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Eli Coleman, Jessie V Ford, A brief history of sexology and lessons learned, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 21, Issue 10, October 2024, Pages 835–838, https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae081
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Extract
The field of sexology, which entails the scientific and interdisciplinary examination of human sexuality, originated in Germany during the early 20th century.1 To provide some historical context, the term Sexualwissenschaft (sexology) was coined by Iwan Bloch. In 1908, Bloch, with his colleague Magnus Hirschfeld, launched the inaugural sexological journal. The year 1919 witnessed the establishment of the first Institute for Sexology in Berlin, later known as the Hirschfeld Institute and thereafter associated with Humboldt University.2 The institute’s motto was “Per Scientiam ad Justitiam” (Through Science to Justice). Additionally, in 1921 the inaugural international sexological congress was convened.1-3
The genesis of sexology occurred during a period marked by notable societal shifts driven by the women’s rights movement and the concluding phases of the industrial revolution. Sexology embraced an interdisciplinary approach, challenging the constrained perspective of medical science, which predominantly examined sexuality through a pathologic lens. Trailblazers in early sexology, such as physicians Albert Moll, Max Marcuse, and Havelock Ellis, directed their efforts toward comprehending sexual variations and disorders. However, what distinguished early sexology from conventional medicine was its commitment to understanding the normality and healthiness of diverse forms of sexual expression.1 These pioneers not only focused on scientific inquiry but also functioned as advocates for sexual reform, championing causes such as sex education, health care accessibility, and sexual rights.
