Perversion
Perversion is a term and concept describing those types of
human behavior that are perceived to be a deviation from what is considered
orthodox or
normal. It was originally defined as a "deviation from the original meaning or doctrine", literally a "turning aside" from the norm. The term
pervert is a person in a state of perversion, though this term, referring to a person instead of a behavior, is generally used in a
derogatory sense. Perversion, or perverse behavior, differs from
deviant behavior, which describes a recognized violation of social rules or norms (though the two terms can apply to the same behavior).
Before the 20th century, the term usually meant religious perversion, i.e., changing one's religion to an erroneous one. In that sense, who was considered a pervert always depended on one's point of view. In the present day, the term most often refers to "sexual perversions", more neutrally called
paraphilias, many of which can contribute to
sex crimes. The term, in a general sense, is most often applied to the more abnormal or disturbed types of sexual behavior, mainly those involving
compulsion and coercion. Used casually, the term can be meant to simply describe someone who is seen as having "dirty", "unnatural" or ambiguous thoughts. Still, the definition and usage of the concept can vary by such variables as time, person, religion, and culture; and what some would describe as perversion, others might say is simply a variant form of
human sexuality.
Homosexuality was once considered to be a perversion in many cultures, and indeed still is in some; it is nevertheless widely seen today as a natural sexual variation. The verb form of the term, in general usage, simply means to turn something away from its natural state (or what is perceived to be its natural state.) For example, one might say that the modern film version of
Romeo and Juliet "perverted"
Shakespeare's version of the story.
In a similar sense, the term was also used in the pre-
Vatican II era by some
Roman Catholics to describe the process of converting from Roman Catholicism to
Protestantism. Whereas a protestant who joined Roman Catholicism was described as a
convert, a Catholic who became a Protestant was called a
pervert. The phrase is no longer used by mainstream Catholicism, though traditional Catholics occasionally still use it.
* Martins, Maria C.; co-author Ceccarelli, Paulo.
The So-called "Deviant" Sexualities: perversion or right to difference? Presented in the 16th World Congress. "Sexuality and Human Development: From Discourse to Action." 10-14 March, 2003 Havana, Cuba.
