeces, is pressing within their rectum. With these peculiarities such men betray their homosexuality, just as the para- noiacs do with their delusions of persecution.

Women show similar phobias and more especially morbid anxieties often centering around servant girls. Women who change servant girls continually, who worry themselves over the servant problem or quarrel with the girls, or feel impelled to touch them (acts which really take the place of sexual deeds) are frequently homosexual. Similarly, various forms of fetichism may be a cover for homosexuality.

It is plainly obvious that the study of sexual masks promises to further immensely our knowledge about matters of sex. At the same time it is clear that the opposition of many circles to the new studies

Latent Homosextmlity 69

must remain a tremendous one. Possibly a great deal of the opposition to the new psychology has its roots in this very peculiarity of human nature. Their basic bisexual predisposition is precisely what men are least disposed to recognise.

These general statements I now propose to prove on the basis of various observations from my prac- tice illustrating the great role played by the homo- sexual components in the love life of average men and women. This will show clearly why I never use such terms as "contrary," or "inverted" sexual feeling, and why I never speak of "inversion," or of "perversion," when I discuss homosexuality. The very purpose of this work is to bring out the homo- sexual components in the life of every person and to bring out the normal feature of that state. For normal is everything that is natural; and from the sta/ndpomt of nature we are never monoseanial a/nd always hisexwal.

I regret that I must contradict so worthy an in- .vestigator as Hirschfeld. But I fail to understand the need of setting up, besides the hetero- and homo- sexuals, a third group, the so-called transvestites.^ Among the trans vcs tit es (personifiers) we find the most pronounced examples of masked homo- sexuality and stressed bisexuality. This is a desig- nation proposed by Hirschfeld for men who — obey-

^ Die Transvestiten. Eine Untersuchung ueber den Erotischen Verkleidungstrieb. Alfred Pulvermacher. Berlin, 1910.

70 Bi-Seooual Love

ing an overwhelming inner impulse — wear women's apparel and for women who similarly attire them- selves in things belonging to a man's wardrobe. In the course of an extensive review (Zentrhl, /. Psychoanalyse, vol. I, p. 55.) I pointed out that it is unnecessary to consider the transvestites as a distinct sexual species, but that they are merely bisexual persons with strong homosexual leanings. Hirschfeld lays great emphasis upon the fact that the transvestites experience normal sexual feelings, being subject only to the impulsion to change their clothing for that of the opposite sex. Un- fortunately here he takes into consideration only the conscious sexual manifestations. He considers merely the facts as they appear upon the surface neglecting the important mechanisms of repression and masking, — the tendency to play before, and with, one's self. The data obtained upon super- ficial examination must be subjected t6 careful analysis ; then the results are most surprising. Analysis invariably reveals that there is no such thing as monosexuality and that the transvestites, like the homosexuals, have their repressions. The homosexual represses his heterosexuality, the transvestite his homosexuality. In his phantasy the man is a woman (the woman fancies herself the reverse) and thus he combines the two components of his libido. It were nothing less than doing vio-

Ma^ks of Homosexuality 71

lence to facts to attempt to distinguish the trans- vestites from the homosexuals.

As one reads carefully the cases published by Hirschfeldy with an eye for signs of homosexuality, one cannot fail to note characteristic traits of homosexuality in every one of the cases. For in- stance, one of them carries out succubus in coitu, which is clearly a symptom of latent homosexuality ; if he appears as a woman, the men who follow him cause him nausea. Another was able to carry out the heterosexual act only under the influence of alchohol, and when going out in women's clothes was fond of eating in the company of men and coquet- ting with them. A third is repelled by the thought of homosexual relations, but dreams of pregnancy, plays succubus in coitu, and fancies that his wife is a man. The fourth hugs his wife tightly, sinks his nails into her ears, etc., so as to gain the illusion of being overpowered through sheer force by some man.

Then, most interesting of all, case 12: A man who during four years of married life has carried out coitus only once. This subject actually be- trays an open inclination towards homosexuality, which Hirschfeld declares is only apparent. . . . How is one to determine between an apparent and a real homosexual trend? In order to succeed in that one must purposely overlook the phenomenon

72 Bi-Sexual Love

of human bisexuality and be anxious to hold on at all costs to the notion that homosexuality is inborn and irreducible.

The transvestite last mentioned relates concern- ing his homosexuality: "About homosexuality I learned for the first time through reading the book: Die Enterhten des Liehesgluecks, Some passages gripped me powerfully, even more so than the works on masochism, of which I also had read a large number. As I had to renounce my womanly ideal (for reasons mentioned previously), it oc- curred to me to seek a man as the complement to my yearnings. For even the strongest woman wants to be beneath man during love. But I felt I needed a partner who should overpower and conquer me with some display of force. So I said to myself that such a role can be filled properly only by a man. A great deal of what I read in books about homo- sexuality confirmed me in this view.'^

If this is not a tell-tale rationalization of homo- sexuality— what may we designate as homo- sexuality?

Comments are hardly needed in this connection. On all sides and from all directions homosexuality is proven in the history of the case. But Hirschr feld finds that the tendency to homosexuality is only apparent and that the whole foundation of the sub- ject's libido consists of transvestism. The homo- sexuality he looks upon as an incidental manifesta-

Ma^ks of Homosexuality 75

tion. But there are no 'incidental' manifestations in our vita sexualis. A dream, which has also been reported, shows conclusively that M., the subject, was all along actuated by the thought: I wish I were a woman. But there are passages in this case history showing how highly the subject esteems the male and proving that this wish is an infantile atti- tude and due to a feeling of inferiority. What else should we conclude from the statement: "For the genuine man, who belongs to the proudest speci- mens of his sex, sexual gratification is merely a hygienic requirement, a form of physical release; beyond that his wonderful creative spirit dwells in higher realms . . . etc."

In the chapter devoted to masochism I explain the meaning of a case like the above more fully. The man wants to be a woman and to be over- powered. He is able to have relations with women, if they assume the aggressive role. His mind in- sists upon the fictive notion: I am a woman and I am forced to carry out this part. Naturally he shifts towards homosexual acts. The male trait in him tolerates no submissiveness. The female trait lends itself readily to coercion. The neurosis con- sists in this suppression of the male components of the sexual instinct.

A careful reading of the following case history will show clearly the homosexual roots of the tendency to personify the opposite sex:

74 Bi-Sexual Love

Mrs. H. S. consults me on account of complete sexual frigidity during her marital relations. She is twenty-four years of age and had married at the age of 19. Her marriage was a love affair. She has always been of a loving and sensuous disposition so that from the age of 14 her mind was pre- occupied mostly with sexual fancies and thoughts. At the age of 15 she fell in love with an uncle. His kisses roused her passion and she would have readily yielded to him. The father observed what was going on and forbade her uncle the house. She lived in the Country and met no men under circum- stances which could have endangered her. She was 19 years of age when she first met her present hus- band and she fell rapidly in love with him. She withstood her parents' opposition and married the young man in a few months. Already during her engagement she said to her husband: "I don't be- lieve one man will be enough for me. You must watch out for me. . ." During the first few weeks of married life her husband was impotent, and this drove her nearly to distraction. After her husband underwent some medical treatment he succeeded in rupturing her hymen and in a few months she be- came pregnant. For a short time during that first pregnancy she experienced complete orgasm. After that her feeling for her husband disappeared en- tirely and she felt very dissatisfied. Her whole character changed completely. Previously she had

Masks of Homosexiuility 76

been happy, joyous, always in good humor. Now she became quiet, lived a retired existence, avoiding men in particular because she was afraid of them.

Deeper investigation of the case shows that, after the death of her father, to whom she felt attached by bonds of deepest affection, she became sexually anesthetic. The father was a very earnest, strong man who adored his pretty wife and he was a model of loyal and dutiful husband. The mother was an artist who, after the death of her husband, lost all interest in life. She could not stay alone and abandoned the country place to live with her daughter in the City. I suspected that the sudden onset of anesthesia probably coincided with the mother's arrival in the house. Might she not hide some special attachment for her mother.''

She emphasized that she felt the greatest com- passion for her mother, who had lost her sup- port in life. For her mother's sake she would have gladly taken her father's place, if such a thing were possible. And further she declared:

"You would probably find it almost unbelievable, if I told you that I strongly wished I were a man, at the time. I kept thinking of mother all the time! You see — she is so pretty and young yet, so full of life! I also know that she is a very passionate woman. How could she get along with- out a man.'* Now, I must confess something, though it is very hard for me to express it. You

76 Bi-Sexual Love

know already a number of my pet fancies. But there is another which I have persistently kept from you till now. I wanted to put on father's clothes, as I have a few of them in my possession, and to go to mother's bed at night. I acquired a sort of an apparatus . . . for the purpose. But I did not quite have the courage, I put on the clothes but stayed in my room. I kept standing before the look- ing glass for hours, looking on."

"Did the clothes fit you?"

**To tell you the truth, I had used some of father's old suits for a long time before that. I got hold of them under all sorts of pretexts. I wrote him, for instance, that I wanted to give his unused clothes to a worthy poor man. Then I had them altered for a figure of my size and was glad to wear them while my husband was away. Already as a small girl I remember I was fond of wearing my brother's clothes."

**Do you recollect your thoughts while you were wearing your brother's clothes?"

"Oh, I do. I played I was papa. For a time I felt really dissatisfied because I was a girl. I en- vied all boys."

"Later, too, after you were married already?"

"Certainly ! Do you know, I have never mustered enough courage to do something downright dis- loyal. But I was thinking, if I were a man, I could never remain true. I have always envied men. In

Masks of Homosexuality 77

fact, with my soul I felt myself more like a man."

"What were your feelings during the time you were in love with your husband?"

**I had plunged headlong into love and forgot all about my liking of men's clothes. During that time I felt altogether womanly. Especially when I be- came a mother. Then all my dreams about manli- ness disappeared."

"That was also the only time when you enjoyed your relations with your husband ?"

"I have never thought of the two things to- gether. But you are right. For a short time during that period I was entirely womanly, until father died. . . ."

"And your mother came to live with you !"

"Yes. . . that is so. . . . Do you mean, that then I wanted again to be a man? Now, I can con- fess to you that I always envied father on account of mama. I used to think that if I were a man, I should certainly be in love with mama."

The further analysis reveals interesting details. Repeatedly she dreams that she is a man and that she has a phallus. She dreams also that she urin- ates standing after the manner of men. She admits that, already as a child, she loved her mother pas- sionately. She had also overheard a number of times her parents getting together in bed and once she watched them in the act of coitus, peeping through a key hole. She was deeply excited by

78 Bi-Sexual Love

what she saw and thought that her mother must have suffered great pain and that only the father found pleasure in the act. This infantile conception of male gratification has remained with her to this day. Her favorite expression: "If I should come again into the world I would want to be a man." The homosexual attitude towards the mother de- prived her of libido during her marital relations.

