What is Don Juanism?

Don Juanism (also referred to as the Don Juan complex or Don Juan syndrome) is a psychological complex in men, that compels them to have a desire for sexual intimacy with multiple female partners.

While Don Juanism is a non-clinical term, it is associated with hypersexuality disorder – Satyriasis in men.

Have you ever heard someone saying that “He is a real Don Juan” or “I’m not into Don Juanism!”? If yes, you might already be aware that this is an on-point reference to the classic womanizer in Lord Byron’s poem, Don Juan. Let us understand more about Don Juanism meaning, origin, symptoms, and treatments in depth.

The Origin of Don Juanism

The term Don Juanism was originally coined from Don Juan – a character in Spanish literature. While Don Juan initially originated in the Spanish drama in the early 1600s, the character made his way into the works of Lord Byron and Geroge Bernard Shaw, by the early 1800s.

Who was Don Juan?

Don Juan – a fictitious character first appeared in the Spanish tragic drama El burlador de Sevilla (1630) by Tirso de Molina, a Spanish dramatist. As per the legend, Don Juan led a wild, unapologetic life, defying conventional beliefs about sexual intimacy. His lustfulness urged him to seduce multiple women solely for the purpose of sexual benefits – hence the term Don Juanism.

In the drama, we also get a glimpse of his self-confident, unapologetic nature when he seduces the daughter of a rich, noble family. Furthermore, he ends up killing the father of this woman, who tries to avenge his daughter’s plight.

As a character, Don Juan achieved endless popularity through Mozart’s opera – Don Giovanni in 1787. This literary work then made its way into the hands of the Italians and the French as well. During 1819-1824, Don Juan emerged with greater vigor through Lord Byron’s satiric poem: Don Juan, and in 1903, in George Bernard Shaw’s drama: Man and Superman.

In this epic work of Lord Byron, Don Juan is portrayed not just as a womanizer, but also as someone who women easily seduce. Being a lustful man, he is always loved and trapped by women and is the dedicated lover of Haidee and Leila.

Further into the poem, he undergoes declension and engages in an affair with his mother’s friend Julie. Later, when the affair gets exposed, his mother sends him on an adventure to inculcate some values and morals and to seek clarity in life. She wants her son to see that life has so much more to offer.

During this adventure, Don Juan encounters and engages in sexual relations with myriad women. His charm and confidence in character attract women who fall in love with him and try their best to impress him.

This charismatic, lustful, and hypersexual character of Don Juan paved the way for the term Don Juanism.

What causes Don Juanism?

To understand the Don Juanism causes, we can take a dive into the perspectives of two popular psychologists: Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.

Carl Jung on Don Juanism

Explaining the root cause of Don Juanism Jung believed that the Don Juan syndrome was a result of an unconscious desire in men by virtue of which they seek their mother in every other woman he encountered. He further argued that this was not to be taken as negative and had positive aspects as well.

Owing to the difference in sex between the mother and the son, the love could not be established in a pure form, and hence this complex. On the contrary, there are instances when mothers desire their sons sexually, known as the Jocasta complex.

Sigmund Freud on Don Juanism

While Sigmund Freud did not have explicit views on the Don Juan complex, he explored the possibilities of a man’s desire towards his mother and brought forward the Oedipus complex.

Taking this into consideration, Don Juanism can be a result of the unresolved sexual desires of a man since early childhood. Other factors such as a narcissistic tendency and unconscious sexual desires can also be a cause of Don Juan syndrome.

Satyriasis and Don Juanism

One of the primary causes of Don Juanism, or the Don Juan complex can be Satyriasis or Hypersexuality – an overwhelming compulsion towards sexual pleasure and desire. The female counterpart for satyriasis is nymphomania.

The cause of this satyriasis/nymphomania is “believed to be caused by pituitary gland dysfunction or irritation of the brain cortex by a tumor, arteriosclerosis or epilepsy, are quite rare (Barth and Kinder, 1987)” ~ Source

Don Juanism symptoms

Don Juanism or the Don Juan complex is a non-clinical name referring to hypersexuality and hence the symptoms of the Don Juan syndrome are similar to that of hypersexuality. The symptoms include:

1. An uncontrollable desire to have multiple female sexual partners.
2. Repeated sexual desire or fetish that seems to be out of control.
3. Failure to control the excessive sexual urges, even after multiple trials.
4. Aggravated sexual urge followed by guilt or regret once the desire is released.
5. Inability to maintain healthy relationships with a single partner.
6. Coping with depression or loneliness by using sex as a gateway.

Don Juanism Treatment

Don Juanism is not a genetic disorder or an inborn characteristic inherited from ancestors. Rather this is a syndrome that develops with time or unconscious sexual desires. While the Don Juan complex can be potentially harmful to a man leading to unhealthy relationships as well as the inability to have long-term partners, it is not a crime unless used to harm/hurt someone.

Proper psychological counseling is one of the best methods of treatment for Don Juanism. If you are someone facing this, there is nothing to be ashamed about. Always remember that this is quite a normal phenomenon faced by a lot of men and you are not alone. Do not worry and seek professional help from a psychiatrist.

In addition, some of the home remedies that can also be tried along with a counseling session include:

• Preventing erotic thoughts.
• Consciously abstaining from sexual acts for the time being.
• Letting yourself relax through self-pleasuring methods that do not involve another person.
• Strict diet and exercise.

Prolonging the Don Juan complex always finds a way to get the best of a man and ruin the chances of having a decent, fruitful relationship with any woman in the future. Moreover, Don Juanism can also lead to instability in life since a man who possesses such characteristics will not be able to appreciate a committed and monogamous relationship with a woman.

Conclusion

All of our actions have an underlying cause that needs to be addressed and resolved accordingly. The best way to overcome a fear or a mental ‘disorder’ is to address the problem. Opening up to loved ones and near ones or seeking professional help has uncountable benefits.

In the case of such mental health conditions, seeking professional therapy is always advisable. If someone you know suffers from Don Juanism, help them find the light. Help them live their life without indulging in such practices that not only destroy their own life but others as well in the long run.

FAQs on Don Juanism

1) What is the cause of Don Juanism?

The causes of Don Juanism can include:

• An unconscious desire in men by virtue of which they seek their mother in every other woman they encountered as per Carl Jung.
• Unresolved sexual desires of a man since early childhood.
• Other factors such as a narcissistic tendency.
• Satiyarisis or hypersexuality.

2) What is the Don Juanism syndrome?

Don Juanism (also referred to as the Don Juan complex or Don Juan syndrome) is a psychological complex in men, that compels them to have a desire for sexual intimacy with multiple female partners.

3) What is the treatment for Don Juanism?

The treatments for Don Juanism include the following:

• Seeking help from a professional psychiatrist.
• Preventing erotic thoughts.
• Consciously abstaining from sexual acts for the time being.
• Letting yourself relax through self-pleasuring methods that do not involve another person.
• Strict diet and exercise.

4) What are the symptoms of Don Juanism?

The symptoms of Don Juanism include:

1. An uncontrollable desire to have multiple female sexual partners.
2. Repeated sexual desire or fetish that seems to be out of control.
3. Failure to control the excessive sexual urges, even after multiple trials.
4. Aggravated sexual urge followed by guilt or regret once the desire is released.
5. Inability to maintain healthy relationships with a single partner.
6. Coping with depression or loneliness by using sex as a gateway.