Doyle, Thomas L.

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 38 | Number 3 Article 13August 1971The Moral and Psychological Effects of the SexualRevolutionThomas L. DoyleFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqRecommended CitationDoyle, Thomas L. (1971) "The Moral and Psychological Effects of the Sexual Revolution," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 38 : No. 3 ,Article 13.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol38/iss3/13work. Note that the presenting com-plaint did not include mention of impotence. Only upon my pursuing the issue of his lacking confidence did he mention his primary concern and major example of lack of confidence. Reticence such as this is frequently found surrounding the area of sexual dysfunction so that the patient needs encouragement to express what to him is not only a sensitive but a shameful matter. In the present case it took the patient over a year to get enough courage to come in for help. although once in my office he blurted out his secret within the first few minutes. In other cases it has taken several visits to get at the real issue. With younger patients the initial experience of impotence is generally so traumatic that the details are re-called exactly as they occurred. My patient described a "weird incident" that had happened to him the year previous to our first session. He had been studying for examinations and had been taking amphetamines to stay awake fo r two days. In the midst of the studies his girlfriend called and asked him over to her apartment for the night. He ltttempted to have inter-couse but found that he was impotent. After that experience he became de-pressed and socially withdrawn , afraid to risk another failure. The patient at first had no insight into his attempt to rationalize his impotence by attri-buting the dysfunction to fatigue and drugs. The anxiety aroused by the initial trauma was so great that he fe lt compelled to avoid any situation where he might again be pu t to the test. Regardless of what defense he tried . whether rationalization or denial or avoidance, his sexual dysfunction remained to haunt him What was for him the primary proof of his manhood was gone, and the consequent feelings of inadequacy radiated in all direc-174 lions. He became concerned that hi ~ impotence with females might meat that he was homosexual. and so h1 began to withdraw from contact wil l males as he had from contact wit females. But he found that he coul not tolerate the feelings of isolatio and loneliness that accompanied h social withdrawal. His increasing d pression affected his academic pe formance and he decided to withdra from school for a semester. It was the time of his return that he \\ referred to me. After the general eva luation I s the patient for a three-month pen of psycho! herapy . The patient gr ually accepted the fact that there \ no "quick cure" for his problem < gained considerable insight into major etiological facto rs even in brief a period of time. He came v realize that his impotence was rela j to deep feelings of insecurity · d inadequacy. Here was a pas~ ·-dependent person, quite immatun 1s regards the level of ego developn 11 and degree of impulse control, wt :1 correspondingly nebulous sense )f identity. Long-term. insight-dire1 ·d psychotherapy was recommended 1d with reassurance from the therap I felt that the prognosis was good le has accepted his impotence a a symptom and has shown a willin!! ·ss to explore the underlying causes. \ th this as a beginning, I would e ll ct slow but continual progress and 1 ·n-tual alleviation of the sympt011 of impotence. Linacre Quanaly The Moral and Psychological Effects of the Sexual Revolution Thomas L. Doyle, M.D. It is clear that the world and society today are in a state of revolu-tion. While rapid widesweeping change is evident to all, the implications of the phenomena are more readily ob-served by physicians and particularly psychiatrists. People are made insecure and anxious; they are baffled , for the values by which they once lived and measured their lives no longer apply. Yet along with the anxiety a certain sense of new hope and freedom, openess and honesty can be perceived as well. The causes of this upheaval and revolution in all phases of our culture and in particular in the sexual area are complex and indeed multiple . Among these are the rapid advances in the past decade in the sciences and technology, the effect of the mass media particu-lary television bringing every event and discovery into the living room, and especially the effects of the new openess and nexibility brought into religion led off by Vatican II. The world stands in a new place. People everywhere know that they August, 1971 Thomas L. Doyle, M.D. is apractic-ing psychiatrist in New York, a diplo-mate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Fel-low of the American Psychiatric Association. He is on the faculty and staff of the Cornell University Medical College - New York Hospital and the St. Vincent's Medical Center in New York. Dr. Doyle holds the rank of Surgeon-Lieut. Commander in the United States Public Health Service, and is a past President of the National Guild of Catholic Psychiarrists. 175 have not been here before - they relate to other persons differently, they do not perceive and feel as they once did and their behavior and actions have changed. Like history itself. all of these complex phenomena have just happened . It is frightening to all and is perceived as a crisis because it has been so rapid and because no one can predict its outcome nor where it will come to balance nor what it may mean to the individual, the family, our institutions, life itself. The purpose here is to evaluate the effects of the change in sexual values and practice in our society. Atha-nasius, Shaver, and Tarvis 1 have demonstrated in a survey of 20 ,000 persons the marked and significant increase in the acting out of the sexual impulses and drives. This is shown to be true in premarital life as well as extramarital experience. Persons every-where were shown to be more free , less inhibited, to be interested in experimentation and to react less with guilt. Dana Farnsworth at Harvard2 has