Latent Homosexuality Research Articles

Franz Kafka—His Father's Son

To the Editor.— I'd like to offer an alternate interpretation to N.Y. Hoffman's views of Franz Kafka's latent homosexuality and lack of erotic themes in his love letters in her otherwise excellent critique (229:1623, 1974). Max Brod, Kafka's lifelong friend and biographer, distinguishes between the introspective, pessimistic, and private Kafka of his diaries and works and the humorous, optimistic, and life-loving public man. Kafka often sent love and kisses to Brod in his letters. This is the public Jewish man speaking in Prague of the early 1900s. Brod indirectly comments on this only once, when he presents several Kafka letters with the general introit: They appear to me to be especially characteristic documents of a boundlessly rich spirit which never succumbed to routine or convention. In one letter Kafka states: This... is a kiss from me to you—in front of the whole populace. Regarding K's lack of erotic themes in

Latent thumb-sucking--a new chimerical syndrome.

LATENT THUMB-SUCKING—A NEW CHIMERICAL SYNDROME MACK LIPKIN, M.D.* Psychoanalytic description of the successive stages of sexual development and consideration of the concept of an association between latent homosexuality and anal fixation suggested that there might be sequelae of latent oral conflicts. Investigation showed many phenomena worth consideration. I have grouped these under the rubric of latent thumbsucking . Latent thumb-sucking is the catchaU term suggested for activities and attitudes which derive directly or indirectly from the repression of the universal need ofinfants to suck. When the satisfaction ofthis need is prevented by the mother, it is to be expected that some fixation at the oral level wiU occur. Such frustration might result from too-early weaning frombreastor bottleandlaterprevention ofthumb-suckingby thevarious finger guards, painting the fingers with bitter substances, slapping the hand or child, or by other evidence of disapproval. It can be surmised that the frustrating parent or parental surrogate is hostüe to the child but offers such excuses as the statement of dentists that thumb-sucking may produce deformities ofthe dental arch. These phenomena are widespread. Indeed, they are present in virtually all people in our culture. They are illustrated by such a variety ofactivities as the smoking ofcigarettes, cigars, and pipes; the chewing of gum, especiaUy bubble gum (which combines chewing, sucking, and the appearance ofa round pink eminence in front ofthe mouth); the use ofloUipops and sugar teats; sucking (and clutching?) at straws; the use oftoothpicks as pacifiers. One may ask whether the singing of mammy (mammae?) songs reflects a yearning ofthis kind. There are many phenomena which canbeconsidered as displacements of the same basic drives. The use ofUp- * Address: 115 East 6ist Street, New York, New York 10021. 96 Mack Lipkin · Latent Thumb-sucking Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Autumn 1970 sticks—perhaps even nose picking and nose-thumbing—certainly tonguekissing , breast-kissing, and various other weU-known oral sexual practices suggest direct derivation from frustrated thumb-sucking. The derisive Italian gestureofhookingthethumb behindtheupperteeth, thensnapping the finger out ofthe mouth, suggests contempt for persistent infantilism. There are perhaps some less obvious derivatives of the frustration of oral needs. Does the substitution oftalking for sexual activity represent a bizarre defense against the oral erotic drive? Are those who spray saliva as they talk having a symbolic ejaculation? And those who drink until they feel sleepy—are they victims ofthis symptom complex? Other drinking practices deserve scrutiny—the use of straws, drinking from bottles, etc. Are those who prefer to drink beer from a can or a glass rather than a bottle more nearly free oflatent thumb-sucking, or is this an attempt, conscious or unconscious, to hide the conflict? Is the gourmet, as weU as the gourmand, another example ofthis trouble? This briefdiscussion iUustrates the range ofdisorders which may derive from this type oforalfixation. The implications are clear. Chüdren should be aUowed to suck until the drive is satisfied. For those, now grown up, who suffer from the various manifestations oflatent thumb-sucking, the problem is harder. Perhaps pacifiers should be used by adults as weU as chUdren, perhaps for years. For most, nothing wiU suffice except longterm , deeply searching psychotherapy, since these conflicts go back to early infancy. Perhaps the endless talking in psychoanalysis may satisfy some ofthis oral need. Clearly the defenses are deeply rooted. They are not to be vanquished by swaUowing piUs atregular intervals, unlesspermanent unconsciousness is produced. The latter would seem much too heroic a measure for overcoming the commonest manifestation oflatent thumbsucking (tobacco smoking). If deep psychotherapy is not avaüable, the patient will probably continue smoking untü bronchogenic carcinoma or chronic pulmonary emphysema brings to a sad end a difficulty arising in infancy because ofparental ignorance ofelementary psychoanalytic concepts . My personal solution to this problem oflatent thumb-sucking has been the occasional application ofmy tongue to my buccal mucosa. Addendum: This essay was taken seriously by three psychiatrists, one professor and two associate professors ofmedicine, and one professor of pediatrics. Two medical students laughed heartily, bless them. 97 ...

Increased Latent Homosexuality in a Woman during Group Therapy

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohn P. KemphDr. Kemph is Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.Erna SchwerinMrs. Schwerin is Supervising Psychologist, Jamaica Center for Psychotherapy, Inc., Jamaica, New York.

Perceptual investigation of psychoanalytic theory concerning latent homosexuality in women.

Female Ss were divided into two groups, High-Latent and Low-Latent Homosexual, on the basis of MMPI Scale 5. Both groups were shown tachistoscopically 6 pictures which had been chosen as being threatening or nonthreatening on the basis of psychoanalytic theory. The high group had longer latencies on each of the high-threat pictures and shorter latencies on each of the low-threat pictures than the low group. The results were accepted as supporting psychoanalytic theory concerning female homosexuality.

Transvestism and pruritus perinei.

Transvestism and pruritus perinei.

The concept of latent homosexuality

An examination of the concept of latent homosexuality reveals it to have played a vital role in the theory of personality development. However, it is a concept that becomes meaningless outside of the libido theory, since it connotes dormancy rather than potentiality. As a dormancy concept, it requires us to accept the bisexual theory of sexual development as the explanation for the development of homosexuality. A concept involving dormancy is valid in scientific work if there is ample, validated evidence of the pre-existing state which can arise, fully developed under certain stimuli. The necessary and sufficient data for this concept have never been presented, and alternative explanations prove to be more adequate and capable of validation. Since homosexuality is a potentiality in all human beings under certain developmental conditions, so a special concept is required, except the notion of a dynamic theory of personality development. Consequently, we need either to revise our notions about latent homosexuality or else define it more precisely in order to make it a useful, meaningful concept in personality theory.

A Psychometric Examination of Latent Homosexuality in Alcoholism

A Psychometric Examination of Latent Homosexuality in Alcoholism