Taboos are social norms that dictate what is acceptable and what is not in society. They are often based on cultural beliefs, religious values, or personal preferences. Taboos have always been an integral part of human culture since ancient times. The most common taboos include incest, cannibalism, and bestiality.
There are many more taboos such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ageism, ableism, and nationalism.
Fascination with taboo acts reflects the interaction between unconscious drives and conscious ethical reasoning. Unconscious drives refer to primitive instinctive impulses that drive human behavior without conscious awareness. These drives are controlled by the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud, which states that humans have three parts to their personality - Id, Ego, and Superego. The id is the primal urge for pleasure seeking, while the ego seeks balance and rational decision making. The superego regulates morals and ethics. According to this theory, people may be drawn towards taboo acts because they satisfy a deep-seated desire for satisfaction that cannot be expressed through socially accepted means.
Conscious ethical reasoning involves critical thinking and weighing consequences before taking action. It requires self-control and discipline to override one's instinctual desires. When faced with a taboo act, a person has to consider whether it is right or wrong based on social norms, moral principles, and legal regulations.
Some people find bestiality repugnant due to its association with animal cruelty, while others might argue that animals do not feel pain during sexual intercourse.
Taboos are often associated with sexual activities due to society's taboos about sex itself. Sexual attraction is a natural part of being human, yet many cultures frown upon openly expressing it. Some taboos, such as homosexuality and incest, have historically been criminalized in many countries.
These taboos seem to be lessening over time as more people open up about their sexual preferences.
Fascination with taboo acts reveals the tension between our unconscious drives and conscious ethical reasoning. While some people choose to ignore their baser impulses and adhere strictly to societal norms, others may explore them in secret or even make them public.
Taboo acts reflect the complexity of human nature - the struggle between primal urges and societal expectations.
How does fascination with taboo acts reveal the interaction between unconscious drives and conscious ethical reasoning?
Fascination with taboo acts can be viewed as an attempt of the individual's psyche to understand and integrate the hidden parts of their own experience that are forbidden by society. The subconscious mind is known for holding desires, impulses, wishes, and fears which cannot always be expressed directly due to social norms and restrictions, so it often manifests itself through symbols, metaphors, dreams, or fantasies.