A qualitative study of sexual -religious conflict in single Orthodox Jewish men.
Item
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Title
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A qualitative study of sexual -religious conflict in single Orthodox Jewish men.
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Identifier
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AAI3325403
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identifier
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3325403
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Creator
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Frances, Yaakov (Koby).
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Contributor
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Adviser: Jeffrey Rosen
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Date
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2008
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical | Gender Studies | Jewish Studies
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Abstract
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This qualitative study focuses on both the phenomenological and psychological experience of sexual-religious conflict for single, heterosexual men in the Jewish Orthodox community. These men, whose lives tend to revolve around dating and intimate relationships, adhere to a religious system of law that prohibits masturbation and all forms of premarital physical and sexual intimacy. Given their upbringing in a religious culture that is typically silent and punitive about sexuality, and their simultaneous exposure to the permissive sexual norms of modern life, sexual-religious conflict may be especially amplified for individuals in this cohort whose single years are protracted.;In the course of 12 semi-structured, recorded interviews, ten single men over the age of 24, who identified themselves as both Jewish Orthodox and heterosexual, were asked to reflect upon their sexual-religious conflicts throughout development. Six of these narratives were selected for their psychological depth to be transcribed and organized chronologically and thematically in order to create a coherent narrative. These narratives were examined using three psychoanalytically informed, qualitative lenses called "defenses, adaptations and compromises", "integration of self representations", and "sexual ownership".;Findings revealed several distinct types of conflicts that participants experienced as well as several specific ways in which they behaviorally and psychologically managed, coped with and resolved these. These conflicts and resolutions were shown to impact, and also be impacted by, important life events, their religious identity and development, their intimate relationships and their overall psychological wellbeing.;An underlying psychological theme of sexual religious conflict emerged: the individual struggle to consciously attribute sexual feelings and actions to oneself and to see one's own will, participation and pleasure behind them. This process called "sexual ownership" is described as a developmental trajectory with three distinct phases that determines the types of resolutions, defenses and coping mechanisms an individual uses to handle sexual-religious conflicts at a given point in time for a given set of sexual experiences. The particular phase privileged by an individual will create corresponding reverberations, both psychologically and religiously. While the distinct religious-sexual restrictions of Jewish Orthodox singles allow this psychological storyline to emerge in clearer relief, the process of sexual ownership is considered a universal task of sexual development.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
