Point II. Abnormal Psycho-Somatic Dispositions

Abnormal psycho-somatic dispositions must be distinguished from psychoses properly so called, though by them the use of reason is not wholly disturbed. Three species of these can be distinguished: 1. psychopathies; 2. psychasthenia; 3. neurasthenia.

I. Psychopathies are physical abnormalities which are manifested especially by abnormal acts of the sensitive appetites, especially of the concupiscible appetite. In those who are physically constituted in such a way, the vehemence of the acts of the sensitive appetites is by no means proportionate to the causes which are truly present; therefore the sensitive life dominates in an abnormal way. Very many specimens of psychopaths are distinguished, the principal ones of which are: 1. hysteria; 2. the asocial-criminal specimen. There are added, 3. sexual abnormalities, which, although in themselves they do not belong to psychopathy, are nevertheless akin to it.

1. Hysteria. Its distinctive mark is that those who are affected by hysteria desire to seem, both to themselves and to others, greater than they really are, and they desire that greater and more wonderful things should happen to them than really and ordinarily are accustomed to happen. But hysterical persons, since their wishes are by no means fulfilled in the truth of things, with the help of a lively imagination do this: they seek to become possessors of their wishes in another way. They desire that others be concerned with them, that they themselves be, as it were, the center of all thoughts, that marvelous and wonderful things which increase the liveliness of their imagination happen to them. On account of these things, which are, as it were, certain notes and distinctive marks of hysterical persons, such persons, who occur especially among women, must be treated with every prudence. Thus it can happen that, desiring in an insane way that something marvelous happen to them, they tend toward a sexual relation with ecclesiastics or confessors. Likewise it happens that they invent violence brought against themselves or solicitations proposed to them.

Crises can occur in hysterical persons; then they are shaken by convulsions, or they are as if in a state of sleep and torpor, or they are affected by vehement depression. These things, however, occur only by way of exception, for the essence of hysteria consists in the hysterical complexion itself.

2. The asocial-criminal specimen. These persons plainly lack all higher affections, feel nothing humanely, and are led only by concern for themselves, or egoism. To this specimen of psychopathy the name "moral insanity" is also given.

Corollary. In those whose complexion is affected psychopathically, moral responsibility will often be present only in a diminished way; indeed, in certain psychotic states, occurring extraordinarily, responsibility will be plainly removed.

3. Sexual abnormalities, which consist in this, that the venereal appetite departs from the normal manner, whether with respect to the time of manifesting itself, or with respect to intensity, or with respect to object. It is said:

a) With respect to the time of manifesting itself. Namely, it happens that in children, with respect to the venereal appetite, a precocious maturity, and one of a higher degree, is found; this disposition can indeed render the said children very dangerous for others.

b) With respect to intensity. Namely, some labor under a wholly unbridled and insatiable propensity toward venereal things; if this reaches the extreme degree, in men it is called satyriasis, as if making satyrs, and in women uterine fury or nymphomania.

c) With respect to object. Namely, the venereal passion in some persons is borne toward objects which of themselves are in no way, or not in that way, ordered to venereal sensations. To this are referred: homosexuality, sadism, masochism, fetishism, and exhibitionism.

a) Homosexuality is had when the sexual inclination is borne toward persons of the same sex. In a woman it is called Lesbian or Sapphic love; if it is borne toward boys, it is called pederasty.

b) Sadism, from the Marquis de Sade, who was affected in this way and described his own foul deeds, exists if libido is excited by perpetrating acts of cruelty, for example by piercing a girl with a knife.

c) Masochism, from Sacher-Masoch, who describes these things in works of fiction, is so called if libido is excited by suffering acts of cruelty.

d) Fetishism exists if libido is excited by imagination or handling of things or parts of the body which do not pertain to venereal matters, such as the hand, foot, hair, clothing, etc.

To the aforesaid there is added exhibitionism, which consists in the propensity of a man to exhibit his body or naked genitals to women.

Corollary I. Sexual abnormalities, as we have already suggested, are not yet in themselves signs of a true psychopathy, since they can also be consequences of psychogenic reactions, of which we shall speak in Point III. Therefore it must be seen whether or not symptoms of true psychopathy concur.

Corollary II. Concerning moral responsibility: if symptoms of true psychopathy are present, the things that have been said about those who are affected psychopathically hold good (cf. corollary, n. 54). If the said symptoms are absent, much discretion is still needed for rendering a judgment concerning the imputability of those who are borne with the greatest force into venereal matters. For it seems that credence often cannot be given to the testimony of those themselves who suffer these things; for sometimes they falsely think that they acted voluntarily, although from other indications it appears that this is not true. A more secure judgment indeed is formed concerning those who live piously; the difficulty is much greater in those who care little for piety.

II. Psychasthenia is a state of soul whose distinctive marks are consciousness of culpability and anxieties, increased in an abnormal and vehement way. Many scrupulous persons are to be counted among these.

Corollary. With respect to acts which are placed under the influence of these affections, for example imprecations or pollutions, moral responsibility will be diminished or plainly removed.

III. Neurasthenia is a morbid state of soul whose distinctive mark is fatigue and weariness of the entire nervous system together with the greatest irritability of the sensitive life; therefore neurasthenic persons can remain masters of themselves with greater difficulty.