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Necrophilia
What is Necrophilia?
Necrophilia is a paraphilia that describes an individual’s
arousal and attraction to fantasies or actual sexual contact
with dead people. Contact between the necrophile and
the corpse may range from penile-vaginal intercourse to
anal intercourse, oral sex, or masturbation in the presence
of a corpse. Experts and lawmakers consider necrophilia
nonconsensual because the deceased individuals cannot
give consent. Necrophilia is a fairly rare paraphilia, but has
2
been practiced all over the world for centuries.
Manifestation
Officially, one must
experience at least
six months of
intense, recurring
urges or fantasies
involving sexual
contact with
corpses to be
diagnosed with
necrophilia; these
feelings must alter
one’s behavior or
cause one
significant distress
according to the DSM-V, which is the handbook that
health care professionals use to diagnose mental and
4
behavioral disorders. Most necrophiles identify as
heterosexual males and fall between the ages of twenty
and fifty, but there are also cases of homosexual and/or
female necrophiles. Some necrophiles seek jobs at
mortuaries or coroners' offices where they have easy
access to dead bodies and are able to take advantage of
the opportunities presented to them. An alternative
method of seeking pleasure as a necrophile includes the
process of hiring prostitutes to apply white makeup and
pretend to be dead while they participate in sexual acts.
Cases of serial killer and/or cannibalistic necrophiles are
even more rare and tend to be sensationalized because of
their obscene nature; however, such cases are
romanticized in the media, which may encourage those
3
with such urges to find an outlet to pursue such actions.
Prevalence
Experts debate the prevalence of necrophilia, but the
current figures remain between 0-5% of the total
1
population. The literature surrounding reported cases
suggests that necrophilic behaviors are rare, but such data
may not prove reliable when one considers that such
behaviors are generally carried out in secret and leave
behind no victims capable of reporting the perpetrator.
Some theories even suggest that necrophilia stems from
its association with cannibalism and society’s attention
1
and romanticism of vampires. Society has drawn its
attention to the celebration of vampires as a sex symbol,
thus further glorifying the kind of sexual act that preys on
the weak and dead. Self-reporting always causes an issue
because people are not generally open to labeling
themselves as something they wish to keep secret,
especially as someone with a paraphilia, which has a large
negative stigma surrounding it.
Causes of Necrophilia
A desire to have sex with dead people may stem from an
intense fear of interacting with potential living partners.
Necrophiles may view corpses as emotionally or physically
non-threatening, thus presenting an easier outlet for
sexual attraction, acts, and expression. Some necrophiles
may be attracted to the fact that corpses cannot reject,
disagree, manipulate, or abuse them. This observation
does pose the question of whether the corpse actually has
the ability to consent (or not). They may also enjoy the
2
feeling of being completely in control.
Necrophiles who act on their desires sometimes suffer
from a lack of sexual inhibitions, recognition of social
boundaries, or general remorse for the consequences of
their actions. Certain psychological conditions, such as
psychopathy or sociopathy, include an inability to
experience remorse or feelings of empathy. Necrophiles
who murder to obtain corpses -- or who mutilate or eat
the corpses after sexual intercourse -- are especially likely
2
to suffer from such conditions. Having sex with a
departed loved one may also be symptomatic of a
romantic obsession, or an extreme denial that the loved
one has passed. In this situation, the surviving individual
attempts to use sexual activities to maintain an imagined
relationship with the departed. The necrophile may view
sexual actions as loving and affectionate, and as a link to
what may have been. Such individuals compare their
actions to circumstances like the scene in Shakespeare’s
Romeo and Juliet, where Juliet kisses Romeo after he kills
2
himself with poison.
However, the specific idea of having sex with a deceased
partner, especially a while after death, is similar to the
romantic delusions exhibited by some stalkers who
obsessively pursue their previous partners long after the
relationship has ended. As with stalking, there are cases
where the obsessed individual has had no previous,
romantic connection with their object of desire.
Furthermore, sex with a dead, non-consenting spouse or
3
partner can be considered a form of domestic rape.
