Psychology of sex - Total No. of Records in System :: 2032

PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXobsession, and often even normally re-asserted afterpuberty in a definite though restrained form. Putnamthought that the frequency with which we dream of beingin an insufficiently dressed state reveals a latent exhibitionism,though this view I cannot accept: it is overlookedthat during sleep we actually are in such a state. Sometimesin childhood it is a mutual practice (even to theage of twelve)as a manifestation of simple interest in thesexual organs; it is often also due to an impulse of mischiefor rebellion, though, when persistent, it may have anobscure sexual cause, and be the sign of an irritationdesiring unknown relief, a kind of vicarious masturbation,to be dealt with in the same manner as ordinary masturbation.In adults exhibitionism is more definitely a symbolof coitus, and its forms fall into several groups.First described and named by Lasgue in1877, Exhibitionismis thus a form of erotic symbolism in which anadequate equivalent of coitus is found in the simple actof deliberately exhibiting the sexual organ to persons ofthe opposite sex, usually by preference to young and presumablyinnocent persons, often children. It would appearto be a not infrequent phenomenon, and most women,once or more in their lives, especially when young, haveencountered a man who has thus deliberately exposedhimself before them. It is indeed the commonest sexualoffense, and Norwood East found that of 291 sexual offendersreceived for trial or on remand at Brixton Prisonas many asit101 were cases of "indecent exposure," thoughmust be added that sexual offenders were, altogether,only about 4 per cent of the total number of prisoners.The exhibitionist, though often a young and apparentlyvigorous man, is satisfied with the mere act of selfexhibitionand the emotional reaction which that actproduces;he seldom makes demands on the woman to[186]