Research on Sexual Urges Conducted by Dr. Mannheim

In 1840, Richard von Krafft-Ebing was born in Mannheim, Germany, to a family of officials and lawyers. His destiny, however, lay in medicine, and he would become a renowned figure in the field.

Krafft-Ebing's career took a significant turn when he chose to focus on the then-taboo subject of sexuality. One of his key areas of interest was male homosexuality, a topic that was largely unexplored in the medical community at the time.

During his studies in Heidelberg, Krafft-Eing lived with his maternal grandfather, a renowned criminal lawyer, who may have influenced his interest in the less conventional aspects of human behaviour.

In Vienna, Krafft-Eing created his magnum opus, "Psychopathia Sexualis," a groundbreaking work that provided a comprehensive mapping of human sexual desire and its disorders. The book introduced numerous new terms, including the famous term masochism, which Krafft-Ebing defined as "endured cruelty and violence with lust."

Krafft-Ebing's work was based on conservative moral thinking, yet it gained attention through court opinions and studies. He was the first to express reservations about the controversial "homosexual paragraph" (§175 StGB), a law that criminalised homosexual acts.

Despite its conservative roots, "Psychopathia Sexualis" had a significant impact, similar to the Kinsey Report of the 1940s and 1950s. Sigmund Freud was among Krafft-Ebing's most attentive readers, and his work undoubtedly influenced the development of psychoanalysis.

Krafft-Ebing was appointed to a professorship at the University of Graz in 1873 and later moved to Vienna. However, the identity of the professor who replaced him at the University of Graz in 1873 remains unknown.

It was not until 1994 that the "homosexual paragraph" was completely repealed, a testament to the lasting impact of Krafft-Ebing's work and the societal shifts it helped initiate. Krafft-Ebing's arguments that "contrary-sexuals" should not be brought before a judge can be seen as a precursor to the modern movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

In conclusion, Richard von Krafft-Ebing's work, "Psychopathia Sexualis," marked a significant milestone in the study of human sexuality. His introduction of terms like masochism and his reservations about the "homosexual paragraph" continue to resonate today, serving as a reminder of the evolving nature of societal norms and the importance of open dialogue about sexuality.