''Psychopathia Sexualis: eine Klinisch-Forensische Studie'' (''Sexual Psychopathy: A Clinical-Forensic Study'', also known as ''Psychopathia Sexualis, with Especial Reference to the Antipathetic Sexual Instinct: A Medico-forensic Study'') is an 1886 book by Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing and one of the first texts about sexual pathology. The book details a wide range of paraphilias and focuses on male homosexuality/

bisexuality Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whic ...

(the "antipathetic instinct" of the subtitle). The book coined the terms " sadism and masochism" as well as borrowing the term bisexual from botanical language. The ''Psychopathia Sexualis'' is notable for being one of the earliest works on homosexuality. Krafft-Ebing combined Karl Heinrich Ulrichs' '' Urning'' theory with

Bénédict Morel Bénédict Augustin Morel (22 November 1809 – 30 March 1873) was a French psychiatrist born in Vienna, Austria. He was an influential figure in the field of degeneration theory during the mid-19th century. Biography Morel was born in Vienna, A ...

's theory of social degeneration and proposed the theory that most homosexuals have a

mental illness A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...

caused by degenerate heredity. The book was controversial at the time, arousing the anger of the church in particular. The book had a considerable influence on continental European forensic psychiatry in the first part of the 20th century. It is regarded as an important text in the history of

psychopathology Psychopathology is the study of abnormal cognition, behaviour, and experiences which differs according to social norms and rests upon a number of constructs that are deemed to be the social norm at any particular era. Biological psychopatholo ...

. In 2006, an

independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...

based on the book was made in Atlanta; the film was titled ''Psychopathia Sexualis''.

Editions

*the first edition was published in 1886 *at least 12 editions of the book were published in German prior to Richard's death in 1902 *in 1965, an English translation derived from the 12th German edition was written by Franklin S. Kaf, with an introduction by Kaf and a foreword by Joseph LoPiccolo

References

External links

* * * 1886 non-fiction books Non-fiction books adapted into films German non-fiction books Psychology books Sexual orientation and science {{sex-book-stub