Why do Incest Taboos Exist? Incest is defined as sexual relations occurring between people so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry each other.1 Throughout history, human societies have demonstrated an aversion towards incest. Even those living in societies without explicit legal systems exhibit a negative reaction to the idea of incest. The…
Tag: taboo
Tantric Sexuality
Tantric traditions, which emerged around the 5th century CE, were born from Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain religious frameworks. Tantra encompasses a wide variety of practices which are united by their common sacred texts, the Tantras. Although it is difficult to pinpoint one comprehensive Tantric theme, Tantrism is often understood as a spiritual quest for salvation…
Voyeurism
Voyeurism, or voyeuristic disorder, is a paraphilia in which a person derives sexual pleasure from the act or fantasy of watching unsuspecting people while they are undressing, bathing, participating in sexual acts, or engaging in other private activities. Voyeurs are also commonly known as “Peeping Toms” or simply, “peepers.” Males are more likely to engage in voyeuristic behaviors…
BDSM (Bondage, Dominance, Sadism, Masochism)
The acronym BDSM includes various sexual practices that fall under the category of bondage and discipline (B-D), dominance and submission (D-S), and sadism and masochism (S-M).1 The practice of BDSM has recently gained more exposure than ever before, but its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations.2 Today, BDSM is considered a kink, with a fairly large…
Pedophilia
Pedophilia is a paraphilia that generally refers to sexual attraction towards children. The condition is split into two categories: pedophilia and pedophilic disorder, with the latter being more serious. Pedophilic disorder usually refers to people who have experienced extreme fantasies, often consuming child pornography, or to those who have acted on their sexual fantasies of…
Swinging
Swinging is a polyamorous practice in which both singles and partners engage in sexual activities with other partners. Swinging is also referred to as comarital sex, wife swapping, husband swapping, and partner swapping. Although traditionally swinging has been used to refer to couples in committed relationships engaging in sexual activities with other couples, single people and non-committed…