Virgin Diews by Virginia

PSYCHOLOGY ....OR..

PSYCHIATRY

PHILOSOPHY

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When you stop to think about it, cross dressing is rather an odd behaviour pattern. I don't mean odd just because it is statistically unusual. I mean it is odd be- cause it has such a hold on it's devotees, yet requires no outside stimulant like alcochol, narcotics, tobacco: no other human partner like homosexuality, masqchism, sadism, voyeurism, non-human, non-chemical or plain debauchery; no attractant like horse racing, dice and card gambling; no victims to swindle or take advantage of; in short it needs nothing outside of the person him- self but some articles of clothing, Cross dressing must surely be unique among the various "diversions" both immoral, illegal or unwise that the human species is given to. And yet once one is "hooked" the drive is surely as permanent, intense, and deep rooted as any of the above.

In view of the unique character of the problem it leads one to wonder in which of three catagories of en- lightenment one should look for it's understanding. Of course the category employed by both the man on the street and by many psychiatrists is that we are some kind of nuts and should properly seek our solutions in the fields of psychiatry....to be brain washed out of it to be blunt. However; as has been pointed out on other oc- casions in this magazine, psychiatry does not offer much real understanding and no "cures". Such remissions as may occur are usually brought about by the individual himself simply as a matter of self control in the interest

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