What is deviance? What is abnormal versus normal? What do we consider pathological? These are questions that challenge me as someone entering the mental health field. One tool that is used in the mental health field is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR)which defines and categorizes various disorders (APA, 2000). This is the book that guides clinicians in making diagnoses. One section of this manual includes sexual and gender identity disorders. These disorders include sadism and masochism which are elements of E.L James (2011) Fifty Shades of Grey books.
Now, I want you to fully understand my issue here. These books have reached New York Times Best Seller status. This trilogy has been on Amazon's top seller list for over 100 days. These books are bringing deviance into the mainstream. This is how abnormality gets normalized.
I am a believer in free speech to the degree that such freedoms cause no harm. Is there harm in normalizing deviant behavior? Let's consider what sadism is. Sadism is arousal caused by inflicting control and sometimes pain on another human being. Sadism is something society used to associate with serial offenders. How about masochism? This is arousal achieved by being controlled, hurt, or humiliated. These people often have histories of abuse and misuse and have deep psychological hurts. As a society we want to glorify this? Really? This is our new normal?
Allow me to continue. Do we want our neighbors to believe that this is acceptable sexual behavior? Do we want our children's boyfriends and girlfriends to find this acceptable and normal? What was once a deviant subculture is now a best seller. Our society is changing the face of normal- how are we going to respond?
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed. text revision. Arlington, VA: APA.
James, E.L. (2011). Fifty Shades of Grey. Vintage Publishers.
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