perversion

Perversion is a term used in psychology and everyday language to refer to a deviation from standard sexual behavior, or more broadly, to any distortion of moral or natural order. The concept has historical roots in 19th-century medical writings, where physicians such as Krafft-Ebing used "perversion" to describe a range of sexual interests they considered abnormal, including fetishism, voyeurism, and other paraphilias. Etymologically, it derives from Latin pervertere, to turn aside.

In clinical contexts, "perversion" has largely fallen out of formal usage. Modern psychiatry and psychology prefer the term paraphilia or paraphilic disorder. The DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 classify paraphilias as disorders when they cause distress, impairment, or involve non-consenting individuals or harm. Non-pathological atypical interests may be present without meeting criteria for a disorder. The shift reflects concerns about stigma and the influence of moral judgments on medical labeling.

Non-sexual uses of the term 'perversion' exist in opinions about the corruption or distortion of moral principles or of natural processes. The word's pejorative history has led to controversy, and contemporary language aims to describe phenomena more precisely without moral condemnation.

Ethical and legal implications emphasize the primacy of consent and safety; consensual, non-coercive alternative sexual interests are not automatically pathological. Professional practice focuses on assessment, risk, and, when indicated, treatment aimed at reducing distress or harm.