David wrote:
===============
On examination of his mental state, the patient was a pleasant and
polite individual. Rapport was easily established. There was no
evidence of any thought disorder, depression or perceptual
abnormality. His orientation, memory and other higher mental
functions were also normal. His explanation for penile
self-mutilation was that he did not want to succumb to any sexual
temptation which could obstruct his way to salvation.
The case is rare as he did not have any underlying psychiatric
illness. His over-valued idea that sexual or married life is
contradictory to religious life is also not compatible with Hinduism.
The subject did not have any sexual preoccupations but in his
apprehension to save himself from any forthcoming sexual temptations,
he performed penile self-mutilation.
================
Actually, there _are_ Hindu sects that quite thoroughly ban any form of
sexual expression or activity. While not as widely acceptable as the more
traditional forms of Hinduism (the Hindu religion is not a single, unified,
structure as is essentially the case with Christianity or Islam, but rather
consists of very different belief structures and practices, all integrated
into one category of "Hinduism"), the sects _do_ have a rather wide
following (given the enormous population of India, even a "small" sect can
have as many adherents as a typical Christian sect in the United States).
Many of those same sects practice self-flagellation (in much the same way
that some more radical Roman Catholic monastic orders have done so) or other
similar acts of physical contrition in order to void themselves of any
attachment to physical pleasures or the body. Combine those two concepts,
and is it really surprising that someone who otherwise demonstrated no
aberrations (given the culture in which he lived) would consider such an
action both normal and desirable?
Bear in mind that the Hindu religion is based firmly on concepts of
reincarnation--one life to a Hindu adherent is merely a tiny stepping stone
in route to spiritual achievement, and thus loss of the opportunity to
experience sexual pleasure is a relatively unimportant event from a
long-term perspective.
Before we criticize either the religion or the sects that reach these
extremes, we have to put the view in perspective. There are many Christian
practices and values that a Hindu would just as justifiably view as
demonstrations of "mental illness" on the part of the individual, but that
those of us in the West would view--even if, like myself, not all of us are
Christians--as well within the parameters of "normal" behavior in terms of
our culture.
Hmmmmmmmm . . .
If this catches on, I wonder if Western psychologists will provide a
separate classification for the behavior? Can you imagine a DSM-V definition
for "Bobbitism?"
Rick
--
Rick Adams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Social Sciences
Jackson Community College
Jackson, Michigan
