Don Juan Syndrome

The Don Juan Syndrome is also known as Don Juanism or satyriasis. The Don Juan Syndrome is the term for the desire or obsession in a man to have sex with many different female partners. The name derives from from Don Juan (Spanish) or Don Giovanni (Italian) of opera, movies and fiction.

The first known instance of the name Don Juan appeared in a play by Tirso de Molina called 'El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra' (The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest). Although first published in 1630, it may have been performed as early as 1616[1]. Set in the 14th century, the play is the earliest fully developed dramatisation of the Don Juan legend.

The term has often been referred to as the male equivalent of nymphomania in women. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) of the World Health Organization (WHO), includes two relevant entries about these tpyes of hypersexualily: one is 'Excessive Sexual Drive' (coded F52.7), which is divided into satyriasis (for males) and nymphomania (for females).

Psychologically, the syndrome is explained as insecurity about the patients masculinity and/or latent homosexuality that is subconciously masked by multiple sexual liaisons with different female partners, without emotional commitment. Studies also suggest that the risky behaviour is possibly masking a depression emanating from a deeper narcissistic focus[2].

[1] Brockett, Hildy: History of the Theatre – 2003
[2] Brockmann: The fate of Don Juan: the myth and the man in Adolescent Psychology – 1992