Sexuality: Thoughts on perversions & sexual dysfunctions

· CPD points & talks · Psychologists

In this insightful and challenging talk, Professor Donald Carveth explores complex questions about what is considered “normal” in human sexuality. Drawing on his previous discussion of Freud and post-Freudian views, Prof. Carveth delves into the psychoanalytic understanding of sexual perversions and dysfunctions, offering clinicians a nuanced framework for engaging with these topics in therapeutic work.

He examines definitions of "perversion" through the lens of Sergio Benvenuto and Robert Stoller, and presents a psychoanalytic view of sexual dysfunctions such as erectile difficulties, inhibited orgasm, and lack of sexual pleasure—not as purely biological issues, but as manifestations of unconscious intrapsychic conflict. Topics such as castration anxiety, superego inhibition, unconscious hostility, and masochism are explored as contributors to sexual difficulties, inviting deeper clinical reflection.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:

• Define key psychoanalytic concepts of sexual perversion and dysfunction.

• Identify theoretical perspectives from Sergio Benvenuto and Robert Stoller on the concept of perversion.

• Explain the psychoanalytic view of sexual dysfunctions as multiply determined phenomena.

• Recognise the role of unconscious conflict in contributing to sexual difficulties such as erectile dysfunction and inhibited orgasm.

• Apply psychoanalytic thinking to the clinical formulation of clients experiencing sexual difficulties.

Calabash
Calabash Articles
Calabash Partners
Calabash Contributors
Calabash Speakers
Calabash Talks
Calabash Sign up
Calabash Sign in
Talk · Working with Posttraumatic Stress: Current & contextual considerations
Children, Teens & Families CPD talks
Article · Confidentiality and Consent when working with Adolescents
Perinatal Mental Health CPD talks
Terms of Use
Calabash · South Africa
Calabash Articles · South Africa
Calabash Partners · South Africa
Calabash Contributors · South Africa
Calabash Speakers · South Africa
Calabash Talks · South Africa
Calabash Sign up · South Africa
Calabash Sign in · South Africa
Talk · Neuropsychological Assessment · South Africa
Therapy Modalities CPD talks · South Africa
Article · Chicken vs egg; social media vs anxiety and depression? · South Africa
Cleft CPD talks · South Africa
Privacy Policy · South Africa
Calabash · Australia
Calabash Articles · Australia
Calabash Partners · Australia
Calabash Contributors · Australia
Calabash Speakers · Australia
Calabash Talks · Australia
Calabash Sign up · Australia
Calabash Sign in · Australia
Talk · Group psychology: Psychoanalytic & sociological considerations · Australia
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy CPD talks · Australia
Article · Useful Resources for Neuroanatomy · Australia
Online therapy CPD talks · Australia
How It Works · Australia
Calabash · New Zealand
Calabash Articles · New Zealand
Calabash Partners · New Zealand
Calabash Contributors · New Zealand
Calabash Speakers · New Zealand
Calabash Talks · New Zealand
Calabash Sign up · New Zealand
Calabash Sign in · New Zealand
Talk · Time-Limited Psychodynamic Psychotherapy · New Zealand
Neurodiversity CPD talks · New Zealand
Article · Demystifying Narcolepsy · New Zealand
Enuresis & Encopresis CPD talks · New Zealand
Uploading a Talk · New Zealand
Calabash · United Kingdom
Calabash Articles · United Kingdom
Calabash Partners · United Kingdom
Calabash Contributors · United Kingdom
Calabash Speakers · United Kingdom
Calabash Talks · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign up · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign in · United Kingdom
Talk · HPCSA Guidelines on the Keeping of Patient Records · United Kingdom
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CPD talks · United Kingdom
Article · Parenting in Cyberspace · United Kingdom
Adoption CPD talks · United Kingdom
Privacy Policy · United Kingdom
Calabash · United States
Calabash Articles · United States
Calabash Partners · United States
Calabash Contributors · United States
Calabash Speakers · United States
Calabash Talks · United States
Calabash Sign up · United States
Calabash Sign in · United States
Talk · Supporting People through Grief, Loss & Bereavement · United States
Allied Health Professionals CPD talks · United States
Article · Euphoria: what every therapist and parent needs to know about the show every teen is talking about · United States
Hypnotherapy CPD talks · United States
Uploading a Talk · United States
Calabash · Canada
Calabash Articles · Canada
Calabash Partners · Canada
Calabash Contributors · Canada
Calabash Speakers · Canada
Calabash Talks · Canada
Calabash Sign up · Canada
Calabash Sign in · Canada
Talk · Working with Borderline Personality Disorder from an Attachment Theory Perspective · Canada
Children, Teens & Families CPD talks · Canada
Article · Decolonising Psychology? · Canada
Social media CPD talks · Canada
Uploading a Talk · Canada
Psychologist in Sydney