Courtship disorder
Encyclopedia
Courtship disorder is a theoretical construct in sexology
in which a certain set of paraphilias are seen as specific instances of anomalous courtship
instincts in men. The specific paraphilias are exhibitionism
, voyeurism
, telephone scatologia, frotteurism
, and biastophilia
(paraphilic rape
). According to the courtship disorder hypothesis, there is a species-typical courtship process in human males consisting of four phases, and anomalies in different phases result in one of these paraphilic sexual interests. That is, instead of being independent paraphilias, this theory sees these sexual interests as individual symptoms of a single underlying disorder.
The associations between these phases and these paraphilias were first outlined by Kurt Freund
, the originator of the theory: A disturbance of the search phase of courtship manifests as voyeurism
, a disturbance of the pretactile interaction phase manifests as exhibitionism
or telephone scatologia, a disturbance of the tactile interaction phase manifests as toucheurism or frotteurism
, and the absence of the courtship behavior phases manifests as paraphilic rape
(i.e., biastophilia
). According to Freund, these paraphilias “can be conceptualized as a preference for a pattern of behavior or erotic fantasy in which one of these four phases of sexual interaction is intensified and distorted to such an extent that it appears to be a caricature of the normal, while the remaining phases are either omitted entirely or are retained only in a vestigial way.”
Freund noted that triolism (a paraphilia for observing one’s sexual/romantic partner sexually interacting with a third party, usually unbeknownst to the third party) might also be a courtship disorder, triolism being a variant of voyeurism.
Appropriate behaviors depend on the social and cultural context, including time and place. Some behaviors that are unacceptable under most circumstances, such as public nudity
or sexual contact between dancers, may be accepted or even encouraged during celebrations like Carnival
or Mardi Gras. Where such cultural festivals alter normative courtship behaviors, the signs of courtship disorder may be masked or altered.
Courtship disorder is widely cited by sexologists
and forensic scientists as one of the predominant models of the paraphilias. Another attempt to establish a theoretically based taxonomy of the paraphilias was made by John Money
, who described the range of paraphilic interests as love maps
.
The paraphilias spanned by the Courtship Disorder Theory are little studied; according to Murphy and Page (2008), “The ‘Courtship Disorder Theory’ of Freund is one of the only theories specific to exhibitionism.” According to Lavin (2008), “Freund’s theory, more than the others, makes it clear that the ordering of activities…has clinical significance.”
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
in which a certain set of paraphilias are seen as specific instances of anomalous courtship
Courtship
Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. In courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement...
instincts in men. The specific paraphilias are exhibitionism
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
, voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
, telephone scatologia, frotteurism
Frotteurism
Frotteurism refers to a paraphilic interest in rubbing, usually one's pelvis or erect penis, against a non-consenting person for sexual gratification. It may involve touching any part of the body including the genital area. A person who practices frotteurism is known as a frotteur...
, and biastophilia
Biastophilia
Biastophilia and its Latin language-derived counterpart, raptophilia , also paraphilic rape, refer to a paraphilia in which sexual arousal is dependent on, or is responsive to, the act of assaulting an unconsenting person, especially a stranger.Some dictionaries consider the terms synonymous,...
(paraphilic rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
). According to the courtship disorder hypothesis, there is a species-typical courtship process in human males consisting of four phases, and anomalies in different phases result in one of these paraphilic sexual interests. That is, instead of being independent paraphilias, this theory sees these sexual interests as individual symptoms of a single underlying disorder.
Courtship disorder hypothesis
According to the courtship disorder hypothesis, there is a species-typical courtship process in humans consisting of four phases. These phases are: “(1) looking for and appraising potential sexual partners; (2) pretactile interaction with those partners, such as by smiling at and talking to them; (3) tactile interaction with them, such as by embracing or petting; (4) and then sexual intercourse.”The associations between these phases and these paraphilias were first outlined by Kurt Freund
Kurt Freund
Kurt Freund was a Czech-Canadian physician and sexologist best known for developing phallometry , research studies in pedophilia, and for the "courtship disorder" hypothesis as a taxonomy of certain paraphilias Kurt Freund (17 January 1914–23 October 1996) was a Czech-Canadian physician and...
, the originator of the theory: A disturbance of the search phase of courtship manifests as voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
, a disturbance of the pretactile interaction phase manifests as exhibitionism
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
or telephone scatologia, a disturbance of the tactile interaction phase manifests as toucheurism or frotteurism
Frotteurism
Frotteurism refers to a paraphilic interest in rubbing, usually one's pelvis or erect penis, against a non-consenting person for sexual gratification. It may involve touching any part of the body including the genital area. A person who practices frotteurism is known as a frotteur...
, and the absence of the courtship behavior phases manifests as paraphilic rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
(i.e., biastophilia
Biastophilia
Biastophilia and its Latin language-derived counterpart, raptophilia , also paraphilic rape, refer to a paraphilia in which sexual arousal is dependent on, or is responsive to, the act of assaulting an unconsenting person, especially a stranger.Some dictionaries consider the terms synonymous,...
). According to Freund, these paraphilias “can be conceptualized as a preference for a pattern of behavior or erotic fantasy in which one of these four phases of sexual interaction is intensified and distorted to such an extent that it appears to be a caricature of the normal, while the remaining phases are either omitted entirely or are retained only in a vestigial way.”
Freund noted that triolism (a paraphilia for observing one’s sexual/romantic partner sexually interacting with a third party, usually unbeknownst to the third party) might also be a courtship disorder, triolism being a variant of voyeurism.
Appropriate behaviors depend on the social and cultural context, including time and place. Some behaviors that are unacceptable under most circumstances, such as public nudity
Public nudity
Public nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
or sexual contact between dancers, may be accepted or even encouraged during celebrations like Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
or Mardi Gras. Where such cultural festivals alter normative courtship behaviors, the signs of courtship disorder may be masked or altered.
Evidence and acceptance of the theory
Paraphilias within the Courtship Disorder spectrum co-occur with each other more frequently than with paraphilias outside the courtship disorder spectrum. Courtship disorder offers an underlying common cause for these paraphilias in men to explain this co-occurrence.Courtship disorder is widely cited by sexologists
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
and forensic scientists as one of the predominant models of the paraphilias. Another attempt to establish a theoretically based taxonomy of the paraphilias was made by John Money
John Money
John William Money was a psychologist, sexologist and author, specializing in research into sexual identity and biology of gender...
, who described the range of paraphilic interests as love maps
Lovemap
The concept of a lovemap was originated by John Money to assist a discussion of why people like what they enjoy sexually and erotically. According to Money, it is "a developmental representation or template in the mind and in the brain depicting the idealized lover and the idealized program of...
.
The paraphilias spanned by the Courtship Disorder Theory are little studied; according to Murphy and Page (2008), “The ‘Courtship Disorder Theory’ of Freund is one of the only theories specific to exhibitionism.” According to Lavin (2008), “Freund’s theory, more than the others, makes it clear that the ordering of activities…has clinical significance.”