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

SEXUAL DEVIATIONmanifested by the exhibitionist. There is no true emergenceof an ancestrally inherited instinct, but, by theparalysis or inhibition of the finer and higher feelingscurrent in civilization, the exhibitionist is placed on thesame mental level as the man of a more primitive age, andhe thus presents the basis on which the impulses belongingto a lower culture may naturally take root and develop.When the hereditary neuropathic disturbance is not tooprofound there is often, under favorable conditions, agratifying and complete return to normal conduct.It will be seen that the exhibitionist is but carrying onestage further as so often happens with sexual deviationsa sexual manifestation which has a primitive foundation,and within duly controlled limits and under properconditions might even be considered legitimate. He isoften simply a too reckless narcissist. But under our presentday social conditions his conduct, however natural atits roots, cannot be tolerated; itmaylead to nervous orhysterical symptoms in the innocent girl who issubjectedto it; and the interference of the police is rightly called for.But what is to be done with the exhibitionist when heisbrought before the magistrate? As Norwood East states,in a large proportion of cases the courts now themselvescall for a report on the mental state. The problem has becomea difficult one with the more intelligent view ofsexual deviations which istending to prevail. A small punishmenthas no effect; a severe would be unjust andequally ineffective; unless the offender is well-to-do he cannotbe sent to an institution for expert investigation andtreatment. Imay here quote a letter from a friend who isa magistrate and a man of distinguished ability. "At quartersessions yesterday there was a case of a man, a laborer,who had been repeatedly convicted of indecent exposure.The sentence was six months' hard labour. The difficulty