I suggested that she should separate from her mother but she resented scornfully this suggestion. She would rather give up her husband. Some time later she actually did so. She now lives with her mother. I was greatly surprised one day, when she called on me clothed in male attire. She re- quested from me a certificate to the effect that she was an abnormal person and should be permitted to wear man^s clothes. She had heard that in Berlin a number of women had been granted such a permit by the police on the strength of such a statement from a physician.

Upon being questioned regarding her sexual life she states that she now maintains relations with a man who, before the sexual embrace, puts on women's clothes. This rouses great orgasm in her. Regarding her relations to her mother her answers are elusive. But I must not think, she adds, that she is a "Urlinde." The thought of such persons only fills her with disgust. Her mother is now merely her dearest friend.

Masks of Homosexuality 79

It is plain that this woman has repressed her homosexual love for her mother and is satisfied with the symbol of masculinity, the wearing of trousers. The man whom she meets in embrace, becomes for her a woman, through the wearing of feminine articles. Thus the two partners carry on a comedy in which the heterosexual act replaces the longed- for homosexual embrace.

I am familiar with a number of instances in which a man dressing like a woman, or the reverse, was the means of rousing sexual passion, or, at least, of in- creasing it enormously. Whenever this happens it is plainly a manifestation of latent homosexuality, — a condition of which Blueher appears to have a very poor opinion. Although he seems to agree with my views otherwise ("today it is no longer possible," he says, "to hold that homosexuality or

heterosexuality is inborn '^ instead we must recog- nize that bisexuality is inborn in~every TndTvidual, with a special predilection in one direction or the other,"), he makes a distinction between "healthful inversion" and an outbreak of latent homosexuality ; one condition he considers aboriginal and in keeping with cultural development, while the other "arises out of the depths of the unconscious, through the removal of the inhibitions. . ." This view is also contrary to facts. Blueher, like Hirschfeldy is in- clined to consider latent homosexuality as *pseudo,'

80 Bi-Sexual Love

as something unnatural, and accordingly passes judgment upon it. The practical observations gathered in the course of my practice do not co- incide with these theoretical assumptions. I know only one kind of homosexuality, and that is always inborn. Also, I find it always linked intimately with heterosexuality. Awareness of one^s own homosexual tendency or lack of it is not a reliable guide. If the number of consciously homosexual persons be estimated at 2 per cent., we may confi- dently assert that there are 98 per cent, of persons who know nothing of their homosexual traits, or rather that they do not want to know anything about them.

As we become familiar with the various masks of homosexuality, we learn to appreciate surprising homosexual and heterosexual trends. I shall draw attention merely to the manifold significance of "trousers" in human love affairs. How often men fall in love with women only when and because they are seen in tights! I remember a number of class- mates in high school, who had fallen in love with a singer, when they saw her in a role which she played wearing tights. GrUlparzer apparently fell in love once in his life and very passionately. It was with the singer to whom he absent-mindedly sent his famous poem. She had appeared upon the stage as a Cherub in tights. The woman wearing the trousers is a by-word, — a typical compromise.

Masks of Homosexuality 81

Through the medium of such compromises it be- comes possible for the homosexual suddenly to act like a heterosexual person. Hirschfeld, who was the first to point out this fact, relates that a lieu- tenant of cavalry well known in the circle of Berlin umings one day surprised his acquaintances with the announcement of his engagement and even more with the statement he had become fully heterosexual. Previous to that time he had loved only boys in girls' clothes but apparently he had found a woman of very youthful type, one who was able to satisfy both components of his libido. Symbols at times disclose tremendous power. The trousers figure as a symbol of masculinity. I remember the storm of popular indignation which arose once when some change in women's fashions threatened man's ex- clusive prerogative. The skirt and long hair are symbols of feminity. The symbol often furnishes the bridge across which traits, otherwise antagon- istic, become fused.

The following case is an illustration: Mr. E. W. has practiced onanism since he was five years of age and during the act was in the habit of thinking he was touching girls. Later he mas- turbated jointly with other school boys. They at- tempted pederastic acts, in the course of which he felt neither aversion nor pleasure. At 14 years of age he was seduced by a servant girl, and he went

82 Bi-Sexual Love

to her bed every night for a year. A poor scholar up till that time, he became subsequently one of the best in the class. After a time he became tired of her and he sought other opportunities which were easy to find. He maintains that up to his 20th year he has had intercourse with every one of the girls who served in his parents' house, and he estimates them to have been about twenty in number. It struck him that he could not always achieve orgasm. But he was always potent, so much so, sometimes the girls wondered. But he would become indifferent before reaching ejaculation. This happened to him with fat women who excited him tremendously and at the same time failed to satisfy him.

He began early to be interested in painting and made special efforts to experience the feeling of love ; for the petty adventures with the servant girls did not involve the heart in the least. As he grew all women only appeared to him to be merely objects for the gratification of lust. He had all sort of love affairs but could be true to none for any length of time and did not always reach orgasm with them. He happened to try once the situs inversus and after that he found it always possible to bring about the orgasm. Coitus a posteriori was also a method which enabled him to attain this aim more easily than the normal position. He was already thirty years of age when he saw at a social affair a girl who appeared as a boy in a "living picture." He felt

Masks of Homosexuality 8S

at once the greatest attraction for her. During the whole evening he kept her in his company, and he felt animated and inspired with the thought that he had found, at last, his soul affinity. A few weeks later he became engaged to her. The picture of her as a boy always floated before his mind. He mar- ried soon, experienced tremendous orgasm during coitus and felt himself very happily married. After a few years his potentia began to fail him and this worried him a great deal because he loved his wife tremendously and was ashamed to confess to her the true state of things. He became more frigid and finally his potentia failed him completely.

He came into his wife's room (they had separate rooms) while she was undressing. She was in her tights, the kind in which he had seen her in the role of a boy. At once this roused his passion and he threw himself upon his wife, covering her with kisses, against her protests, for she was very bashful. This happened in day time. His wife had never consented to coitus in day time before. But this time she was taken by surprise and as he pressed her for it, she called out, over and over: "What is the matter with you today 1" He did not tell her the reason for his excitement; he was ashamed to re- quest her to dress herself next time in tights.

He called to have this remarkable occurrence ex- plained and to be cured of the peculiarity. Later he achieved potentia again but always he had to

84 Bi-Sexual Love

think of his wife as dressed in trousers. The man was an out-of-town resident and had come to Vienna only for the day. I was unable to find out much about the psychic roots of this condition. He recalled no infantile memories, but thought that the sight of his little sister in bloomers had already roused him. He was much interested in women^s underwear and could have easily turned into a fetichist, one gathering a large assortment of women's underclothes. I advised him to confide in his wife and ask her for his sake to dress herself in the kind of apparel which appealed to him. That was, after all, a harmless desire which he shared with many other men.

A few years later I saw him again. He had fol- lowed my advice, and his wife, who loved him de- votedly, had finally consented, because he could not attain erection otherwise, and she required the ful- filment of marital relations. Since she "gave in" to her husband's peculiar request, she is able to rouse him to coitus as often as she desires it. She only needs to put on tights. . . . He experiences the greatest satisfaction while his wife wears tights and they assume the situs inversus. Through such a small compromise, by meeting some specific phan- tasy, it is often possible to turn an incompatible marriage into a happy one.

Ma^ks of Homosexuality 85

This is not the only case of its kind of which I know. I know men who, when going to houses of prostitution request the women to retain their drawers when undressing. Others actually demand that the girls should put on male trousers. These latent homosexuals are well known to the prosti- tutes. They remain passive and expect the woman to be aggressive. This shows they maintain the fiction that they are females and they require rela- tively but little in the form of overt acts to main- tain this fiction in their mind. Many an instance of love at first sight is induced in the same way.

Case. Z. I. A man, 48 years of age, had several light love affairs, was twice unhappily married. After the second separation — some six years pre- viously— he left women severely alone because he had a poor opinon of them. He used to say : all women are worthless decoys and it is a pity to turn a single hair grey on their account. In the circle of women haters he was known for that reason as the decoy- man. His physical sexual needs he satisfied with prostitutes or street acquaintances. Beyond that he avoided women and sought only the company of men. It was obvious that he was drifting away from heterosexuality and leaning towards psychic homosexuality. Then it happened that he agreed once to sit as a model for a woman artist. The sculptress was in ordinary clothes and had made

86 Bi-Sextuil Love

no particular impression on him. She asked him to wait a few moments and then she stepped out to put on her working clothes. When she reappeared, a few moments later, he was astonished. She wore a long white coat, which covered her whole dress, a pleasing little cap, under which she had tucked her hair to protect it against the dust, and a pair of glasses which she wore only when working. She appeared so attractive that he fell in love with her that moment. He did not hide his feelings but im- mediately hastened to make up on the spot what he had lost in six years of opportunities to worship at the shrine of womanhood. She accepted his com- pliments good-naturedly. He fell in love with her as he had never been in love before. A few weeks later he proposed marriage, but she politely refused. She had made up her mind never to marry. But he did not give her up ; on the contrary he pursued her with his attentions and tendernesses. His club and all his cronies he abandoned. He was head over heels in love, like a frisky boy, and held that now he knew the meaning of love. One of his friends proposed to cure him of his infatuation and told him in confidence that he had heard the sculptress was a homosexual who maintained relations with a chorus girl wearing tights. The whole town knew about it. It was an open secret. This information had the contrary effect upon him. His passion reached such a point that life seemed to him worthless with-

Masks of Homosexuality 87

out her. He struggled with thoughts of suicide and told the beloved about it. This made a strong impression upon her and she stated frankly: she would agree to be his sweetheart, but his wife, never. For a time he fought against accepting this com- promise, desiring nothing short of a union for life. Finally he acquiesced. She was a virgin no longer and told him that she had already been her in- structor's sweetheart. That is why she did not want to consider marriage. With her instructor, however, she had never achieved orgasm. His em- brace left her cold. She could achieve satisfaction and orgasm only with the aid of Tnanipidatio cum digito,

7i. I. remained faithful to her for a few years and during that time tried several times to induce her to consider marriage. He was always most excited when he saw her wearing the apparel which had first roused his love for her. They always met in her studio while she was wearing her working clothes. Finally his love cooled and he returned to the society of his woman-hating companions. An attempt to have intercourse with a girl in his employ failed him and he called for advice.

He believed himself impotent. But it was merely the homosexual trait which comes to the fore at this age in various manifestations which physicians call the climacterium of man.

Analysis disclosed that the woman sculptor was

88 Bv-Sexual Love

the cousin of one of his favorite old school mates, whom she resembled closely. This young man also wore, while at work in his laboratory, a white coat, like the sculptress. It was this similarity that roused his libido so tremendously. The young man had become engaged a few weeks previously. He disapproved the young man's step on various grounds. (A young man should not jeopardise his scientific career on account of a woman.) He was in love with the young man without realising it. The transference of the feeling into a heterosexual one was mediated through the fact that the woman looked like her cousin and the costume also helped to transfer some of the homosexual tendencies into the heterosexual channel.

In connection with this case I may make a few remarks about the so-called climacterium of man and about woman's critical period. The psychic process is well known, in so far as it involves a parting from one's youth, and it has been repeated- ly outlined and described. The whole love instinct of man rebels against growing old and fosters the utilization to the utmost of the opportunities dur- ing the few remaining years. The milder the sexual life in the past, the greater and more stormy be- comes the need of making up for lost opportunities "while there is time."

