Perverse Psychology

The pathologization of sexual violence and transgenderism

By Jemma Tosh | Publisher: Taylor and Francis

About the book

Psychology defines people who take pleasure in the suffering of others as having a form of mental illness, while?media representations frame such behaviour as ‘evil’. This is hotly contested territory, not least where sexual violence is concerned – violence which feminist voices argue is related to power rather than sex.

Perverse Psychology examines psychiatric constructions of sexual violence and transgenderism from the 19th century until the latest DSM-5 diagnoses. It uses discourse analysis to interrogate the discursive boundaries between 'normal' and 'abnormal' rape, as well as the pathologization of gender and sexual diversity. The book illuminates for the first time the parallels between psychiatry’s construction of gender diversity and sexual violence, and leads us to question whether it is violence that the profession finds so intriguing, or the gender nonconformity it represents.

Perverse Psychology is ideal reading for postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of critical psychology, discourse analysis, feminism, transgenderism, LGBT psychology, and the history of psychiatry.

Editions of Perverse Psychology

EBook
ISBN 9781317635437
PDF
ISBN 9781317635444

Read an Excerpt

Psychology defines people who take pleasure in the suffering of others as having a form of mental illness, while?media representations frame such behaviour as ‘evil’. This is hotly contested territory, not least where sexual violence is concerned – violence which feminist voices argue is related to power rather than sex.

Perverse Psychology examines psychiatric constructions of sexual violence and transgenderism from the 19th century until the latest DSM-5 diagnoses. It uses discourse analysis to interrogate the discursive boundaries between 'normal' and 'abnormal' rape, as well as the pathologization of gender and sexual diversity. The book illuminates for the first time the parallels between psychiatry’s construction of gender diversity and sexual violence, and leads us to question whether it is violence that the profession finds so intriguing, or the gender nonconformity it represents.

Perverse Psychology is ideal reading for postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of critical psychology, discourse analysis, feminism, transgenderism, LGBT psychology, and the history of psychiatry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Perverse Psychology about?

Psychology defines people who take pleasure in the suffering of others as having a form of mental illness, while?media representations frame such behaviour as ‘evil’. This is hotly contested territory, not least where sexual violence is concerned – violence which feminist voices argue is related to power rather than sex.

Perverse Psychology examines psychiatric constructions of sexual violence and transgenderism from the 19th century until the latest DSM-5 diagnoses. It uses discourse analysis to interrogate the discursive boundaries between 'normal' and 'abnormal' rape, as well as the pathologization of gender and sexual diversity. The book illuminates for the first time the parallels between psychiatry’s construction of gender diversity and sexual violence, and leads us to question whether it is violence that the profession finds so intriguing, or the gender nonconformity it represents.

Perverse Psychology is ideal reading for postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of critical psychology, discourse analysis, feminism, transgenderism, LGBT psychology, and the history of psychiatry.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Perverse Psychology?

Society and Social Sciences > Psychology

Where can I read a sample of Perverse Psychology?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781317635437

Is Perverse Psychology part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Concepts for Critical Psychology

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Perverse Psychology?

Jemma Tosh

Who is the Publisher of the book Perverse Psychology?

Taylor and Francis

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Perverse Psychology is available as ebook(ISBN 9781317635437) and pdf(ISBN 9781317635444)