NCJ Number
198627
Date Published
2002
Length
66 pages
Annotation
This article explains the conditions that may result from castration, and the reasons why castration is used.
Abstract
The author of this article about castration explains that he has been researching this subject for 23 years and believes that the advantages of castration outweigh the disadvantages. However, his intention in this article is to explain the less than desirable conditions that may emerge as a result of castration. The author begins by briefly identifying the preexisting conditions that preclude the use of castration. These contraindications include the presence of brain lesions, epilepsy, diabetes, nondiabetic polyneuropathies, and hypothalmo pituitary disorders, as well as other disorders such as narcolepsy. The author then moves to a discussion about the disadvantages of castration. He contends that some of the negative outcomes of castration have to do with the differences in psychology and physiology in people. Furthermore, the author claims that people have been taught to view castration in a certain light; these views spring from disciplines such as theology, medicine, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy among others. Among the disadvantages of castration are depression, impotence, sterility, obesity, osteoporosis, hot flashes, and genital modification. Then the author discusses some of the alleged disadvantages that have been lent credibility in spite of the fact that there has been very little or even no research supporting these claims. Some of these alleged disadvantages of castration include headaches, high-pitched voice, lessened creativity, lowered bravery, fatigue, leg cramps, and cerebrovascular disorders, among others. The author also discusses the use of castration as punishment. In his view, castration can serve as an effective means to reduce recidivism among men who are violent. The author goes so far as to suggest that castration may not be effective in and of itself on the worst offenders. In these cases, he contends, it may be appropriate to remove the penis as well. In conclusion, the author offers a list of books on castration and a list of impotence remedies that have been developed and marketed between 1991 and 2001. Also included are lists of information sources on sterilization and eugenics and a list of writers who have advocated the importance of castration complex in psychoanalysis.