The Myth of Desire

Sexuality, Love, and the Self

Author: Carlos Domínguez-Morano and Veronica Polo Torok Series: Dialog-on-Freud

This book explores the broad and complex reality of the affective-sexual realm encompassed by the term desire, an essential expression that is innate in all human beings.

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Summary

This book explores the broad and complex reality of the affective-sexual realm encompassed by the term desire, an essential expression that is innate in all human beings.

Description

In The Myth of Desire: Sexuality, Love, and the Self, Carlos Domínguez-Morano draws on psychoanalysis to explore the broad and complex reality of the affective-sexual realm encompassed by the term desire, a concept that propels individual aspirations, pursuits, and life endeavors. In the first part of this book, Domínguez-Morano observes this concept from a global view by introducing a methodology, examining the present socio-cultural determinations affecting desire, reviewing the main stages in the evolution of desire, and reflecting on affective maturity. In the second part of this book, Domínguez-Morano explores the five basic expressions of desire: falling in love and being a couple, homosexuality, narcissism and self-esteem, friendship, and the derivative of desire by way of sublimation. Scholars of psychology, philosophy, and sociology will find this book particularly useful.

Critic Reviews

“Morano offers an entirely fresh approach to the problem of how desire structures the emotional and sexual realm of human experience. Drawing largely upon Freudian psychoanalysis, he explores the vast extent to which desire informs love, couple relationships, homosexuality, friendship, and sublimation just as it structures art, religion, and science. Particularly striking is Morano's account of the roots of romantic love: he argues that the forces of idealization play a significant role in shaping the choices people make regarding their partners. This book productively crosses disciplines--encompassing sociology, psychology, and philosophy--to offer an especially compelling account of what desire looks like when the subject is considered emotionally mature. The book, originally published in 2001, is here translated from the Spanish by Veronica Polo Torok, whose sensitivity to the nuances of the terms desire and sexuality is perfectly attuned to realizing the author's intention. Morano maintains a rare openness about sexuality through his exploration of the concept as psychoanalysis understands it within the multiple realms of personal, social, and religious experience. This book will be invaluable to scholars and students seeking a synoptic understanding of desire however they may be situated with respect to the fields of sociology, psychology, and philosophy. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals.”

-- "Choice Reviews"

About the Author

Carlos Domínguez-Morano is professor of psychology of religion within the School of Theology at the University of Granada and vice-director of the master’s program in transcultural spirituality at Loyola University in Andalucía.