But the significance of homosexuality during this critical period is a matter which most investigators

The Critical Age 89

have overlooked. It may be that the involution of the sexual glands brings the opposite sex into stronger relief at this period. One who conceives bisexuality as a chemical process — and there are some data apparently supporting such a view — may speak of the conquest of man's heterosexuality over homosexuality. Hirschfeld would say of a man: as he now produces less andrin the gynecin achieves upper hands. Perhaps many cases of so-called late homosexuality (Krafft-Ebi/ng) may be explained in this manner. I have known a man who, up to the 50th year of his life, has had no sexual experiences and who was also unaware of his homosexuality. At that age he happened to drift into the company of homosexuals and now he is a confirmed member of the third (intermediate) sex. Possibly the out- break of homosexuality leading all the way to para- noia— a subject which I shall take up more fully in another chapter — depends on changes in the sexual glands, these changes leading to characteristic psy- chic expression.

In the last case disappointment after marriage (both women proved unfaithful to the man) induced the breaking forth of the homosexual tendencies.

The behavior of those persons who do not care to acknowledge their homosexuahty is character- istic. So passionately do they fall in love, their impulsion to loving is so tremendous that every new passion surpasses aU previous experiences.

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This peculiarity gives us an insight into the men- tality of the Don Juan type, the desolute adventurer, and the Messalina type. . .

The flight away from homosexuality leads the in- dividual to overstress his heterosexuality (with the formulation of compromises and the adoption of homosexual masks) but that seldom yields the satis- faction craved by the individual. The sexual ad- venturer is always a person who has failed to find proper gratification. He who has found complete gratification becomes thereby master of his libido and knows the meaning of satiety. When the grati- fication is only apparent the craving leads soon again to new adventures. Just as the compulsory acts of neurotics cannot be permanently removed, because such acts are only symptomatic and stand for hidden cravings, the unsatisfied homosexual longing which stands masked under an apparently excessive heterosexuality cannot be completely gratified on that path. The sexual instinct, — as Freud has pointed out — is of complex character and is seldom brought into play in its full form. Man's unattainable ideal is the whole instinct, undivided and unhampered in any of its component parts; falling in love manifests the expectation of a gratifi- cation previously unattained.

During man's critical period — as well as woman's — a number of troublesome compulsion neuroses are likely to break forth and these have been erroneous-

The Critical Age 91

\y attributed to excitement, overwork, and other secondary factors. Every compulsion neurosis ap- pearing at this period is a compHcated riddle through which the subject aims to hide before his own con- sciousness no less than before the world at large the true significance of the psychic impulses which re- assert their supremacy at the time. Frequently back of the various symptomatic acts it is possible to discern the clear mechanism of defence against homosexuality.

The next case shows an interesting array of sym- bolisms and of symbolic acts, which are easily under- stood if one has the key to the psychology of such mental processes.

Mr. B. experiences the outbreak of an acute neu- rosis at 60 years of age. Suddenly he becomes ob- sessed with the fear of tuberculosis. He is firmly convinced that he is a victim of the disease and the reassurance of famous specialists quiets him only for a few days. He reads all popular works on tuberculosis as well as the scientific works of Cornet, Koch, and other investigators. He has worked out for himself a systematic method for the cure of tuberculosis. He holds, in the first place, that cold air is the best, and takes long walks out of doors, sleeps with all windows wide open, goes to Davos and generally prefers winter sporting places. He is a confirmed believer in the theory of infection

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through particles of sputum and therefore avoids the proximity of . . . men.

"Why be afraid specially of men? May not women also carry the infection?"

"No; women do not expectorate so vigorously. Men spit all over, women only close by !"

"How do you know these things?"

"You see, I have given the matter a great deal of thought and I have studied the subject. I thought to myself, coughing and urinating are very much alike. In both operations products of the organism are removed from the body. A woman urinates with a small stream which does not reach far. But many men urinate with force and are able to throw out their stream, — a distance of several feet."

Already this statement showed that back of the fear of consumption there stood some hidden sexual motive. B. carried the analogy still further:

"Men are also able to ejaculate, while women only omit a little moisture which trickles down upon their parts ... At any rate, I am particularly afraid of infection through some tubercular man."

I inquired into the circumstances under which this fear first showed itself and how long he had it and in reply received the following interesting con- fession :

"For a long time I lived with a nephew who oc- cupied a separate room in my home. My married daughter came once to pay us a visit because her

The Critical Age 93

child had whooping cough and she was advised that a change of air would be beneficial."

(It is characteristic that he was not afraid of catching whooping cough, although he knew of a serious case, — an elderly man who had caught thcs infection and as a result was seriously ill for months. The fear of tuberculosis thus shows itself to be a misdirected notion.)

"It became necessary for me to share with my nephew the same sleeping room," continued the man. "He had but recently returned from Meran and was considered cured . . . But you know, how these al- leged cures turn out upon closer examination. Dur- ing the night I became uneasy and several times I heard my nephew coughing. I noticed that he did not sleep, and I also could not fall asleep because the thought tormented me that I would surely catch the infection. The first thing I did next morning was to call my physician; he laughed at me but upon my persistent questioning he told me: 'If you are as afraid as all that, you better sleep in a separate room!' I did not wait to be told twice and for a number of weeks after that I slept at a hotel. But here too, I began to think, perhaps some tubercular man has occupied the room before me, and could not sleep! I had night sweats and after that I no longer believed the physicians' re- assurances and was convinced that this was a sign of the first stage of consumption. . • ,"

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We note that the elderly gentleman had become homosexually roused by the presence of his nephew and this craving appeared to his consciousness masked under the form of a fear of tubercular in- fection.

"I could tear my hairs out by the roots, to think that I had done such a foolish thing!"

"What foolish thing?"

"I mean, sleeping in the same room with my nephew. If I had at least put up a Japanese screen. But, unfortunately, one does foolish things without reflecting upon the consequences. . . ,"

B. also displays various compulsory mannerisms, the meaning of which becomes obvious once we ap- preciate that, in his case, 'tuberculosis' really means 'homosexuality.' As he walks upon the City streets he meets a man coming his way. While still at a distance he steps aside or crosses on the other side; he no longer shakes hands with any man, not even with his friends; one may become infected with tubercle bacilli in that way. All places where men are seen naked or in partial undress, such as gym- nasia or bathing resorts, are breeding spots for tubercular infection.

Moreover, B. shows some female traits in his nature. He has shaved his beard because hairs may be nests for tubercle bacilli ; he has become emotion- al, whining and he is unable to arrive at decisions promptly. He finds the fashion of wearing short

The Critical Age 95

coats not "dressy" and wears a long coat that has almost the appearance of a jacket. (Similar man- nerisms are found in Jean- Jacques Rousseau; vid, his Confessions.)

This case is one of almost complete outbreak of femininity, closely allied to the paranoiac forms, which will be considered more fully in another chapter. He is also jealous of liis wife and thinks he is slighted, — that he is not given the proper de- gree of attention. He is excitable, sleepless, dis- satisfied with life. After a few hours the analysis is given up.

Such persons are tremendously afraid of the truth ; they wander from physician to physician and really want but one thing: to preserve their secret and to devote themselves more and more to their hidden homosexuality. If the condition were once disclosed before their eyes they could not continue their indulgence so easily. They always break up the treatment after a few hours under some pretext or other and this justifies the suspicion that, sooner or later, they come to regard the physician also as a man and, transferring their homosexual attach- ment to the physician they flee from the danger of being together with the object of their love.

This case illustrates, I believe, what remarkable masks the outbreak of the homosexual trait is cap- able of assuming. Similar masks are the fear of syphilis, the fear of "blood poisoning," and the dread

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of physical contact with other persons or objects. The fear of syphilis covers also other dreads. Formerly I thought that syphihdophobia was only a mask for incest craving. I am now convinced that it stands for "forbidden love" generally. Syphilis stands as a symbol either for incest or for homo- sexuality. 'Becoming infected' means: 'being op- pressed' by homosexual or incestuous tendencies. These figures of speech are suggested by the every day use of language. One hears, for instance, that the whole city of Berlin is infected with homo- sexuality; the opponents of homosexuality fight against the plague which threatens the whole German nation; young men are warned against being in- fected with homosexuality. It is not surprising, therefore, that the morbid expressions of neuroses assume similar figurative forms.

The rise of such morbid fear during advanced age is always suspicious of an outbreak of homo- sexuality, against which various protective devices are thus raised. If I should attempt to describe all these forms of outbreak and all the protective devices I would have to wi<ite a special treatise on anxiety states. We well know already that all neuroses have a bisexual basis. But, what is more, I maintain that homosexuality plays a far greater role in the development of neurotic traits than any other suppressed instincts.

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I am now turning my attention to a character in whom homosexuality would hardly be suspected as a motive power. I refer to the Don Juan type of personality. The Messalina type I shall describe in connection with my study of sexual anesthesia in woman. But the Don Juan character deserves special attention in this connection.

One would think that a man who devotes his whole life to women, who dreams day and night only of new conquests, who considers every woman worth while when opportunity favors him, a man for whom no woman is too old, or too ugly, if he desires her, — that such a man would be far removed from any homosexual trend. Yet the contrary is the fact and the greater my opportunity to study the 'woman chaser' the stronger my conviction becomes that, back of the ceaseless hunt, stands the longing after the male. Though many explanations have been offered for the Don Juan type, — that proto- type of Faust's — none has solved satisfactorily the riddle of his psyche. Only the recognition of latent homosexuality promises to clear for us the meaning of this character.

What are the typical character traits attributed to the Don Juan type? His easily stirred passion; secondly, his indiscriminate taste; thirdly, his sud- den cooling off. Of course, there are any number of transitional forms and mixed stages.

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I choose for examination the fundamental type, as he is known to me through a number of concrete examples. This triad: "quickly roused, not par- ticular as to choice, just as quickly cooled," admits of numerous variations. Particularly the choice of the sexual object is something that in many woman chasers becomes determined on the basis of particu- lar fetichistic preferences, such as red hair, vir- ginity, a particular figure, a special occupation, etc. The Don Juan collectors of women are diiferen- tiated into various distinct classes. I knew one who for his record of adventures specialized in widows. The shorter the period of widowhood the greater was his ambition to make the conquest. Only women in mourning attracted him. But beyond this point he was not particular. It made no dif- ference to him whether the woman was young or old, beautiful or homely, so long as she was a widow in mourning. His greatest pride he took in his con- quest of widows on the burial day.

