User:Knewell26/Albert Moll (German psychiatrist)

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(ignore things in parentheses, are easy ways for me to recognize what citation goes with what information)

Views on Homosexuality

Moll’s constantly changing views on homosexuality were based around real homosexual relations he saw around him, his conflicting feelings on the impact sexology had on society, his feuds with Freud and Hirschfeld, and his own career initiatives. (homosexuality) His works on homosexuality mainly consisted of case studies and biographical accounts from patients of his, which was customary for the time. His own reflections and comments on those studies were considered to be much more in depth than some other sexologists of the time, including Krafft-Ebing whom Moll admired. (homosexuality)

Moll did not believe that homosexuality was a result of masturbation or seduction, he believed if they did play a role, it was simply to reveal preexisting feelings. He originally argued that because it was something innate in people, homosexuality should not be illegal nor considered immoral. (homosexuality) Contradictory to most sexologists at the time, Moll believed female homosexuality was just as prevalent as male homosexuality (homosexuality).

Despite his previous defenses of homosexuality, later in his career he posted a work that homosexuality was a sign of degeneration. He stated that homosexuality was pathological and that only heterosexual sex is natural. (homosexuality)

Hypnotism

Moll was a member of a group of doctors in West Berlin that treated different psychological illnesses using hypnotism, focusing on addiction and sexual ailments—including homosexuality, which was considered a perversion at the time. (homosexuality)

Moll believed in the power of hypnotism, but only if it was used by a medical professional, as such he tried to convince professionals that it was an effective therapeutic method. He argued that it was useful in two ways, as a therapeutic tactic and a way to bring attention to the study of psychotherapy. (powers) He argued hypnotism could improve memory, helping a patient remember the cause of an obsessive behavior while also working to correct the behavior. (powers)

Sexual Theories

Moll believed that Western European male homosexuality may have experienced a shift from attraction to younger boys to attraction to adult men during the 1800s. He argued this due to the ancient system of “boy love” (paiderastia) in Greece gave away to love between adult men during this time period. (UC)

Moll wrote one of the earliest works on the normal practice of childhood sexuality when it comes to development of the child. (Sex)

Psychic Studies

Moll believed that psychologists should not be used as forensic experts in court, but rather courts should consult with psychiatrists with training in psychology, as they would have a medical expert’s opinion to add to a case. (God)