The concept of taboo is widely used in many fields to describe an object, action, idea, thought, practice, etc., that is prohibited or disapproved by society for moral reasons. When it comes to human behavioral psychology, taboos can be defined as the social norms that restrict certain behaviors considered immoral and forbidden by society, usually related to sex. This means that anything having to do with these taboos tends to create a sense of discomfort, fear, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and even anxiety within individuals who are influenced by them. According to researchers like Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalytic theory, these feelings are created because of repression; that is, they are a consequence of societal pressures towards controlling personal drives and desires.
Taboos are cultural and vary from one culture to another, but some examples include incest, bestiality, necrophilia, homosexuality, fetishes, sadism, bondage, masochism, rape, pedophilia, transsexuality, masturbation, voyeurism, and exhibitionism. In erotic fantasies, these acts are presented as highly exciting and pleasurable, which brings about interesting questions regarding how they influence the emotional and physical arousal during sexual intercourse.
We will discuss different topics regarding taboo fantasies' impact on erotic excitement, relational communication, and satisfaction between partners, explaining each point step-by-step.
We need to understand why people have such thoughts and feelings around taboos and what causes them to become so aroused by them. We can start by considering sexual drive, which is an instinctive response triggered by our biological needs for reproduction. Humans have specific sexual preferences, roles, activities, and behaviors linked to their reproductive function, which leads to erotic pleasure. Some people find themselves attracted to others' body parts or characteristics that go against social norms and create taboos, so their brain releases hormones related to attraction and desire when thinking about those things. This is natural since humans are not programmed to follow rules; instead, they act according to their genes and environment. Therefore, having taboo fantasies may be a way of breaking free from societal constraints and expressing one's true desires in private.
How do taboo fantasies influence erotic excitement, relational communication, and satisfaction?
First of all, it is important to clarify that taboos are cultural constructs that vary across different cultures and historical periods. Therefore, the effect of taboo fantasies on erotic excitement, relational communication, and satisfaction may depend on various factors such as age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, etc.