OsJcar A. H. Smitz, (in his Cassanova und Andere erotische CharaJctere, Stuttgart, 1906, quoted after Block), has attempted to trace a fine distinction be- tween the Don Juan and the Cassanova type: "Don Juan is a deceiving, cunning seducer to whom the sense of possessing the woman, the feeling of danger, and the pleasure of overcoming resistance and of exercising his manly strength are the chief things, but he is not erotic, whereas Cassanova is the erotic

Don Juan and, Cassanova 99

type par excellence; he, too, is tricky and remorse- less, but he craves the satisfaction of his sensuous needs rather than of his sense of power. Don Juan sees only women, for Cassanova every woman is "the woman." Don Juan is demonic, devilish, he de- liberately plans the destruction of the women who yield to him and drives them to perdition, while Cassanova is humane, he is always interested in the happiness of his sweethearts and preserves of them tender memories. Don Juan hates woman, he is a typical misogynist, the satanic type of woman hater, whereas Cassanova is a typical feminist, he has a deep and sympathetic understanding of woman's soul, he is not deceived by his love affairs but needs continual intercourse with women as the condition of his happiness. Don Juan seduces through his demonic character, with the brutal, and wild, at- traction exercised by his uncanny power, Cassa- nova achieves his conquests through the more re- fined gentle atmosphere generated by his charming presence."

Block introduces a third type, the pseudo-Don Juan, or more correctly, the pseudo-Cassanova, — the adventurer perennially disappointed in his con- quests, of whom Retif de la Bretonne is the nearest widely known type. He is continually looking for the true love and never finds it. While I admit that the seducer as a type belongs to one of these catego- ries, I must designate all three classes mentioned

100 Bi-Sexual Love

above, that is, the Don Juan, the Cassanova, and the would-be type of either, as bearers, alike, of a latent homosexuality. None of them finds his ideal. Retif de la Bretonne is the perennially disappointed type, and true love is something he can never find; in his love he displays considerable dependence on woman. He portrays the hopeless flight to woman and away from man. Cassanova feels all the time impelled to prove to himself how seductive a fellow and man he is and every new conquest gives him a new opportunity to do so. Woman is to him but a means to enhance his sense of virility. He must not depreciate his conquest for the glory of his achieve- ment would be lessened in his own eyes if he were to do so.

The Don Juan type is close to the level which leads directly to the well known Marquis de Sade type of character. He scorns woman because she is incapable of yielding to him all the gratification for which he yearns. He is perennially searching for release and in that respect bears some re- semblance to the Flying Dutchman who is similarly in quest of love and whom the quest leads eventually to death. But I cannot concur with the idea that these types are so sharply differentiated as Schmitz and Bloch are inclined to maintain. We meet the finest gradations and the most varied combinations. Moreover individuals change, their character shift-

Don Juan and Cassanova 101

ing from one type to another by imperceptible de- grees in the course of time.

I propose to consider Don Juan as the repre- sentative of the type of seducer, irrespective of further variations. In fact it is characteristic of all the types mentioned above that they are alike unable to remain loyal in their love. And, in my view, this is the most important characteristic.

Ready excitability, scorn of womankind, latent cruelty, and perennial readiness for love adventures are traits which show that, in the last analysis, Don Juan represents a type of unsatisfied libido. For him the most important moment is the con- quest of the woman. In the joy of this conquest there is betrayed something of the scorn of woman which plays such an important role in the lives of all homosexuals — ^whether latent or manifest. For the genuine Don Juan the conquest of a woman is a task which apeals to his play lust. Will he suc- ceed with this one, and with that one, and with the third woman? Each new conquest reassures him that he is irresistible, magical in his charm, so that he can say to himself: thou art a real inan! He must reassure himself over and over that he is fully a man because he fears his femininity too strongly; with the aid of his feminine trait he is the better able to achieve his conquests among women because that trait enables him the better to feel and know what

10^ Bt-Sexual Love

every woman wants. He is really but a woman in man's clothes. His narcissistic character (the morbid self-love) requires continually new proofs of his irresistible powers. This type of man, one who practices all sorts of perversions on women and in this very changing of the manner of his loving betrays his insatiable quest for new and untried gratifications, never permits himself any homo- sexual act, although he is far from particular other- wise and has run the gamut of tasting all ugly and forbidden fruit. Homosexuality strikes this type of man as disgusting and unbearable, he must spit out when meeting a fellow of that kind, he would have all men and women of that kind in jail, he would have them rooted out as one would a plague. Towards homosexuality his attitude is emotionally overstressed, showing that this negative form of disgust and neurotic repulsion really covers the positive trend of longing. But at the same time he looks for women who are mannish in appearance and who lack the secondary sexual characteristics, thin, ephebic women, matrons and girls who are so young as to look like children and thus represent really intermediary stages towards manhood.

Certain aversions, which Hirschfeld has described as antifetichistic, sometimes disclose the homosexual character of their libido and the protective means adopted against the recognition of homosexuality. One man dislikes woman with large feet, another is

Don Juan and Cassanova 103

repelled by women with hair on their bodies. Such a woman causes him to have distinct nausea. A third one is repelled by the presence of hair upon the woman's upper lip, or by a deep voice. There are, besides, all sorts of transitional types. One seeks only the completely developed and typical female figure, another is attracted particularly by the type of woman resembling the male figure but with- out disdaining the former type.

His search is endless because he is truly, though secretly, attracted by the male. His sexual goal is man. Through each new woman he expects to ex- perience, at last, the completely satisfactory grati- fication which he craves. But he turns away from each one equally disappointed because his libido cannot be fully gratified by any of them. In the manner of his conquering and abandoning each woman he shows his scorn of the sex. The true woman lover is really no Don Juan because he distributes his sexual libido among a few women at the most and the emotional overvaluation of these women furnishes the key to his attitude towards the whole sex. Don Juan makes love in a manner ap- parently as if he respected womankind. But the cold manner in which he dismisses his victims betrays his complete contempt for the sex. He admires only the women who withstand him and whom he cannot subdue. Such resistance may lead eventually to the marriage of a Don Juan, a marriage which neces-

104* Bi-Seocual Love

sarily proves unhappy and he continues his former life. For the step has not furnished him what he is really seeking, man has eluded him again.

Closer examination reveals the characteristic fact that frequently the choice of lovers is determined by homosexual traits of one kind or another. The Don Juan who runs after married women may be goaded on by the fact that he likes the physical ap- pearance of their husbands. Naturally the thought heightens his feeling of self-esteem because it must be a harder task to induce the wife of a handsome man to deceive her husband than it would be to bring to one's feet the wife of an ugly man. A Don Juan told me once: "I have possessed all sorts of women, but never cared for the wife of a simpleton. I have always considered it beneath me and not worth while to deceive a fool." Here we have a type of man desirous to measure his wit against that of a sharp rival. (If you are so very sharp, why don't you look out better for your wife!) The emphasis here is really upon the fact that he likes the husband, admires him, and considers him a bright man. Be- fore he makes up his mind to get a woman he must like her husband, and he can be attracted only by intelligent men. That condition is imperative be- fore he engages in any love adventure. Maupassant describes this type of man in one of his stories. The hero is interested only in married women whose hus- bands attract him and are among his friends. I

Don Jiuin and Cassanova 105

give the history of an extreme case of this t3rpe in my chapter on jealousy in the present work.

H. O., 49 years of age, is undergoing a severe mental crisis. He relates that he was happily mar- ried, until an actress crossed his path. He fell so deeply in love he could not leave her, he neglected his home, was unable to follow his calling and was on the point of committing suicide. It was not his custom to cling for long to any one woman. Usually he changed sweethearts every few weeks.

"Did you say that your married life was happy ?"

"Yes; that has never troubled me. I cannot be true to any woman. I must change all the time. I am a polygamous being. This woman is the first to whom I feel loyal and true right along, I did not feel so towards my wife and only a few weeks after mar- riage I preferred the embrace of other women, but this sweetheart of mine, — she has taken me off my balance entirely, to her I am loyal. Think of it ! I stand for her going with other men, who support her. Who could have told me that I would come to this ! Every little while I decide to break with her and never see her again. I have sworn it to my wife, who is heartbroken over the affair. But I am too weak . . . Save me! Free me from tliis terrible plight! Restore me to my family."

.... This man's life history is typical of the neurotic. He understood sexual matters and

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masturbated at a very early age. He began to masturbate as early as the sixth year at school and thinks that he can even trace the beginning of the habit to an earlier date. He had many play mates with whom he carried on the "usual childish games," These "usual childish games" turned out to be fel- latjoj pederasty, manual onanism, and zoophily. The children pressed into service a dog who by lick- ing the parts produced the highest orgasm in them. The last homosexual love he carried on at 14 years of age. He and a colleague performed mutual masturbation. Once the two were warned against the dangers of masturbation and they went together to a house of prostitution. This they kept up for a long time because it increased their satisfaction. Often they exchanged their sexual partners. (This is not an uncommon practice through which latent homosexuals achieve a heightening of their orgasm and cryptically reach after their male companion. In houses of prostitution this practice is common among friends.)

In a short time he developed into a genuine Don Juan. At 16 years of age he had already become a full-fledged woman hunter and succeeded in at- tracting his high school professor's wife as his sweetheart. He went after every woman, young or old, pretty or plain. He claims that old women have yielded the highest pleasures and shows me a letter in which FranJdm advises young men to cling

i

Don Jtuin and Cassanova 107

to old women. But this pronounced gerontophiliac tendency does not prevent him from having rela- tions with girls below age, almost children. His whole thought, night and day, was concentrated upon women. His first thought upon rising in the morning usually was: "What adventures await me today?" If he finds himself in a room with a woman alone invariably he thinks: "How can I get her?" Every woman he gets hold of he looks upon merely as a means for gratification and soon tires of her. With the exception of one elderly woman whom he occasionally visits he has not kept up with any woman longer than a few weeks. Often after the first intercourse he feels disgust for his new sexual partner and thinks to himself: "You are not any different than the others!" Since his 16th year he has had intercourse almost daily and often several times a day. He was 32 years of age when he first met his present wife. Her father was his superior at the office, a man for whom he had the very highest respect. ("There are not many such men as he.") He married the man's daughter, whom he held high in esteem high above all others of her sex, and it was a very happy mar- riage. His only fear was that his wife would find out about his amorous escapades. For no woman was safe near him and even during the early part of their married life he kept up sexual relations with their cook. Finally he managed to control himself

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at least to the extent of avoiding any escapades under his own roof so as to be more sure of keeping his wife in ignorance of his amorous procHvities. But he always kept on the string a lot of women and girls who were at his disposal whenever he wanted any of them.

He became acquainted with a young man whom he liked a great deal. But there was one thing about that young man which repelled him: he was homosexual and proud of it. This was something he could not understand and he endeavored very zealously to rouse in his friend a love for women. He failed completely; on the other hand his new friend introduced him to the local homosexual circle, in which he became interested merely as a "cultural problem." He frequented a cafe where homosexuals were in the habit of congregating and noticed that many among them were of pronounced intellectual caliber. He was particularly impressed by the fact that their common peculiarity levelled so com- pletely persons of different social standing. A Count met a waiter or post office clerk as cordially as he would a most intimate friend. A few weeks later he met the sister of his new friend and fell deeply in love with her at first sight. That was his tremendous attachment.

