Paraphilia of the Day: Necrophilia

This article is being published in June, 2014, but there’s little doubt that for many months and years into the future visitors will be finding their way here by clicking on various links found in hysterical and dishonest posts which claim that “BarbWire.com and John Biver say that homosexual sex is the equivalent of sex with the dead.”

For the record, the back end of a man is as appealing to many as a dead body, but putting that aside, I didn’t list same-sex-sex alongside necrophilia, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders did. Both, along with quite a few other variations, are listed as paraphilias. It must be noted that the APA is a highly politicized organization that is constantly moving classifications around in order to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings. (And we all know that there is nothing more important in life than avoiding that.)

Nevertheless, look at definitions of the word “paraphilia” along side those of the phrase “sexual orientation” and you’ll see it’s a distinction without a difference. The only difference is small and happens to be what the APA uses as an excuse to discriminate (yes, discriminate!) against many paraphilias by derisively refering to them as “atypical.” No doubt those under-represented paraphiliacs are terribly offended. Just wait until they rise up and show the ‘gays’ how a hissy fit should be thrown.

Two other notes. First, to learn more about why the phrase “sexual orientation” is nonsense, click here. Second, for those of you just joining us, please read our introductory article in this series — it can be found at the top of the list here.

Okay, let’s get to our long-awaited (by many, I know) paraphilia of the day. Here’s our old friend Wikipedia:

Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses. It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is derived from the Greek words: νεκρός (nekros; “dead”) and φιλία (philia; “friendship”). The term was coined by the Belgian alienist Joseph Guislain, who first used it in a lecture in 1850.[1]

Rosman and Resnick (1989) reviewed information from 34 cases (supplied by psychiatric colleagues) of necrophilia describing the individuals’ motivations for their behaviors: these individuals reported the desire to possess a non-resisting and non-rejecting partner (68%), reunions with a romantic partner (21%), sexual attraction to corpses (15%), comfort or overcoming feelings of isolation (15%), or seeking self-esteem by expressing power over a homicide victim (12%).[2]

Ooookay, should we just stop here or should we keep going?

Let’s just keep going and get it over with.

It’s important to note that necrophiliacs typically aren’t in long-term relationships. That’s a trait, by the way, shared with many other paraphiliacs, even the ones that aren’t “atypical” and are practiced by a great big 3% of the population.

One complaint I did receive in advance of posting this is that it is wrong to list necrophilia since consent isn’t possible. My answer is simple: consent is possible. It need only be given before the target of affection has passed on. Also, check the list of paraphilias — there are plenty of them where consent is not possible.

Another complaint was that necrophilia is a danger to one’s health. The Centers for Disease Control has some very bad news for you: so is sex between men and sex between women.

Now it is time for our questions, which are being asked as a public service in order to help society prepare for the future.

  • How will society respond when necrophiliacs start loudly clamoring for their “rights”?
  • How will society respond to After the Ball-type efforts to normalize necrophilia and demonize those who disapprove of it?
  • How will society respond to a future well-funded marriage “equality” effort for those in necrophilia relationships?
  • If someone were to donate to an organization that prohibits hiring of necrophiliacs, will this donor be fired?
  • Will the expression of disapproval of necrophilia be deemed bullying or hate speech?
  • How will schools respond to requests to start pro-necrophilia clubs to support students who experience necrophilia feelings and who seek to come out of the necrophilia closet?
  • Will the Day of Silence expand to include necrophilia?
  • Will therapies to help minors change their unwanted necrophilia desires be banned?
  • Will “necrophilia orientation” be added to enumerated anti-discrimination policies and laws?
  • Will we see prime time television programs and movies with lovable necrophilia-oriented characters?
  • Will necrophiliac journalists form professional journalism associations (such as this one) to exploit the Fourth Estate in the service of breaking down barriers and normalizing necrophilia?
  • Will necrophiliacs join “pride parades”? (Then again, anyone who has seen pictures of those events will have to assume a few are already in attendance.)
  • Will loud and proud necrophiliacs “out” those who prefer to remain in the necrophilia closet?
  • Should a person who is morally opposed to necrophilia behavior be allowed to have a show on HGTV?
  • Will the National Football League give equal attention to the first openly necrophiliac that is drafted?
  • Will municipal employees who serve as part-time pastors be able to speak out about the morality of necrophilia and still keep their jobs?
  • Will Barack Obama’s Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, want the prohibition of necrophiliacs serving in the military to be reviewed, saying that “every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it”?
  • Will Nintendo bow to pressure and create a video game which includes necrophiliacs in it?
  • Will Sun Trust Bank refuse to do business with anyone who speaks out against the morality of necrophilia?
  • How soon will federal judges issue rulings saying that necrophiliacs are no different than the rest of us and that any thought to the contrary should wind up on the ash heap of history?

Up next we’ll take a look at another example of the ways people experience “intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, or individuals.” If America is to be truly free, shouldn’t all sexcentric-identified individuals be treated equally under the law?