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Paul Joannides is a research psychoanalyst, author of Guide To Getting It On, and an editor of the American Journal of Sexuality Education. His podcast is at ThePleasureReport.com. See full bio

Comments on "Sex on Star Trek--From Pon Farr to Omax"

Sex on Star Trek--From Pon Farr to Omax

Science fiction often has a better read on the pulse of the human unconscious than the romance novel, yet we assume that the romance novel owns the highway when it comes to sex. Read More

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Any psychologist who can discuss the sex of star trek is my new best friend. Although we do know that Bashir did have a few sexual relationships with women while on DS 9 so I would say bisexual for him. Now Garek may be gay as we know very little about him. Then there was the whole mirror universe with the intendent - ooohh lalala

Thanks for the great post much fun to read

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Much appreciated. You would, of course, be referring to the Intendant Kira from Bajor. We psychoanalysts spend much of our time mining the mirror universe, assuming answers are to be found there. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't. Difficult and treacherous it can be. I just noticed the following title soon to be released, you might enjoy it: http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Mirror-Universe-Shadows/dp/141655... I pre-ordered it for my wife, who is the true Trekkie in the family.

If you're going to venture where no fan has gone before...

...you better study up on symbiogenesis and metamorphs (esp. the empathic variety), too. Because if you look like someone pretending to be an expert on the topic, you'll be expected to show knowledge of virtually every aspect of it because in any sufficiently large group of people there's likely to be at least one rather contentious alpha trekkie. The subject of sex on Star Trek is so vast it could probably support numerous Ph.D. theses. You've been warned.

If you're going to venture where no fan has gone before...

I'm assuming "Martian Bachelor" is not the analog for "mdb" who posted above, or should that be the other way around... Don't be silly, a contentious alpha Trekkie could have me for lunch. My wife, on the other hand, would be worthy of battle. Agreed about the numerous dissertations. I'm sure the Slash fans have already written more than most people could bare on Kirk and Spock alone. Now, make yourself useful and help expand the list that I started above.

My apologies

You already did make yourself useful. I just re-read your post, and read up on on the empathic metamorph, who becomes whatever the other person wants or needs. That might have a shade of similarity to something I sometimes saw back when I had an active practice. But it wasn't the "empathic metamorph" who became my patient, rather their partner who was in shock and disbelief after their "perfect" lover or "soul mate" suddenly changed--I suspect due to finding someone new to idealize and merge with. Now, from what I briefly read about the Kriosian empathic metamorphs of Star Trek, there are more male empathic metamorphs, while the females are only born once every seven generations. I suspect it's more even or the opposite in real life. It's also fascinating how the females turn so many men on during their "training," apparently leaving a swath of broken hearts in their wake. (You know, when students would ask me what was the best way to prepare themselves for being a psychologist, I would always say to get a degree in literature rather than taking undergrad psychology courses. And I suspect that well-written sci-fi is far more psychological than the bodice-ripper genre. Probably more instructive about sex and relationships, as well. Sci-fi seems to deal more with the unconscious itself rather than just the effects of the unconscious).

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