It was plain that contact with the homosexuals had released some of the inhibitions which had kept

Don Juan and Cassanova 109

back his own lataiit homosexuality and the latter trait now threatened to overpower him. There was but one safeguard against that, namely: flight into love. The attachment to his friend became now a passionate love for his friend's sister, who resembled her brother very closely. During coitus with his new sweetheart it occurred to him early to give up succubus, and to try the anal form of gratification, and this produced in him tremendous orgasm such as he had never before experienced.

His wife was informed through anonymous letters of the state of affairs. Moreover he had become very weak in his sexual relations with her and was able to carry on his marital duties only with greatest difficulty.

Psychoanalysis brought wonderful results in this case. He learned quickly to recognise his emotional fixations and only wondered that he was too blind not to have seen for himself that he really loved the brother through that woman. He broke with the actress in a dignified manner. He proposed that if she should give up her intimate relations with all other men he would keep his word and marry her. He still loved her but he was no longer in the dark. She laughed in his face. Did he really think that he could meet the cost of her wardrobe and other needs ? That put an end to the attachment. He was ashamed afterwards to think that he should have

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preferred such a woman to his wife. The analysis of a remarkable dream brought about the complete severing of his infantile fixations.

The dream: / am with Otto — that was his friend^s name — in a room. He walks up to me and says: *^DonH you see that I love you and want you!" I try to amoid his love pats and draw a revolver out of my pocket. I hold it high and am ready to shoot my friend. But instead of my friend 1 see standing before me my son, and my boy*s sincere blue eyes look up at me imploringly: * Protect me!' I throw down the revolver and run out of the room.

His young friend resembled somewhat his boy to whom he was specially devoted just before the un- fortunate love affair. , . .

This case shows that sometimes a great and pas- sionate love arises to save the lover from himself. There are times when it becomes necessary to love and then the object of one's love, though falling short of the actual yearnings of one's soul, becomes emotionally overvalued so that the intoxication of love leads to forgetfulness (like every other intoxi- cation). Any love affair which breaks out during later life rouses the suspicion that it is an attempt to save one's self with all one's might from homo- sexuality. The characteristic signs of such a love are its exaggerated and compulsory character. The lovesick man is unable to keep away from his sweet- heart ; he wants to have her by his side all the time ;

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she must accompany him everywhere; even in sleep he puts his hand out to his sweetheart as if to pro- tect him from every temptation. And I have seen cases in which the curious infatuation was able to withstand all opposition when it must be looked upon as a successful healing process.

In the course of analysis it not infrequently hap- pens that those who call for advice transfer their attachment to their consultant, feel tremendously attached to him and in this state of emotional readi- ness the first woman who happens along becomes the object of their most intense love emotion as the shortest way out of a sexual danger. The sexual danger in question is homosexuality.

Don Juan, Cassanova, Retif de la Bretonne, — all flee from man and seek salvation in woman. Retif is a foot fetichist. The choice of this fetich, typically bisexual, already indicates latent homo- sexuality. Insatiable woman hunters often end their flight away from homosexuality by falling into the deepest neuroses.

The next case history illustrated this fact:

G. K., a prominent inventor, 32 years of age, consults me for a number of remarkable compulsory acts which he must always carry out before retiring for the night. He must prove about twenty times to make sure that the doors are all locked. Then he goes through the house and submits every foot of the place to the most painfully detailed and care-

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ful search to make sure that no burglar is hidden anywhere. He looks not only under the beds but into every box and drawer and closet, opening and closing each one in turn, and very carefully. One can never tell where a burglar may hide himself! By the time he has concluded this search it is nearly midnight. The terribly arduous procedure fatigues him for he has to look everywhere, emptying even the book cases in the course of his search for fear that the burglar may be hidden back of the books, and it is midnight when he crawls into bed, although he begins his preparations around ten o'clock. Then he is usually tormented with doubt whether he has done everything. It occurs to him that he did not go into the nursery at all, where his three children are asleep. The boy's room, too, has not been searched. Jumping out of bed he lights a candle and in his night toilette makes his way to the chil- dren's rooms, unable to rest any longer. The girls are already accustomed to seeing him that way, nevertheless they jump out of their sleep scared. In his white nightgown, like a shadow, he moves from place to place with lighted candle in hand, looks under the children's bed, under the servant girl's bed and incidentally makes sure that no man lies by her side in bed. During these rounds every door and every window is tried whether it is safely locked. It is now long past midnight. Exhausted he returns to his bed. Again various doubts begin

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to torture him : did or did he not try this, or that, or the other particular door, is the gasometer safely turned off, and again in his thoughts he rehearses every detail. His logical faculty tells him : you have done everything, you need not have any further con- cern, it is high time you went to sleep ! But logic is powerless when his doubts overpower him. Again he rises and takes a few additional precautions which I need not detail here. Thus it may be three or four o'clock in the morning and even later before he is finally through. Then he lies down in his wife's bed and wakes her up. Only after coitus, which he carries out regularly every night, he falls asleep. But by that time the night is over and the dawn is just breaking. He remains in bed exhausted, often sleeping till past the noon hour, much to his wife's disgust. The whole house is in uproar. The chil- dren wake up but are taken to another wing of the house because "papa is asleep and must not be waked up !" As he is very wealthy, he has his way. The servants are paid extra well so that they are willing to put up with "that queer household.'* Afternoons he is at work in his chemical laboratory. His researches have made him famous. He is a very capable chemist, possessing wonderful ideas and his patents have brought him a great fortune.

In addition to all that he is obsessed by another compulsory thought, which seems very extraordi- nary. Continually he wants to know how everybody

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likes his wife and whether she is still considered a pretty woman. Regard for her appearance is his greatest concern. Many afternoons he spends with her in the fitting rooms of modistes and tailors. He reproaches her for not knowing how to dress tastily, and scolds her because she does not take proper care of herself. On the other hand he is entirely indifferent regarding the manner of her appearance in the house. He is greatly concerned only with the impression his wife makes upon other men. It also disturbs him if other women do not find his wife beautiful but he worries more if men fail to notice her. As he dreads evenings he spends the time in the company of friends. (Thus the ceremonial on retiring is delayed and he sleeps to a late hour into the day.)

His chief thought is his wife's appearance. If a man says to him: "Your wife is charming today!" or if some stranger says to him : "Who is that beauti- ful woman?" as has actually happened at balls and entertainments he feels supremely happy. Or, if he introduces his wife to some man who gallantly re- marks later: "I did not know that you had such a charming wife!" his happiness knows no bounds and his wife has a good time in consequence. The very next day he buys her a costly gem, he is tender with her and bestows upon her pleasant flatteries.

But, on the other hand, if he sees that his wife passes unobserved in a crowd, or if there is some

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other pretty woman in the room, he feels unhappy. Then he meets his wife with severest reproaches be- cause she does not know how to dress attractively, he growls, and raves, and is angry for several days until another event takes place and his wife is again noticed by men and women when he quiets down. He cannot endure to hear that some other man also has a pretty wife. He does not rest until he meets that woman and is happy if some one says to him: "Your wife is really prettier." But if he hears that another woman is praised and his wife is not mentioned at same time he feels again very depressed and his wife pays unpleasantly for it. His uncles — he has no brothers — all have pretty women. His chief concern is to find out whether his wife is really the prettiest. He asks this question fre- quently of his acquaintances, in an offhand manner of course, for he would not have them suspect his feelings for anything in the world and the opinion of a man towards whom he is otherwise completely indifferent often determines his disposition for the whole day. He is happy if he notices that some one is making love to his wife. On the other hand it troubles him if he sees there are young men around and they fail to gather around his wife. He is not jealous because he knows his wife well, can trust her and, besides, she is never alone. She is either with him or in her mother's company. That is why he is very happy to see men gather around her. He

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goes with her wherever any beauty contests are on and spends a great deal of money to make sure that his wife will win the prize. If another woman is the winner it makes him unhappy and he genuinely envies the man who possesses or will possess such a woman.

In spite of all that, the man is a Don Juan and was never true to his marital vows. He maintains a second house where he receives girls and also such of his friends' wives as find favor in his eyes and are willing to accept his attentions. As he is a well preserved, stately man of most attractive appear- ance he is very lucky with women.

Besides that he receives a number of girls in his laboratory where he has fitted out a room for this purpose. Not a day passes in which he does not possess some woman — any woman — in addition to his wife. He looks well, though occasionally a little pale, feels physically very fresh and energetic. He works really but two or three hours a day. In this brief time he accomplishes more than other men in a day's grind.

The character of his sexual gratification is note- worthy. While carrying out normal coitus with his wife, with the girls and other women he indulges in the kind of practices which furnish him the great- est orgasm. He gives them his phallus which they take hold of, and kisses them, dum puella memhnim erectum tenet et premit. He carries out coitus if

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the partner requests it. But the act is interrupted and again exchanged for hand manipulation. As he is a very potent man, he is able to satisfy the woman and still has time to withdraw his penis be- fore ejaculation and put it in the woman's hand to be manipulated by her. There have been also vari- ous other indulgences. He has tried everything. The form of gratification just mentioned he prefers to all others. A certain feeling of shame has pre- vented him from asking his wife to do it for him.

His anamnesis is very fragmentary. He remem- bers no particular incidents of childhood or early youth. He began to masturbate very early and up to the time of his marriage masturbated regularly every night before falling asleep. Already before marriage he had had such compulsory habits, but usually he was through his bed time searching in about one half hour. At any rate he masturbated daily even when he had intercourse with women. He never took women to his house. They always came to his laboratory. He is greatly attached to his mother who is yet a very attractive woman and shows great veneration for his father who brought him up with strict but just discipline and who showed some light neurotic peculiarities.

He recalls no homosexual episodes. He mastur- bated excessively and began intercourse with women at 18 years of age; after that he rapidly became a confirmed woman hunter but he developed a very

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particular taste. All his women had to be very fair, have a pretty, round, strongly feminine figure, a delicate tint and be, above all, very beautiful. Yet a very white and smooth skin would make up for the lack of other points of beauty in his eyes. With the perfectly white face he required dark, fiery eyes. This type of beauty seems to coincide with his mother^s who was a remarkably attractive woman and who to this day carries with great dignity the obvious signs of her former great beauty.

He had also certain antifetichistic peculiarities. If he notices hair on a woman's body, for instance, at once she loses all attractiveness in his eyes. Such a woman he finds as disgusting as a woman with a mustache. Equally disgusting to him are all women with sharp figures and no breasts such as remind one of a man. "A woman should be a woman," is his favorite remark. He despises all "blue stockings" and emancipated women and has requested his wife to drop the acquaintanceship of a friend of hers who had taken an interest in vari- ous women's movements.

In the course of the analysis he refers continually first of all to his wife. According to him he has married an angel of patience. It takes great love to endure this man's moods and whims. But the wife loves him devotedly and has learned to stand everything from him because she knew that he loved her and she said to herself: every man has his

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peculiarities. She was contented and the house vibrated with her happy laughter. If he troubled her with his foolish reproaches she did not pout for long. On the contrary she soon smiled forgiveness so that their married life was really a model.

