A speculation on perversion and hallucination.

Abstract

This study develops a new explanation for the loss of reality in perversion. It is a speculative effort, and draws heavily on Freud's metapsychology. I have reviewed Freud's concept of the experience of satisfaction, and have described tests of reality implicit in the experience. Freud did not put these forward as reality-tests, but this they logically become from his own arguments. These reality-tests can be shown to be at work in the perverse solution to overwhelming anxiety. In particular, the pervert exploits them to create body or motor hallucinations or delusions which serve to deny castration anxiety and other concomitant traumatic situations.