Do we live in a sex economy?

[John_Carlton]

Robert Sock,

Can’t we simply agree that the political left is driven by Satan and have it both ways?

If by “classic”, you mean Freudian, then yes it’s classic, but it’s also outdated. Freud hasn’t been relevant for decades.

If Freud is so terrfically outdated than why do we still use terms like subconscious, id, and ego in the psychological sense? If Freud is considered irrelevant than why do I have to study his applied theory in sociology class? If Freud is so outdated and irrelevant than why is he still cited as heroic by deviants looking for fresh ways to defend their deviance?

God bless,

 

[BrushedByAngels]

OP: good post.

I sometimes wonder if sex is valued too highly. . . as if it’s the ONLY thing.

There are plenty of other things in life that are valuable, are pleasurable, create enjoyment, etc.

I agree. I have no sex drive… or its simply that I enjoy my hobbies way more than sex.

 

[Shredderbeam]

Lets look at the process of sublimation, which is indeed popular in modern psychology.

Sublimation: A defense mechanism where undesired or unacceptable impulses are transformed into behaviors which are accepted by society.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimation_%28psychology%29

Sublimation is not popular in modern psychology, it’s popular in Freudian psychology.

If Freud is so terrfically outdated than why do we still use terms like subconscious, id, and ego in the psychological sense?

In the psychological sense, we don’t use those terms. The science of psychology has moved beyond the tripartite mind. They are used frequently in common use, but this is not significant.
John Carlton:

If Freud is considered irrelevant than why do I have to study his applied theory in sociology class?

Probably because he had some influence in its beginnings. Sociology is psychology writ large.
John Carlton:

If Freud is so outdated and irrelevant than why is he still cited as heroic by deviants looking for fresh ways to defend their deviance?

God bless,

I’ve never heard of anybody doing this. Nevertheless, anybody is perfectly capable of picking a flawed scientist and claiming them to be heroic.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Sublimation is not popular in modern psychology, it’s popular in Freudian psychology.

Sublimation is a popular theory that is consistent with modern-day classical behaviorism, in addition to psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis and psycho-dynamics (both which focus upon Freudian concepts) are not as outdated as you make them to be. They’re still popular in the classroom and as forms of psychotherapy.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Sublimation is not popular in modern psychology, it’s popular in Freudian psychology.

Never mind whether the Freudian theories are old or popular, the real question is whether the theories account for the concept of a sex economy! This is what we should be discussing! It’s my contention that there enough psychological theory out there to make the concept of a sex economy plausible! If Freudian psychology still turns you off, then lets focus on modern-day classical conditioning (i.e., Pavlov). Pavlov is old too, but certainly his theory of classical conditioning is very popular, can be easily demonstrable, and can account for a sex economy just as well as Freud’s theory of sublimation.

 

[Captain_America]

You know, this side discussion points out something worth noting: while professional psychologists may actually have useful theories and approaches. . . the general public is confused, bewitched and bewildered by all the various “psychology” ideas there are. . . mixes them up, etc. Confusion results.

It’s hard to envision another kind of society than the one we’re living in. Expectations are widely shared about what we SHOULD have or SHOULD be. . . e.g., suburban McMansion, SUV, 2 kids. A lot of this is media-generated, television-generated and hyped.

Can you imagine how far out of it farm kids feel? poor ghetto kids? It would be nice if our media world acknowledged that the real world is complicated.

 

[manualman]

…And that’s really my point. The sex economy is driven, at a very fundamental level, by artificial contraception. Contraception drives the whole of societies view of sex as a recreational activity and is therefor the root cause of the societal ills which the sex economy creates. …

GREAT post until this point when you let enthusiasm carry you away. Even those who’ve never in their life practiced contraception are vulnerable to the fallen human inclination towards objectivized sex. The ROOT cause was Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit (Original Sin). Let’s modify your post to say that contraception is a high powered fertilizer targeted specifically at the weeds of sin already growing in the garden. It doesn’t CAUSE our problems, just makes them much worse and harder to resist. Otherwise, great insight!