He insists that his wife is an ideal person. When early in the course of analysis one confesses such a deep affection, the opposite feeling, scorn, is sure to become disclosed before long. First the advantages, — then the disadvantages. But this woman seemed to have no unpleasant component in her nature. He could tell only favorable things about her and about his concern regarding her beauty.

But before long — in the course of a few weeks — the tone of his talk changed. There was another trauma about which he felt he must tell me, some- thing of tremendous significance which had shattered his whole married life. At the time of his marriage he had resolved nothing less than to give up his Don Juan adventures and to be true to his wife. Just before marriage he had been carrying on with six different girls at the same time and it kept him on the jump to keep each woman from finding out about the others. He wanted to live quietly after mar- riage and be true to his wife. He had also resolved solemnly to give up masturbation after marriage. As a married man this would be easy, — instead of masturbating before going to sleep he would have intercourse with his wife.

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Before the marriage ceremony he became obsessed with the thought that his bride might have hair grow- ing on her breasts. That would be unbearable. He was on the point of demanding that his bride should be examined by a physician but, as a man of high standing, he was ashamed to make such a sugges- tion. During the bridal night he discovered a few light hairs on her breast and a light soft down on her abdomen. He was so shocked that he would have wanted to send her back to her parents. For months after that he was very unhappy and every night he wept over his misfortune. His great hope, to find a woman who would take the place of all other women in his life, was gone.

This notion about his wife's hairs made him most unhappy and prevented his moral resurrection. He had planned to turn a new leaf. But he continued to feel himself irresistibly attracted to beautiful white women with marble-like smooth skin and no hair to remind one of a man's body.

The most remarkable feature, characteristic of the whole case is the fact last mentioned.

The man is avowedly bisexual with a strong lean- ing towards homosexuality. This homosexual trend was gratified up till that time through masturbation — as he has pointed out. He sought contact with fully developed women, to forget man. He wanted a very beautiful wife because he imagined her beauty would serve to drive away from him all thought of

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man and to focus his libido exclusively upon her. He wanted to have the prettiest woman in the world : Helen. If his wife's appearance pleased other men, this so roused the homosexual component of his libido that he enjoyed sexual intercourse with her more keenly. Above all he wanted to avoid the thought of man. The anxiety on account of man came over him particularly before retiring at night and it was a morbid anxiety over masturbation at the same time. In his head, within his brain, man was a living thought, something that threatened him and de- manded release. But this was also something his consciousness refused to recognize and therefore the thought of man tortured him and he could not fall asleep. He projected this intruder into his room and it led him to search his empty closets for a non- existent man, as if saying to himself: I have no trace of any homosexual leaning whatever! That is what he actually told me when I referred to the homosexual significance of his compulsory acts; such a Don Juan as I ! I have devoted myself com- pletely to woman. The thought of man is repulsive to me.

I explained to him that disgust is but a hidden

form of longing. If he were indifferent to the

thought of man it would be more convincing.

"Well then, I am indifferent to the thought."

Thus he tried to convince me that he was not

homosexual. But we conceive that the hairs he

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discovered upon his wife's body reminded him of the fatal homosexuality. He felt so unhappy over it he was considering a separation on that account. Whatever reminded him of man was painfully un- pleasant to him. He threw himself into love adven- tures to forget man. He gave up his clubs and male companions because he wanted to be all the time in the company of his wife.

I pass over for the present the further significance of his neurosis as disclosed by the analysis of his dreams. I shall only give an example illustrating how untrustworthy are the statements of those who attempt to give an account of their lives and insist that they remember everything accurately. This or that particular kind of incident, they are sure, has never occured in their life. Regarding sexual mat- ters all men lie consciously, unconsciously and half- consciously.

After further, continuously progressive analysis the subject himself came to the conclusion that he must have been struggling against homosexuality. Now he understood his sudden decision to get mar- ried, after having maintained right along that he would remain a bachelor. He was interested at the time in a laboratory assistant, a young man with pretty rosy cheeks. He showered gifts upon that young man and planned to give him an education so as to have a friend always close to him. The first compulsory acts appeared at the time. He married,

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felt unhappy for a time but for a few years he lived at least a relatively quiet life. Then another man came into his life destroying his peace of mind, a man who had lived for some time in foreign countries and now returned to his fatherland. This was an uncle.

Now he recalls something of which he had not thought for many years — for he was going to keep this from me, — namely, that he had maintained cer- tain intimacy with this uncle for about a year. They lived in a boarding house where they occupied a room together. The uncle always came to lie in his bed and they played with each other before falling asleep.

His uncle carried out the kind of manipulations which he now required of his women lovers: manual gratification. During his relations with his wife, however, he wanted to avoid all thought of homo- sexuality ; she should not practice this form of grati- fication for him nor should her body remind him of homosexuality. She must save him of the burden of homosexuality which still plagued him under the form of onanism.

After resurrecting this memory a mass of other homosexual data came trooping forth out of his past.

This man was strongly bisexual from childhood with particular predisposition towards the male sex. As a child he did crocheting and showed various fe-

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male characteristics. After the onset of puberty his homosexuality was strongly repressed, persist- ing chiefly under the guise of onanism. For the act of masturbation takes place just before falling asleep in a half dreamy state during which he thinks, though indistinctly, of his uncle and of other men. The latent homosexuality was the most important factor in his neurosis.

The result of the analysis was most gratifying in this case. The subject soon abandoned his com- pulsory acts and was able to sleep quietly. His life became regular; he ceased being a Don Juan. He allowed his wife to carry out those manipulations which seemed essential for his orgasm and for his peace of mind. Occasionally I see him.

These observations show that in the dynamics of the "polygamic neurosis," homosexuality plays a tremendous role. The observation that every love is really self-love receives new confirmation. Don Juan seeks himself in woman and finds in her that femininity which has turned him into a Don Juan.

In his book (^Don Juan, Cassanova and other Erotic Characters) already mentioned (Stuttgart, 1906), Oskar A. H. Schmitz states:

"Cassanova would not begrudge woman the pos- session of all those traits which are called 'male,' through ignorance, just as he himself has been de- scribed as possessing many female traits. The di-

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vision of mankind in men and women is a great con- venience. But he who undertakes to investigate erotic problems to their bottom must bear in mind that there are no absolute male and female persons any more than there are persons who are purely quick tempered, good-natured, envious, Germans or Semites. All these designations, like Theophrast^s characters, represent so many psychic elements which must have a name. But they are met only in various combinations which may be compared and contrasted with chemical combinations. I believe it is noticeable that men of over-stressed virility do not necessarily appeal to women, who find them, instead, partly repulsive, partly amusing. On the other hand it is certainly true that all female tempters were remarkable for their intellect and wit — some of them were veritable amazons intellectually — and we note in our own day with great reason the disap- pearance of the ^'crampon'' together with the leaning instinct of Epheus. Even the disappearance of Don Juan may be due partly to his overstressed virile characteristics. The erotic temperament includes a number of female traits ; such peculiarities as tender- ness, vanity, talkativeness need not interfere with his amorous adventures."

in

Diagnosis of Satyriasis — Priapism — A case of Satyriasis — A second case of Satyriasis — A case of Nymphomania — Proof that the cravings represented by this condition are traceable to the ungratified homosexual instinct.

Wenn man die letzten FunJcen emer Leidenschaft im Herzen tragi, wird man sich eher einer neuen hingeben, als menn man gdnzlich geheilt ist.

La Rochefoucavld,

m

So long as the last ember of a passion still glows in the heart it is easier to rouse a new 'passion than if the cure is complete.

La Rochefoucauld,

The last case has shown us that cryptic sexual goals which remain hidden make for unrest and in spite of frequent sexual experiences bring about a state of sexual insatiety, endless hunger, longing and unrest. Man's unsatisfied instinct drives him like a motor to all sorts of symbolic acts ; it induces him to taste all gratifications which are not under the sway of inhibition, robbing him of sleep and rest.

All the symptomatic acts we have mentioned, try- ing the doors, — looking under the bed, etc. — ^were due to the subject^s fear of homosexuality. The doors of his soul must be hermetically sealed so that the terrible enemy should find no entry.

The subject also displayed a number of other symptomatic acts which richly symbolized his inver- sion. He turned around certain objects from the left to the right. He felt more satisfied after doing

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so. Why did he do it? Because in consciousness the right side always stands for what is permitted, while the left symbolizes the forbidden. Some things he turned around and upside down to see whether they would keep their balance. If they tiunbled it filled him with uneasiness, if they stood up, he felt satisfied. Occasionally he found a vessel that kept its balance when turned upside down. But he was satisfied if it did not break.

His phantasy played with the possibility of turn- ing sexuality upside down. If the change involved no mishap it carried to him the meaning: even if you are homosexual, you need not lose your balance, you can keep up and stand on your feet. After such a symbolic act he experienced promptly erection and ran to his wife who only disappointed him because she did not gratify him enough. These men have a strong yearning for great heterosexual passion which shall make them forget their homosexuality. Usually imagination comes to their aid and they find women who give them so much spiritually, that they overlook the absence of physical attractiveness. They sublimate their homosexuality, heighten the meaning of sexuality by endowing it with spiritual erotism, and by means of spiritual ecstacy they make up for the lack of physical lure.

If this transposition does not take place, if the flame blazes only upon the physical sphere, a perma- nent love hunger becomes established known as

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 131

satyriasis. This condition must be differentiated from priapism which is caused solely by organic con- ditions and consists of a more or less continuous state of erection.

Priapism is often brought about by diseases of the corpora cavernosa, by diabetes and diseases of the spinal cord, and is a condition very unpleasant to the sufferer. Here the instinct is not brought into play, the excited organ requires nothing, — it is merely unwell. The psychic impulse is entirely lacking. The subjects feel their condition as some- thing painfully unpleasant, they cohabit merely to get rid of the troublesome erection. On the other hand, the victim of satyriasis is continually impelled to seek gratification and it often happens that he is unable to carry on intercourse because erection fails him. The impulse is psychic rather than phys- ical. Satyriasis is an attempt to exhaust a psychic impulse through the physical channel. A transfer- ence of priapism into the psychical sphere, that is, the establishment of a disposition along this path on the basis of a priapistic excitation, is something I have not encountered.

Satyriasis may be produced in a number of ways. We have seen already that persons with sadistic fancies, necrophiliac tendencies and with all sorts of infantile misophilias may be addicted to mastur- bation. In all these cases, if onanism is given up, a condition develops resembling satyriasis. What

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these persons seek is a transference of their libido upon the normal path. At the same time my ob- servations enable me to declare that the various con- ditions mentioned are overshadowed by the signifi- cance of latent homosexuality. The most important as well as the most powerful driving force is homo- sexuality. But I also know of a homosexual in whom the latent heterosexuality has broken forth as a satyriasis directed along homosexual channels.

We shall now turn our attention to a case which illustrates many of these points:

Mr. Alfred V., clerk, 26 years of age, complains of a long array of nervous symptoms. In the first place there is his inability to attend to his work. He is without employment, because he is unable to hold on to any place. He cannot concentrate his thoughts as his mind turns all the time to women.

