Psicologia e Psiquiatria: Acesso aberto

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Bestiality: The best kept secret in America

M Jenny Edwards

Mooijman & Van Dijk, 2015 suggest that people condemn sexual behavior they consider disgusting or taboo in order to protect their own standing in society. In other words, if it’s “wrong” or illegal to have sex with animals, not talking about it indicates that one is a good and moral citizen. According to Thornhill et al. (2010) recoiling from things that are disgusting may be a sort “behavioral immune system” evolved to recoil from sexual encounters that might result in disease or interfere with reproduction. Curtis and deBarra (2018) hold a similar view, believing it is an unlikely coincidence that things that elicit disgust are often also potential disease vectors; for example lesions, spoiled foods, and sexual fluids. An even more likely reason we don’t talk about sex with animals has to do with religion. A theological discussion is beyond the scope of this paper; however, it is likely that early religious teachings formed the basis for a near-universal view that bestiality is a vile act worthy of prohibition and punishment. Islamic law for example, views bestiality as a grave sin punishable by stoning or death. Depending on the circumstances, violators of Hittite laws from the second millennium B.C.E. could be put to death for the “abominable” act. The English Standard Version of the Christian Bible calls sex with animals a perversion or abomination , and a crime against nature - words still in use in the laws of fifteen US States that prohibit sex acts with animals . Still, as Piers Beirne puts it, historically, people have continued to find sexual gratification in bestiality “in spite of the attitudes of disgust and repugnance and the risks of infamy, execution, or eternal damnation and association with the devil.”