PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CIRCUMCISION.

The psychological impact of circumcision.

From a global perspective, most of the world does not practise circumcision; over 80% of the world's males are intact (not circumcised).

 

Most circumcised men are Muslim or Jewish; the USA is the only country in the world that circumcises most (60%) of its male infants for non-religious reasons.

 

Other countries that circumcised a significant minority of male infants for non-religious reasons include Canada and Australia.

 

This article refers mostly to the American practice, because the USA has the highest rate of non-religious circumcision and the most contentious debate about circumcision.

 

Discussion about the advisability of circumcision in English-speaking countries that practise circumcision typically has focused on long-held beliefs about the health benefits of circumcision.

 

The conflicting conclusions, beliefs and opinions surrounding circumcision, together with the tenacity with which advocates and opponents of circumcision maintain their viewpoints, suggest that deep psychological factors are involved.

 

The strong motivation to circumcise male infants is shown by the fact that the practice continues even though no national medical organization in the world recommends it.

 

Questions concerning the psychological motivation to circumcise and the longstanding psychological effects of male circumcision have rarely been studied; this lack of studies on the long term effects was noted in the medical literature about 20 years ago, and little has changed since then.

 

Includes...

• Infant pain and behavioural response to circumcision.
• The parents' responses.
• Circumcision as trauma.
• Long-term psychological effects.
• The motivation to circumcise.
• Religious circumcision.
• Cultural values and science.
• Conclusion.

 

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http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/goldman1/  

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