In the morning, as soon as he wakes up, his first thought is: I could enjoy a woman now! He thinks this over and finds that, after all, it is too early in the day. He goes to the restaurant and there looks over the morning papers. It is almost too much for him to do even that. Usually he only glances over the news of the day and then turns to the want ads, particularly those marriage offers and "per- sonals" with more or less pointed allusions. Sev- eral hours pass that way and meanwhile he looks at the women passing by the window. Then he takes

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a walk and tries to talk to the girls he meets and to strike up acquaintance with them. If he finds that they are after money he breaks up his talk with them. He would rather take a real prostitute than pay a half -prostitute. Occasionally he finds a girl who meets his wishes. Then he goes with her to a hotel, although it is still forenoon. For a short time after that he is more quiet and he even feels that he could work an hour or two. But soon his restless- ness seizes him again which is always at first a purely psychic urge. It is not erections that trouble him, but craving and unrest. He attains erection only when he is with the puella. His potentia varies. Sometimes he is through very rapidly, sometimes he requires a half hour before he accomplishes erection and orgasm. Again he may indulge in coitus several times in succession, although he feels quieted down after the first.

This condition he naturally describes as painful and unpleasant. He tries to interest himself in art and science, as other men do; he would also like to carry on intellectual conversations. But he can only think of "obscenities" to talk about. The more foolish and cynical the better he likes them. He feels impelled to use the grossest expressions, espe- cially before prostitutes and doing so brings him great pleasure.

He also has fits of anger during which he is al- most beside himself. If something is not to his liking

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it makes him raving mad. At such times he is likely to break out with violence, for instance, destroy a chair, or hurl things through the window regardless of the danger of striking some passer-by, and he may say th2 most awful things to his landlady. He has had many quarrels and violent scenes have been caused on account of his uncontrollable temper.

For some months he kept a fairly good job but had to quit because he talked back to his office chief, using bad language. It always made him mad to have worked piled up on him. Work is a red rag to him. He found on his desk twenty letters which had to be done. Instead of settling down to work he began swearing. What did the folks think any- way? How did they expect one man to do it all? The very impertinence ! etc. After several hours of fuming that way he fell to his work. Then every- thing was all right and he got through fast enough for he always finished his work before all others in the office.

He wondered that he was not dismissed from that office long before. His chief had the patience of an angel. Finally even that man's patience was exhausted and he was discharged. After that he could find no permanent employment. He kept a job a few days at a time; then the chip on his shoulder would cause him to be discharged.

He related his sexual life in great detail; of par- ticular importance is his statement that he never

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had anything to do with homosexuals; though he well knew there are homosexuals. Such folks were "beasts" who inspired him only with disgust. . . .

We allow here Alfred to speak for himself. In the account of his life there are a number of observa- tions which are characteristic of the whole man:

"I remember nothing of my early childhood. What happened during that time I cannot recollect ; my earliest memories date from the time when I was already in school. I only know that both parents were nervous. I lost one brother early, I know nothing of the circumstances. There were a number of insanities in our family, especially on father's side.

"My sexual feelings asserted themselves at a very early age. I remember that when I was seven years old I played with myself before father, without any feeling of shame, because I did not know that it was wrong. Father scolded me and forbade me doing this. But his threats only had the effect of forcing me to continue under cover what I tried to do openly before him. I believe that my power of concentra- tion and my ability to work were impaired already at that time. From playing I merged quickly into systematic masturbation, a habit in which I indulged excessively. At ten years of age we had at school a regular ring of masturbators and we carried on all sorts of things jointly. Nor did we limit ourselves to manual handling. . . .

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*'At about that time I had terrible nightmares. I saw wild animals, was overcome or bitten by them, thieves wanted to kidnap me, and in my dreams I often saw my father coming after me with a great long stick. These nightly dreams tortured me con- siderably, every night I was feverish and bathed in sweat.

*'In the morning I had an *all gone' feeling. I gazed blankly before me at school always holding my hand on the penis, — in fact, I often masturbated during class. I became less and less able to concen- trate on the work or to carry on my school tasks. In various ways I attempted first to keep up with the work and then I tried all sorts of makeshifts to avoid my school duties. As early as at that age it was characteristic of me that what interested me I had no difficulty in doing. I learned easily but only subjects which I was not taught in school. Thus, for instance, as a boy I became interested in mineralogy, astronomy and botany, and I acquired quite a fund of information on these topics. I should have never learned a hundredth part of what I knew about the subjects if they had been drilled into me at school. . . . Everything that was a duty seemed unbearable to me. Work was a hard duty and always unpleasant. Therefore I got along rather poorly in school. I reached the status of a one-yearling (the privilege to do but one year mili- tary duty) only with the aid of home coaching and

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by the use of influence. And I attained that privi- lege only at the last moment, during my twentieth year, when I faced the danger of having to serve three years. In a few weeks I prepared and crammed, so as to pass my examinations because I knew that, unless I did, I would be in trouble. I always went to extremes that way, the midway never appealed to me. I would pour over my astronomical books for five hours at a stretch or devote myself uninterruptedly to my plants and my collection of stones, but if I spent a half hour upon my school lessons it made me mad and in my fury I tore the note book.

"My memory for past events is poor. But some incidents, here and there, I recall very vividly. For instance, I remember nothing of a journey through Thuringen which I made with my uncle when I was ten years of age. I was like in a trance during that journey. I made that same journey a second time and then I recalled of one spot that I had already been there. There was a stone there where I had tripped and fallen during the first journey.

"As a boy I was often punished for my laziness and I was even strapped for my obstinacy. I thought I was treated unjustly for I considered my lack of concentration as something I could not help. I was always restless, perennially moody, sometimes very joyous and again very depressed.

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"Masturbation I carried on excessively. I mas- turbated daily — seldom a day passed, — sometimes several times daily, up to the 21st year, when I first had intercourse. Then I decided to give up onanism. At first I had only normal intercourse and felt great satisfaction. But I had to do it very often or my nerves would be all to pieces. During my military service I felt excellently well. I endured easily all sorts of physical exertion and I was very proud of my uniform. As I am very tall and well built I at- tracted attention in my uniform and the girls looked at me and this made me very proud. But I continued masturbating at the time and avoided intercourse. During the service I was often nervous when I had to carry out an order or if I was kept at one station for any length of time. I pressed myself forward wherever I could, and finally a horse kicked me and I used that accident as a chance to be freed of the service and received for some time the accident pay granted under the circumstances.

"If I am able to get the best of some one, espe- cially of some one in authority, it pleases me beyond measure.

"After the military service I took a position. As I had intercourse daily with women I was in good condition to keep up my work. But I could not endure to have two tasks piled up on me at the same time. I could do only one thing at a time. I was not easy to get along with and had to change

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positions because I quarreled with my chiefs and because I always avoided hard work. Then I came to Vienna and got a place which I kept for some time. The business interested me, because it dealt with an article which appealed to me. Here I began to grow restless and my uneasiness increased when we removed to Berlin. Normal intercourse no longer satisfied me. I became acquainted with a French woman who became my sweetheart and with whom I practiced all sorts of perversities. I became more and more unstable in my work, often neglecting it for hours at a stretch. I do not know whether that was on account of the Berlin air, which did not agree with me, or because of an accident I met with on the railway. I gave up my position, that is, my chief advised me to do so, although it was a re- sponsible position of great trust, of which I was very proud, especially as my father had bonded me heavily. But I grew more and more restless, it drove me continually to women. I had nothing else on my mind and I wracked my brain to think of new, unheard of perversities to try out. I even tried podicem lambere and for a time this brought me great satisfaction, but it quieted me only for a few hours. Then I turned again to Friedrichstrasse looking for the other girls I kept on string besides my regular sweetheart. These adventures required a great deal of money, only a part of which I was able to earn at the time. It was to me always a

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pleasant thought that father had to pay for my indulgences.

"My unrest reached its highest point when my father came to Berlin to see me and I lived in Charlottenburg. I had a formidable anxiety about meeting him and so it happened that he was mostly alone and saw me but seldom. He did prevail upon me to see a specialist who promptly put me in a sanitarium. While there I was much more quiet, but only outwardly. Within me the old struggle kept on as usual. The physician ordered me to give up women for a time because I was super-excitable and indulgence would harm me. I was abstinent for a few weeks but thoughts troubled me every night and I was plainly afraid of losing my mind. Then I turned to my old remedy, onanism. I did this in spite of the fact that the physician and the spe- cialist both declared that my condition was due to excessive masturbation. I was torn between con- flicting thoughts at the time but noticed that I be- came more quiet after masturbating. At any rate after three months of sanitarium treatment I was still in no condition to work. * I am depressed and life loses its zest the moment I turn to work. After the first few minutes my mind turns to women and I must interrupt whatever I am doing and run into the street. Leaving the sanitarium I returned to Vienna where the old vicious cycle began once more. I made the round of physicians and was given any quantity

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of bromides. Neither the medicines nor the various hydrotherapic courses helped me in any way. Only if I have intercourse about three times during the night do I feel a little quieted down in the morning. Then I am a little more alert and can work for a short while. But already on the following day, usually the first thing in the morning, the old trouble reasserts itself. I am irritable and depressed. After a coitus which does not gratify me I feel worse than ever. Then I am tremendously excited and want right away another woman who might satisfy me better. Sometimes I long for true love and for the companionship of a lovely being. I then feel the terror of loneliness fastening upon me. I literally pant for air and again rush to the street where temptations meet me. I feel as if something within me has taken possession of my soul driving me on from one adventure to another. Personally I am inwardly inclined towards everything that is noble; but something within me compels me to act as a bad and evil person.

"I believe I am like a man who is the victim of an insatiable hunger. I have often thought of poor Prometheus, condemned always to linger in hunger and thirst. In the same way I feel within me an unquenchable thirst for love and its pleasures and I have no other thought than to satisfy this thirst in some way. I feel like a mechanism destined only to serve the penis in its demand for gratification.

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"I have often resolved to change. But I am un- able to carry out any resolution, I cannot undertake a thing. I can only hunt after women. Ich harm

mir coitieren, (I can only ,) every other

activity about me is in a state of suspension. I am uncertain and vaccilating about everything. Today I feel a little religious twinge, tomorrow I poke fun at church and priest. Today I decide to learn something new or to find a job, tomorrow I think something else entirely. I want to buy a new hat. I decide today to go to a certain store. I go to the place but linger before the windows, unable to make up my mind to step in. "No," I say to my- self, "I don't want to buy a hat just yet." And meanwhile I also think about women for that is a subject which never leaves my mind for a moment. I stroll up and down the street watching the hun- dreds of women before I make up my mind to speak to one.

"I draw no distinction between old and young, pretty or plain ones. I weigh the matter over con- siderably but in the end I pick up the first one that comes along. If it only quieted me! But it lasts only an hour, sometimes, at best, a whole day, then I must rush out again to the street and hunt. Some- times I cohabit with three women in a day.

