Erotic Symbolism

Erotic Symbolism

From Studies in the Psychology of Sex - Volume 5

By Havelock Ellis

An Early 20th Century StudyThe Definition of Erotic SymbolismSymbolism of ActSymbolism of ObjectErotic FetichismThe Desire to be Trodden OnThe Fascination of Physical ConstraintThe Symbolism of Self-inflicted Pain. Urine as a Primitive Holy WaterSacredness of Animal ExcretaScatalogy in Folk-lore. Exhibitionism. Illustrative CasesA Symbolic Perversion of CourtshipThe Impulse to DefileThe Lover and the Artist. The Key to Erotic Symbolism

In considering the phenomena of sexual selection in a previous volume, it was found that there are four or five main factors in the constitution of beauty in so far as beauty determines sexual selection. Erotic symbolism is founded on the factor of individual taste in beauty; it arises as a specialized development of that factor, but it is, nevertheless, incorrect to merge it in sexual selection. The attractive characteristics of a beloved woman or man, from the point of view of sexual selection, are a complex but harmonious whole leading up to a desire for the complete possession of the person who displays them. There is no tendency to isolate and dissociate any single character from the individual and to concentrate attention upon that character at the expense of the attention bestowed upon the individual generally. As soon as such a tendency begins to show itself, even though only in a slight or temporary form, we may say that there is erotic symbolism.

Erotic symbolism is, however, by no means confined to the individualizing tendency to concentrate amorous attention upon some single characteristic of the adult woman or man who is normally the object of sexual love. The adult human being may not be concerned at all, the attractive object or act may not even be human, not even animal, and we may still be concerned with a symbol which has parasitically rooted itself on the fruitful site of sexual emotion and absorbed to itself the energy which normally goes into the channels of healthy human love having for its final end the procreation of the species.