British Society for the Study of Sex Psychology
Encyclopedia
The British Society for the Study of Sex Psychology (BSSSP) was founded in 1913, "to advance a particularly radical agenda in the field of sex reform, based on the writings of gurus such as [Edward] Carpenter
and [Havelock] Ellis
." In 1931 the Society was renamed the British Sexological Society.
It seems to have continued until some point in the 1940s.
The society was particularly concerned with homosexuality
, aiming to combat legal discrimination against homosexuality with scientific understanding. Members included George Cecil Ives
, Edward Carpenter
, Montague Summers
, Stella Browne
, Laurence Housman
, Havelock Ellis
, Bernard Shaw
, and Ernest Jones
.
The Society published a series of pamphlets:
Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter was an English socialist poet, socialist philosopher, anthologist, and early gay activist....
and [Havelock] Ellis
Havelock Ellis
Henry Havelock Ellis, known as Havelock Ellis , was a British physician and psychologist, writer, and social reformer who studied human sexuality. He was co-author of the first medical textbook in English on homosexuality in 1897, and also published works on a variety of sexual practices and...
." In 1931 the Society was renamed the British Sexological Society.
It seems to have continued until some point in the 1940s.
The society was particularly concerned with homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, aiming to combat legal discrimination against homosexuality with scientific understanding. Members included George Cecil Ives
George Cecil Ives
George Ives was a German-English poet, writer, penal reformer and early gay rights campaigner.-Life and career:...
, Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter was an English socialist poet, socialist philosopher, anthologist, and early gay activist....
, Montague Summers
Montague Summers
Augustus Montague Summers was an eccentric English author and clergyman. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on the English drama of the 17th century, as well as for his idiosyncratic studies on witches, vampires, and werewolves, in all of which he professed to believe...
, Stella Browne
Stella Browne
Stella Browne was an English feminist, socialist, sex radical, and birth control campaigner.-Life:Browne spent some time in Germany before World War I, meeting radical feminists there, such as the circle around Helene Stöcker....
, Laurence Housman
Laurence Housman
Laurence Housman was an English playwright, writer and illustrator.-Early life:Laurence Housman was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, one of seven children who included the poet A. E. Housman and writer Clemence Housman. In 1871 his mother died, and his father remarried, to a cousin...
, Havelock Ellis
Havelock Ellis
Henry Havelock Ellis, known as Havelock Ellis , was a British physician and psychologist, writer, and social reformer who studied human sexuality. He was co-author of the first medical textbook in English on homosexuality in 1897, and also published works on a variety of sexual practices and...
, Bernard Shaw
Bernard Shaw
Bernard Shaw may refer to:* George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright* Bernard Shaw , English footballer of the 1960-70s* Bernard Shaw , journalist and longtime CNN anchorman* Bernie Shaw, singer for the band Uriah Heep...
, and Ernest Jones
Ernest Jones
Alfred Ernest Jones was a British neurologist and psychoanalyst, and Sigmund Freud’s official biographer. Jones was the first English-speaking practitioner of psychoanalysis and became its leading exponent in the English-speaking world where, as President of both the British Psycho-Analytical...
.
The Society published a series of pamphlets:
Publications of the BSSSP
- No. 1. Policy & principles, general aims, London: C.W. Beaumont for the Society, [1914].
- No. 2. The social problem of sexual inversion, London: Beaumont, [1913?]. Abridged translation from the German treatise... published under the auspices of the Humanitarian-Science Committee (Wissenschaftlich-humanitären [sic] Komitee) of Leipzig and Berlin in 1903.
- No. 3. Stella BrowneStella BrowneStella Browne was an English feminist, socialist, sex radical, and birth control campaigner.-Life:Browne spent some time in Germany before World War I, meeting radical feminists there, such as the circle around Helene Stöcker....
, Sexual variety & variability among women and their bearing upon social reconstruction, London: Printed for the Society by C.W. Beaumont, 1917. - No. 4. Laurence HousmanLaurence HousmanLaurence Housman was an English playwright, writer and illustrator.-Early life:Laurence Housman was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, one of seven children who included the poet A. E. Housman and writer Clemence Housman. In 1871 his mother died, and his father remarried, to a cousin...
, The relation of fellow-feeling to sex, London: Printed for the Society by Battley Bros, [1917?]. - No. 5. Havelock EllisHavelock EllisHenry Havelock Ellis, known as Havelock Ellis , was a British physician and psychologist, writer, and social reformer who studied human sexuality. He was co-author of the first medical textbook in English on homosexuality in 1897, and also published works on a variety of sexual practices and...
, The erotic rights of women, and The objects of marriage: two essays, Battersea: Battley Bros. for the Society, 1918. - No. 6. Montague SummersMontague SummersAugustus Montague Summers was an eccentric English author and clergyman. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on the English drama of the 17th century, as well as for his idiosyncratic studies on witches, vampires, and werewolves, in all of which he professed to believe...
, The Marquis de Sade: a study in algolagnia, London: Battley Bros. for the Society, 1920. - No. 7. Hugh Northcote, The Social Value of the Study of Sex Psychology, London, 1920.
- No. 8. Edward Westermarck, The origin of sexual modesty, London: J. E. Francis for the Society, 1921.
- No. 9. Havelock Ellis, The play-function of sex, London: J. E. Francis for the Society, 1921.
- No, 10. Eden PaulEden PaulMaurice Eden Paul, most commonly known simply as Eden Paul was a socialist physician, writer and translator.-Biography:...
, The sexual life of the child, London: J. E. Francis for the Society, 1921. - No. 11. Eden PaulEden PaulMaurice Eden Paul, most commonly known simply as Eden Paul was a socialist physician, writer and translator.-Biography:...
& Norman HaireNorman HaireNorman Haire, born Norman Zions was an Australian medical practitioner and sexologist. He has been called "the most prominent sexologist in Britain" between the wars.-Life:...
, Rejuvenation: Steinach's researches on the sex-glands, London: J. E. Francis for the Society, 1923. - No. 12. Harold Picton, The morbid, the abnormal and the personal, London: J. E. Francis for the Society, 1923.