"My worst time was when I had gonorrhea (not yet completely healed). I was forbidden to have intercourse for a time. But I could not listen to

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the doctor, because I was afraid that I would go literally to pieces. I kept up intercourse right along and was inwardly glad to think that so many others will also have to suffer what I suffered. Then I felt remorse over my meanness, I felt myself a repro- bate, a criminal, and resolved that I must change my ways. I fell into a deep depression and for a few hours I was free of my usual erotic thoughts. Then they started again and the same thoughts now plague me night and day as before." . . .

We have listened to the poor man*s terrible con- fession. His hunt after gratification has that tragical quality which the poet has so fittingly ex- pressed: '^Und im Genuss verschmachV ich nach Begierde," — "And I starved with yearning even while I tasted." The deep depressions indicate that this trouble is approaching a crisis. For the de- pressions occur at closer intervals and satisfying ex- periences are more rare. That is also the reason why he seeks professional advice. He feels that this cannot go on. He cannot and does not want to endure life under such conditions. He wants to work like other men and to be capable of turning his mind to other matters than sexual.

Two things stand out in the patient's account. First, his complete amnesia regarding his first jour- ney through Thuringen, as pointed out by himself — except for the slight accident of tripping — and

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next, the fact that his condition became so much more serious during his stay in Beriin, when he was already on the way to get well. He had given up masturbation of his own initiative, substituting for it intercourse with women, he was working, he held a responsible position, and kept up his work, accord- ing to the statement of his superiors in office, in spite of disturbances . . . then suddenly his condi- tion made a turn for the worse. Some strong im- pression or unusual experience in Berlin must have brought on this sudden change.

It is noteworthy that the subject denies having ever carried on any homosexual act. He claims such men only fill him with extreme disgust. The child- hood experiences, of course, do not count. All chil- dren did the same things; one would conclude that all boys were homosexual. As a matter of fact they are married and happy, most of them heads of happy families. "I have a frightful passion,'^ he says, "ex- clusively for women. Men do not exist for me."

At night he dreams :

/ see a turbulent ocean before me. The waves are in continuous agitation. I think to myself: it were a pity if the waves ceased their agitation, A ship passes by, and the boat carries everything that I love, I believe my mother is also upon that ship. There is an orchestra playing on board: "Oh, how could I possibly leave youl" I awake feeling sad and depressed.

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Such a dream is a resistance dream and indicates that the subject does not want to get well. His soul is an ocean, continuously in a state of agitation. "I think it a pity that the waves should cease," means: / do not want to become quiet at all! The boat symbolizes the illness, the neurosis. His neu- rosis covers everything he loves, including his mother; and should he give up all that? Impossi- ble! He cannot renounce his infantile sexuality. He wants to remain a child and be ill.

The analysis is carried out under very great re- sistance but satisfactory progress is made. I want to outline the results limiting myself to the most important points.

His sexual life comes more and more to light. It appears that in his free account he covered under silence a important form of pleasurable gratifica- tion because he was ashamed of it. He indulges in a very curious form of infantile sexuality. The habit must be widespread but in this form I have met it only twice.

Every two weeks he does as follows : he lies down in bed dressed in his underclothes and defecates. Then he lies in his stools for several hours. After that he takes great pains to remove every trace. He washes the drawers and the shirt or he bums them up. At the baths, where he is always very excited sexually he does the same thing. He does that there more readily because the means are at

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hand for cleaning himself afterwards. He usually takes along a package of clean linen. At the public baths every cabin has a couch. He lies down and allows his bowels to move. There he lies feeling very satisfied and masturbates or has a spontaneous ejaculation. Then he bathes to clean himself and the package of soiled linen he throws into a river or anywhere where it disappears quickly.

In these scenes he reproduces the infant in swad- dling clothes. He even presses the covers tightly around him so that he cannot move, to give himself the illusion of being tied down. He repeats the infantile scenes of cleaning by the mother, during which in his fancy he plays the double role of mother and child.

He struggles with greatest anxiety against this remarkable paraphila but always submits to it in the end. The longest interval up to the time of the psychoanalysis was four weeks. After that "orgy of filth," — as he calls it — he feels depressed and is ashamed of himself. He has not mentioned this to a living soul and even the physician at the sanitarium knew nothing about it. He went through this act several times not at the sanitarium, but in his room because the baths were not private. When discussing sexual infantilism we shall learn of several similar cases. His attitude towards his mother is very changeable but not so emotionally tense as his rela- tions with his father. He carries on a quiet and

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occasionally affectionate exchange of letters with his mother, but with his father, never. He is to a certain extent fond of his mother. As he tried mas- turbation in front of his father as a child so now he keeps nothing of his sexual life secret before me. He relates frankly everything. As a child he loved his mother very much and often wished to be with her. His mother is now an old woman, partially paralysed. Nevertheless he noticed during his last visit home that she is still a pretty woman and re- peatedly felt impelled to approach her. . , . At such times he treats her very roughly and scorn- fully, and is inclined to make fun of her and her age. He has had repeatedly affairs with old women. At his last lodging place there was an elderly woman, whose face was badly wrinkled, with whom he be- came intimate but after a short time he sought a quarrel with her and moved out. That is the way he behaves with everybody. He quarrels over some trifle, becomes very excited and makes a terrible scene. Then he is through with that person for good.

We shall see that this is his way of protecting himself against temptation. He quarrels only with persons with whom he has pleasant relations and who play some role in his sexual fancies. That is also how he parts from his mother, for he usually leaves her after a bitter quarrel. This is also why his parents let him dwell among strangers, although

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they think a great deal of him. His letters are suffi- ciently irritating but easier to endure than the scenes he creates when at home.

His attitude towards his father is worse. He is easily moved to anger when speaking of him. He makes copious use of vile terms when referring to him. Such expressions as "the old rascal,'^ the "miserable thief," are customary with him when speaking of his father. He knows no reason why he should feel so bitter towards his father. That is, he gives a thousand reasons but all trivial and hardly relevant. The father brought him up badly; the father is responsible for his condition ; the father is wealthy, nevertheless complains always that he has nothing; the father lives only for his mother and cares nothing for hvm. He wants to make himself independent and wants to get money from his father for that purpose. The very thought that his father may deny him the money makes him angry : "I shall go to him and kill him and shoot myself." Such murder fancies are not infrequent about his father.

How close the neurotic is to the criminal ! Against his father he raises all sorts of complaints, equally unreasonable. One day he called on me to say that, having passed a sleepless night he has figured out at last the reason for his illness: the father has mur- dered his brother! The brother was incurably ill and a burden to his father. He knew it well and had decided to go home and confront his father with

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the truth, then demand his share of the inheritance. Even as a boy it was clear to him that the father had deHberately put his brother out of the way. The father always felt uncomfortable when the talk turned to the boy and always tried to avoid the subject.

He judges his father according to his own inner self. He carries within himself the soul of a mur- derer, as the pathologic strength of his instinctive cravings already indicates. The suspicion directed against his father is determined psychically by the fact that during his own youth he wished his brother's death because he did not want to have any competitor for household favors and he knew weU that the fortune would have to de divided between them. But he was not the kind of man who would consent to dividing anything. He wanted every- thing for himself exclusively. He wanted his brother out of the way and had actually indulged in vari- ous fanciful dreams how to go about it. Now he shifted his fancies over to his father, while for him- self he conjured up an attitude of sympathy and regret whenever his brother was mentioned. He is most unhappy because he has no brother, his father has robbed him of what was most precious in his life. Had his brother lived he would not be ill, only the realization of his father's deed is what brought him to such a state. The father passes for a promi- nent person and enjoys a high position in his com-

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munity, he has been mayor of the town, but should he start proceedings against him, the father would land in jail. He is filled with jealousy because his father has done so well; his own incapacity he ex- plains away chiefly on the score of his illness.

It takes a long time for the original love of the father to come to the surface, back of this thick cover of hatred and jealousy. But the masking layer melts, surely though slowly, and meanwhile explana- tions for which the subject is as yet unprepared would do more harm than good. The art of analysis consists in showing up only so much as reveals itself from time to time. Our subject is not yet prepared to see that he is in love with his father. Nevertheless he begins to talk about his father's preeminence and other favorable sides, the man's knowledge, his great library, etc.

Gradually the father's picture looms up in terms more and more favorable. The subject relates pleas- ant episodes from youth, when he botanized along with his father who introduced him to the science; he withdraws his murder notion, admitting at last that it was only part of his over-heated fancy. At this stage when he takes me for the locum tenens of his father, he assumes an aggressive attitude towards me and uses an expression which amounts to an insult. I had already made clear to him that he sees his father in me. Now he undertakes to treat me as he would his father. At once I break up the

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analysis. Three days later he returns remorsefully and begs forgiveness. It will not happen again, I must not leave him in the lurch, he cannot stand this condition any longer, and I must save him. That was the only conflict I ever had with him ; after that he behaved well and to this day he shows himself appreciative and filled with gratitude. He was ready to recognize how strongly his homosexuality deter- mined his attitude towards his superiors, towards his father, as well as towards me. He now sees it clearly. He admits he practically fell in love with his last chief and that is why he had to quit the place. He relates a dream which he had kept to himself till then, and which shows his homosexual attitude towards me, and admits that during child- hood he had idealized his father and loved him deeply.

We leam more than that. We find out what brought on his turn for the worse at Berlin. At his lodging house there was a young boy 14 years of age, very attractive, whom he coached evenings. He began to play with that boy. He masturbated him and was masturbated by the boy in turn. The relationship kept up for about three months. These were the first three months of his stay in Berlin. Then he felt remorse, sought a quarrel with the land- lady and moved out. From that moment began his insatiable craving for women. It was his last homo- sexual period. He had led astray other boys before

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that one and always gladly introduced them to the habit. A court case in which the defendant was sentenced for a similar offence decided him to give up the homosexual practices. He never repeated them after that Berlin episode.

His satyriasis developed on account of the re- pression of his homosexual tendencies. Back of his morbid passion for woman stood his ungratified longing for man.

The subject now sees clearly that he carried on with the boy the act which he expected of his father. His hatred of the father is reversed love. In the chapter devoted to sadism we will describe more fully this relationship between father and son.

Our subject expected his father to do with him what he did with the boy. It shows how little credence we should lend a patient's first statements. Presently numerous similar episodes come to the forefront and soon we learn that his greatest desire at one time was to procure a pretty boy for himself and that boys roused him more than girls. He seeks the company of women to forget all about his in- clination towards boys and hopes to overcome his homosexual tendencies through excessive hetero- sexual experiences. His craving for women^ his obsessive thinking about them, serves only as a means to prevent his mind from reverting to the other sex. Compulsory thoughts often serve the purpose of preventing other thoughts from intruding. This is

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 15S

the law of resistance which plays such a tremendous role in the mental life of neurotics. In the course of treatment he transfers upon me all his passion — as was to be expected. He has some dreams, — which he relates with great difficulty, — during which he sees me naked and handles my penis or even car- ries out fellatio. He now recalls passionately watch- ing his father, also how happy he was to go bathing with him, and how he liked to hide in order to see his father's phallus. The dissolution of this trans- ference and reference back to his father he does not like at first, but it becomes more and more pro- nounced as we proceed. He is now abstinent for a week at a stretch and no longer chases after women although