Page 12 - July 2015 Issue
P. 12
The Psychology of Desire
By Saberi Roy
Photo Courtesy of wheatandtares.org
On the three different types of desire and the need for the victims. At best sexual desire in men is still
progeny, power and purpose accepted although sex desire in women is still perceived
Desire is a very intriguing subject to poets, with certain skepticism. This would not be the right
philosophers, psychologists and to every inquisitive kind of perception as both men and women should
human. Desire is shaped by several factors which have a healthy sexual drive and negative perceptions
could have physiological and endocrinal explanations, in society are detrimental to one's moral and sexual
psychoanalytic, sociological and philosophical development.
explanations. Desire is a fundamental force of human
existence and the primary manifestation of sexual In psychoanalysis, Freud has differentiated between the
energy and is present in all human beings without libidinal or sexual urges and the aggressive or death
which survival would be meaningless. Although desire urges. Sexual urges when sublimated or channeled
can have negative connotations with societal pressures would result in creative and constructive pursuits and
on controlling desire, desire is largely positive and aggressive urges usually lead to feelings of depression
constructive although aggressive impulses lead to or destructive behavior. Desires could thus be
destructive desires as well. constructive and creative or destructive and although
both these types of desires would have similar roots in
Desire is the root of all human activity from creative the unconscious, the manifestation would be exactly
pursuits to business pursuits and we are all motivated opposite. Aggressive desires can manifest in violence
by one form of desire or another and these may be although sex desires can also be closely related to
a desire for fame, desire for benevolence, desire violence and when sex desires are thwarted, individuals
for money, desire for admiration and popularity could resort to violent behavior. Desire could have
or even desire for power. Of course this is not an many underlying causes and there could be biological
exhaustive list of desires and the range of desires and physiological explanations with high testosterone
could vary according to the range of human emotions or hormonal levels being responsible for strong desires,
and experiences. The manifestation of desire could whether aggressive or sexual. Thus men and even some
be largely restricted by society and there is a huge women with high levels of testosterone would show
difference on how society perceives desire in men higher desires, levels of competitiveness and stronger
and women. Society still remains hypocritical as far physical and even aggressive urges.
as sexual desire is concerned and sex or sexual desire
is not talked about freely. In fact negative perceptions Some traditional eastern philosophical texts have
about sex are rather widespread in which men are suggested that women have higher levels of sex drive.
considered as sexual predators and women are the However considering that testosterone is responsible for
12
By Saberi Roy
Photo Courtesy of wheatandtares.org
On the three different types of desire and the need for the victims. At best sexual desire in men is still
progeny, power and purpose accepted although sex desire in women is still perceived
Desire is a very intriguing subject to poets, with certain skepticism. This would not be the right
philosophers, psychologists and to every inquisitive kind of perception as both men and women should
human. Desire is shaped by several factors which have a healthy sexual drive and negative perceptions
could have physiological and endocrinal explanations, in society are detrimental to one's moral and sexual
psychoanalytic, sociological and philosophical development.
explanations. Desire is a fundamental force of human
existence and the primary manifestation of sexual In psychoanalysis, Freud has differentiated between the
energy and is present in all human beings without libidinal or sexual urges and the aggressive or death
which survival would be meaningless. Although desire urges. Sexual urges when sublimated or channeled
can have negative connotations with societal pressures would result in creative and constructive pursuits and
on controlling desire, desire is largely positive and aggressive urges usually lead to feelings of depression
constructive although aggressive impulses lead to or destructive behavior. Desires could thus be
destructive desires as well. constructive and creative or destructive and although
both these types of desires would have similar roots in
Desire is the root of all human activity from creative the unconscious, the manifestation would be exactly
pursuits to business pursuits and we are all motivated opposite. Aggressive desires can manifest in violence
by one form of desire or another and these may be although sex desires can also be closely related to
a desire for fame, desire for benevolence, desire violence and when sex desires are thwarted, individuals
for money, desire for admiration and popularity could resort to violent behavior. Desire could have
or even desire for power. Of course this is not an many underlying causes and there could be biological
exhaustive list of desires and the range of desires and physiological explanations with high testosterone
could vary according to the range of human emotions or hormonal levels being responsible for strong desires,
and experiences. The manifestation of desire could whether aggressive or sexual. Thus men and even some
be largely restricted by society and there is a huge women with high levels of testosterone would show
difference on how society perceives desire in men higher desires, levels of competitiveness and stronger
and women. Society still remains hypocritical as far physical and even aggressive urges.
as sexual desire is concerned and sex or sexual desire
is not talked about freely. In fact negative perceptions Some traditional eastern philosophical texts have
about sex are rather widespread in which men are suggested that women have higher levels of sex drive.
considered as sexual predators and women are the However considering that testosterone is responsible for
12
