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What are Perversions?: Sexuality, Ethics, Psychoanalysis

Author(s) : Sergio Benvenuto

Reviews and Endorsements

‘With the emergence of the paraphilias and the paraphilic disorders, perversions have become on the verge of extinction and the pervert has become a rarefied breed, only appearing to subsist in tabloid headlines and in the language of the street corner. For contemporary mental health care professionals, the term “perversion” is oversaturated with pejorative moral connotations, yet in this compelling volume Sergio Benvenuto argues that “perversions” constitute a necessary modality of dystonic psycho-social functioning, not despite, but precisely because of the ethical values that are being activated. The future of perversion may be secure…’
- Professor Dany Nobus, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Brunel University London, and Chair of the Freud Museum London

‘This is an excellent clinical and historical work, readable and intelligent, in which Sergio Benvenuto examines all the facets of perversion, from sexual perversion to the perverse structure proper to humanity. The author works from clinical cases as well as literary texts, and analyses with finesse the diverse psychoanalytic conceptions of perversion.’
- Elisabeth Roudinesco, Historian, Université Paris VII Diderot

‘This fascinating and thought-provoking study will stimulate renewed interest in the field of perversion. Going beyond clichés and platitudes about sexual behaviour, Benvenuto encourages a critical reflection on what constitutes perversion and on how psychoanalysis not only has conceptualised it but could rethink its current conceptualisations. A lucid, original and compelling book.’
- Darian Leader, Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research

‘Perversions are considered a deviation from the norm, but as far as sexuality is concerned, there is no clear norm and deviation is everywhere. When Sigmund Freud declared that our “normal” neuroses are “the negative of perversions” he thought of photography: negatives are images in which the illumination is reversed – lighter areas appear darker, and vice versa. When negatives are developed into positive prints, a second reversal restores light and darkness in their proper order. Challenging our assumptions about what darkness and light mean for sexuality, and without moralisation but tackling important ethical issues, drawing from Freud, Masud Khan, Robert Stoller, and Jacques Lacan, Benvenuto turns perversion inside out. The result is startling, original, and provocative.’
- Patricia Gherovici, psychoanalyst and author