Male Sexuality and Gender in Psychoanalysis

This book represents an attempt at a systematic, critical exploration of male sexualities and gender(ed) identifications through the prism of psychoanalytic theory. Taking Freud's theories and hypotheses as a starting point, the author examines a range of topics, including: male homosexuality, constitutional bisexuality, psychic bisexuality, bisexual object-choice, males' masculine and feminine identifications, intrapsychic conflict in relation to gender expression and psychoanalysis of non-heterosexual males. Post-Freudian (especially, Kleinian) and contemporary psychoanalytic theories are also enquired into, with the view toward theoretical diversity and evolution. By demonstrating that no object-choice is implicitly psychopathological, it is also shown how Freud's original theories may be misinterpreted to come to such a conclusion and therefore misused in a clinical setting, which is harmful to both patients and the psychoanalytic profession. While elucidating a number of theoretical controversies and also suggesting particular modifications, the author consistently argues in favor of relevance of Freud's ideas, with regard to these areas of psychoanalytic theory and practice.... Mehr