observed and reported that college students have adopted a sex ual code far different from that which gu ided their cou nt erparts of ten or fifteen years ago. There is no difference of opinion among college physicians and psychiatrists that a new attitude does exist. Experience in my own psychiatric practice demonstrates a marked in-c · in overt sexual activity, both 10mosexua , 1eterosexu over the last ten years in the same general population of patients. These studies indicate that there is approximately three times the amount of overt sex activity among patients in the years 1966 to 1971 as there was in the period 1961 to 1966. The same obser-vations are made by my colleagues in the specialty. People simply are not 176 repressing and sublimating their sexual drives, they feel that those drives are there to be used and they do not feel that it is wrong. If anything they fee' that such experience is a cause ot growth within them and such opcr relationships are required for them H be mature as they see it. These attitudes have come 1< peo ple because of the sexual revoiL tion and the new morality which ha come to exist. It is reflected in ne• standards supported in our schools an colleges including those with Churl sponsorship and affiliation . No long do educators and religious authoritie agree that they can or should contr the sexual practises of the ir studen They refuse to legislate concerni these matters of sexual behav1 stating that students should be treat as responsible adults and that they\\ not act in loco parenris. ~On many Catholic ~liege c. puses there is no longer restriction ~ to having members of the opposite visit in the dormitory rooms on c. ·-pus with fu ll freedom. Hence. J s practice called the granting of "pa ·-tals" is significa ntly increased. The young in particular must r w make new psychic adj ustments. 1 y no longer follow rules generally ,_ poused in the past by religion , cult c. medical specialists that sex acit r ty may be evil and that it should no be entered except in marriage . They 11 rs t answer the question in courtship nd rei at in&._,losely to ot hersl'ihould we indulg~ Previous values and str ng religious guidelines are having .:ss effect. Still there are many wh o feel 11lt and who do make judgment~ . 1th Linacre Ou<~ r r.· rly good insight as to the meaning and significance of their sexual behavior. Without reali7ing it they have intro-jected more tradrt 10nal values and are living happily wit h them. They may sublimate sexual rmpulses and be wil-ling to postpone gratification to a later time. In addition , the age old deterrents have been effected by science and its amazing advance~. At one time the fear of venereal di!>ease was a great prohibit ion. Today. although people fear infection, they also know that if they do contract these diseases that prompt and effective means of therapy are readily at hand. Certainly the fear of impregnation was a major factor in impeding free and frequent intimacy. No longer is this true, for persons have the most effective methods of contra-ception available and their use is being accepted . Guilt is not felt among the vast majority and even religious coun-selors warn the young that if you are to indulge. know what you are doing about the possibility of conception. Last ly , abortion itself has become available without fear of legal prosecu-tion and so the last deterrent to sex activity has been removed for many. The conclu ion to be drawn from that in the e v »--Pm'r'le~n  e sex act per se is no moral problem. Persons feel that, in itself, it is a neutral act. They listen to the new moral code, not to the older tradi-tional religious one. Whereas in the past a puritanism existed in our culture and society -any sex act , thoughts and deeds were considered serious grevious sins, this puritanism is now tending to pass. This former puritanism caused repression. and guilt, scruples and conflict. People no longer feel guilty as they August, 1971 once did and hence they no Jon er confess these acts. In the urc es, confession has fa llen off and priests and ministers are not consulted on these matters as before. However , this puritanism has bee~ replaced b.y a ~1 ;.L strict guilt producmg mechanrsm Gi1J!J~ ~is that the young feel that , in becom1rg close to one of the opposite sex, they must have full intimacy or they are robbing the other of fulfill-ment. With it there is the dynamic force that each must reach orgasm and preferably at the same time or else they may have somehow failed each other. The puritanism of this new demand can be just as great and equally conflictual an d guilt pro-ducing . The young seek what they term a meaningful relationship, a closeness and type of commitment to give fully in affection and physical intimacy. If such relationships are entered to freely and without deeper meaning and loyalty, then the inti-macy is perceived as empty, dehuman-izing and a type of rejection. Such repeated relationship without meaning, causes these persons to feel empty and apathy is increased within them. This apathy. this concept of can we love no one , can we not feel, what truly matters anyway , is a major cause for a turn to drugs so that some feelings can be experienced. ,; -c,. The sexual revolution has had its impact on those about to marry or the newly married as well. Without doubt even those young persons raised in a religious background and from stable family structures no longer feel that they should not have careful and free family planning and usc the various forms of contraception to accomplish thi~. They do not wish to avoid child bea ring and rearing; they do wish to ~ have their childre w they feel .,-ready in ever ay, psychologically. financially etc. n addition, they wish a free uninhibited sexua l life in mar-177 riage; a spontaneity, closeness and frequency that can only be accom-plished through the use of contr-aceptives. Among married couples of an older age group, often those persons who are of straight and stricter standards and highly motivated by religious vaJues. there is a search for more complete and fulfill ing sex experience between husband and wife. With the uncertain-ties of impregnation as the menopause is approached, the use of