Types of Necrophilia
Necrophilia is such a broad term that experts have broken
it down into specific classifications which are used to
define and identify a person’s status, as well as to help
clarify the spectrum of desires and behaviors. Some
necrophiles find sexual pleasure in simply being near
corpses while others desire sexual intercourse with the
1
dead.
Necrophilia Homicide
This describes a condition in which a person actively
murders people or animals in order to accommodate their
necrophilic urges. They will actively search for methods of
attaining corpses of people or animals in order to engage
1
in sexual fantasies and acts with them.
Regular Necrophilia
People who engage in regular necrophilia are those who
do not find enough sexual attraction or gratification with
living people, and, therefore, they seek this experience
with dead bodies. Many people with regular necrophilia
have had a scarring sexual experience previously in life
and have low self-esteem, which manifests as misguided
sexual confidence. Many even view sexual contact with
corpses as a source of comfort and therapeutic
1
experience.
Necrophilic Fantasy
This describes a situation in which a person is afraid that
they will act upon their desire and actually pursue their
necrophilic fantasy, which may cause them anxiety or
motivate them to hurt another person(s). People who
have frequent necrophilic fantasies usually includes those
who have always been socially isolated, although the two
circumstances do not necessarily coincide. These fantasies
can also include getting sexually excited when seeing dead
1
bodies or strewn limbs, either in person or on a screen.
Psuedonecrophilia
Psuedonecrophilia is defined as a form of necrophilia that
has not been manifested for periods of time, but rather
becomes triggered by an exciting or dangerous event. This
situation may seem as though it happens accidentally, as
necrophilic actions are not the main purpose of a sexual
1
experience, but rather occur in the heat of the moment.
Necrosadism
A paraphilia in which one derives sexual pleasure from
violent actions performed on a corpse, such as mutilation
or the drinking of blood. Note that sadism is not an
intrinsic part of necrophilia; instead, experts regard
instances of necrosadism as the overlap between
necrophilia and other distinct paraphilias or personality
3
disorders.
Studies About Necrophilia
Studies that examine
the physical and
mental
predispositions of
necrophiles provide a
lot of information that
many people may not
know or have
preconceived notions
about. There is a
stigma surrounding
many paraphilias that
insist that such people are mentally ill or deficient,
psychotic, and/or unable to find a consenting partner to
engage in sexual relations with. However, research has
proven otherwise, according to the DSM-V definition of
4
psychotic and mentally deficient people. Yet, it is
important to note that although paraphilics and
necrophiles cannot be as broadly categorized as people
who abuse drugs and/or alcohol, there has been evidence
that supports that necrophiles may be under the influence
1
when performing such acts. The prevalence of drugs
and/or alcohol in one’s system often provides one with the
ability to push away their inhibitions and develop a sense
1
of slight, temporary confidence.
Therapies for Necrophilia
Individuals who want to stop being attracted to corpses
may benefit from sexual therapy for atypical turn-ons and
seeing a professional councilor or therapist, especially one
2
who specializes in sexual paraphilias.
Overview
Within the realm of paraphilias, necrophilia is rare. As is
the case with any other atypical sexual urge or turn-on, it
is important that one is aware of the possible legal
repercussions and boundaries that may restrict their
ability to act upon that attraction. Although it is relatively
normal to have thoughts about atypical sexual behavior,
acting upon it is an entirely different circumstance. It is
important to keep in mind that consent is the key to every
sexual encounter, and it is impossible to gain consent with
a corpse, as they are mentally and legally incapable of
actively saying yes.
References
1. Rosman, Jonathan P., and Resnick, Phillip. “Sexual
Attraction to Corpses: A Psychiatric Review of Necrophilia.”
Bull Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law, Vol. 17, No.2, 1989.
2. Katherine Ramsland. "All About Necrophilia." 2007.
Crime Library. Web.
3. Crooks, Robert and Baur, Karla. “Our Sexuality.”
Thomson Learning, Inc. 2005.
4. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. 2005.
Last updated: 17 October 2017.
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