Page:Homo-sexual Life by William John Fielding (1925).pdf/51

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HOMO-SEXUAL LIFE
49

voted to another woman, finds life is not worth living.

In summarizing his conception of this disorder, Kempf considers the acute homosexual panic a distinct stage in the psychosis. He maintains it may be diagnosed as readily as paresis by certain cardinal conditions: (1) panic and the autonomic reactions which accompany grave fear; (2) the defensive compensation against the compulsion to seek or submit to assault; (3) the symbols used by the erotic affect and the disturbances of sensation it causes.

The latter are complained of as visions, voices, electric injections, "dopy" feelings, "poison" and "filth" in the food, seductive and hypnotic influences, irresistible trance states, crucifixion, etc. It is necessary to estimate the significance of the systems in a neutral environment and the significance of the various symbols used.

As previously stated, the condition of acute homosexual panic is chiefly manifested in men and women who are grouped for prolonged periods away from members of the opposite sex—and is considerably different in its symptoms from the inverted sexuality which, for whatever reasons, develops in the man or woman living in a more normal environment.

With regard to the prospect for overcoming the disorder, Kempf states that the prognosis of homosexual panic in a soldier or sailor is usually favorable for that episode, but the future of that individual is most insecure unless he obtains insight and a fortunate sexual adjustment.