Psychosocial Perspective of Necrophilia

Dear Editor,

Necrophilia is a highly taboo and controversial subject involving a sexual attraction to or engagement in sexual acts with corpses. Necrophilia is derived from the Greek words nekros (dead) and philia (love). The term necrophilia was not broadly used until Richard von Krafft-Ebing published his 1894 work Psychopathiasexualis, helping to define it as a paraphilia. ¹ International classification of diseases (ICD-11) classifies this under the ‘Other Paraphilic Disorder Involving Non-Consenting Individuals’. ² It is a type of corpse abuse where there is a sexual attraction to or engagement with the deceased. It is one of the most stigmatised and culturally sensitive behaviours known to humanity. An ancient Egyptian text from the New Kingdom period (circa 1550-1070 BCE) states that Egyptian embalmers were occasionally accused of engaging in necrophilia with female corpses. To prevent this, the mummification of recently deceased women was sometimes delayed until the body had begun to decompose. ³

Forms

Necrophilic acts range from Necrophilic Fantasy, where an individual fantasises about sexual interaction with a corpse, but does not engage in physical acts. Necrophilic homicide, where the individual kills to gain access to a corpse for sexual purposes. ⁴ Pseudonecrophilia, where the person engages in sexual activity with a corpse opportunistically without a primary desire for the act itself. Regular necrophilia, sexual attraction or behaviour directed towards already deceased bodies. Though mishandling or mutilation of corpses, stealing valuable possessions from corpses, are included in corpse abuse, it is not considered necrophilia.

Sociocultural Perspective

Most societies view the treatment of the dead with reverence, making necrophilia a profound violation of socio-moral norms. ⁵ Those who engage in necrophilia may lack strong social bonds, which could lead to deviant behaviour. Hirschi’s theory suggests that individuals who have weak ties to social structures and norms are more likely to engage in deviant acts. ⁶ Individuals who engage in such acts may experience emotional or psychological strain due to unmet sexual or relational needs or be unable to achieve socially accepted goals through legitimate means.^7,8 An individual who is caught or suspected of engaging in necrophilic acts may be labelled as a sexual deviant or criminal. Over time, the societal stigma and marginalisation may reinforce a necrophile’s behaviour and often lead to secrecy and isolation. ⁹ On the other hand, individuals who have easy access to corpses or lack of supervision or the absence of ‘capable guardianship’, allowing these crimes to occur over the dead bodies. ¹⁰ Tong (2009) views these as the extreme manifestation of patriarchal control, where the dead body of a woman is commodified, objectified and subjected to male desire. ¹¹ Some socio-criminologists view necrophilia as part of a broader pattern of sexual homicide, where individuals kill to fulfil sexual fantasies that may include dominance, control or sadistic elements. ¹²

Psychological Perspective

Necrophilia may be driven by deep-seated feelings of control, unresolved grief, or a fear of rejection from living partners. The corpse represents a partner that cannot reject or abandon the necrophile, providing a sense of dominance or comfort. ⁵ The desire to dominate and control a lifeless body may stem from past feelings of powerlessness. Ted Bundy, a serial killer, admitted to engaging in necrophilic acts with his victims after killing them, as it allowed him complete dominance over their bodies. ¹³

Conclusion

A psychosocial view of necrophilia tries to understand how an individual’s mental health, past trauma and feelings of loneliness, as well as influences from society and culture, shape necrophilic behaviour. Understanding the psychosocial perspective can guide therapists in helping people with similar issues by addressing both their emotional struggles and the social challenges they face.