contraceptive techniques is more frequent ly under-taken , and such persons do feel less guilt than had been perceived in the past . The sexual revolution has establish-ed new attitudes concerning extra-mari tal experience. Certainly society and religion still exert a strong force of prohibition. StiU here, too, the con-cept that the sex act itself is neutral is , having effect. The attitude has grown ., ~if extra-marital sex hurts no one, it is accept able. This is particular~ true if the married partners agree thal they will permit this to each other. Still the potential for regression, guilt and destruction to the union is great and, in a very high number of cases, such practice eventually leads to dis-solution of the marriage. Within the new morality there are those who assume an amoral view; that no restrictions at all are necessary. They feel that if all sexual restrictions were lifted , and more importantly, if an individual's emotional distress were solved, life and the world wouJd' be a happy place. However, such persons arc not aware of the Jessons of history, for whenever unrestrained sexual free-dom has been tried, it has resulted in 178 social disintegration and experiments in this direct ion have been abandoned because they have literally created social chaos. It is evident that the new sexua morality has produced profount changes in psychological adjustment In dealing with the young who are s· involved in this new value systen there is a demand from them f< integrity and honesty on the part 1 religious leaders, counselors and pr fessional people. They will not pern' any delud ing of the issue nor "pho1 ness". Hence, they demand truth at sound reasons for any values given a' not some rule , law or standard tl was handed down fro m years back a to them, never adequately proven. The Church and religion no lon~ r have a clear stand on the direct1 1 which the new sexual morality taking. These dynamic changes ethics are happening without any 1 ticular direction. The young h I! "turned orr· the old mores and e just not listening t;jhe old 1"€)m tT directions. Existemial and p~. c concepts are ruling moral decis1on n people including those persons \ o are moral leaders and who are 1 li-gious, both in what they teach am 1n the way they conduct their own li1 s. In shor t, the Church and m al leaders are simply not coming to g ps with these moral issues. Not onl· is there a huge ga p bet ween wha is taught and what people are fee ling nd doing, but there is no communica· on at all in the great majority of case If there is no honest communication. his develops an atmosphere which ill\ tcs persons to disregard. interpret. :nd Linacre Quarl .:rly throw off and over all value systems only to their own damagc(!J" If the Church and moral leaders continue to ignore the problem, the misuse of sex can grow and hasten progress toward social decay. Religious leaders are communicatrng well in areas of ecumenism and the develop-ment of new liturgies. Why is it not possible to share well and develop sound trends in the area of sexual behavior and values? In openess and honesty there must be a will to listen . This is indeed good, for only in this way will progress come. However, it is clear tha t people search ou t and need insigh t and direc-tion. They turn to religion. to those who are capable of leadership in these vaJue areas including those in the practice of medicine. All values and mores can never be thrown over, for here is regression. hurt to each other and decay in society. Simple and sound measurement s for understanding the meaning of a sex act must be shared. The person must be able to ask himself. what of this act, is it good or evil. If any given sex act causes regression in that indivi-dual's psyche. if it causes hurt and guilt to him or ano ther person. then it is an absence of good and that is defined as an evil. Religious and moral leaders simply must be involved and not permit this gap to exist. They cannot escape 1 his obligation any longer by sitting at a distance and restating the rigid old systems. "The tion is·· where the people are now living and behaving. August. 1971 Moral leaders must demonstrate the value in any relationship and commit-ment of sacrifice, sublimation of instinctive drive , and postponement of gratification. They must stress the capacity for the usc of judgment for this is the key to the growth of ego strength. In this. many traditional mores including the commandments are clearly so sound psychologically and lead to health and growth. The proper use of sex ca lls for commitment, the improper use of sex still compromises those engaged in it , just as it always has. What constitutes commitment and what compromises the individual are crucial issues for discussion as well as for dec ision. It is fitti ng to conclude with a quotation made by Rabbi Nathan Pearlman in New York on Apri l 9, 1971: ''Freedom is not freedom to do what you want , but freedom to do what you should or ought. 1ever has there been so much license. so little happiness and so little freedom." R£FE thanasion. Shaver, and Tarvis ··sex." Psycholgy Today Vol. 4, (July, 1970), 2. 2. Dana L. Farnsworth, Sexual Morality: Campus Dilemma, Counselling and the College StudenT. (International Psy-chiatry Clinics Vol. 7, No. 3) pp. 133-lSl. 3. Group for the Advancement of Psy-chiatry (GAP). Sex and lhc college student. Group Advance. Psychiat. & @ep. No. 60) 1965. SlBLT6GRAPHY Deutsch, Helene. "The Contemporary Ado-lescent Girl," Seminars in Psychiatry (r:ebruary 1969.) Vol I. No. I , 99- 11 2. Film and Discussion Guide. "A Nice Kid Like You. " Group for Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP). Universi ty of California, Extension Media Center, Berkeley. California 94720. Malcohm. A. "Sex Goes to Colletc." Today 's Health. Vol. 49 (April, 1971) 27-29. Masserman, Jules. The Dynamics of Dissent New York: Grune & Stra1lon, 1908. Deutsch. Helene. Selecred Problems of Adolescence International Universi ties Press. 1967 J7Q 

The Moral and Psychological Effects of the Sexual Revolution

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The Moral and Psychological Effects of the Sexual Revolution

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