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Solitary and heterosexual behaviors. Masturbation Fantasy Shared sexual behavior. Masturbation. Historical and religious views A statistical analysis Myths and facts. Historical and religious views. Practiced by many ancient peoples Greek and Egyptian artwork
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Solitary and heterosexual behaviors Masturbation Fantasy Shared sexual behavior
Masturbation • Historical and religious views • A statistical analysis • Myths and facts
Historical and religious views • Practiced by many ancient peoples • Greek and Egyptian artwork • Diogenes’ praise of masturbation • Not explicitly mentioned in Scripture • Forbidden in Talmud for men • A capital offense • Some Scriptures have been applied to masturbation
The modern era • S.A.D. Tissot (1741): Onanism and the medicalization of sex • Victorian concerns with health • Loss of stamina and energy • Stress on the nervous system • Imbalance of fluids • Krafft-Ebing linked masturbation with insanity
Effects of masturbation (1904) • …loss of memory and intelligence, morose and unequal disposition, aversion or indifference to legitimate pleasures and sports…stupid stolidity, etc.” (Walling)
Child-rearing in the late 1800s • Children are not naturally sexual. • They learn sexual interest through evil companions. • Alarms would alert the parents if the child touched his penis • Cages were available to keep hands away • Spiked rings produced pain if an erection occurred: Nocturnal emissions were wrong, too.
The American variant: Health foods • Sylvester Graham, C.W. Post, and Harvey Kellogg • The Boy Scout Handbook warned against masturbation until the late 1970s • Circumcision became popular in the belief that it would reduce masturbation.
Current religious views • Judaism: Varies with branch • Islam: A sin, although the point is argued. • Roman Catholicism: “An intrinsically and seriously disordered act.” • Mainline Protestantism: Not a moral issue
Conservative Protestantism: In disarray. • Tson and Hayford vs. Dobson • Houghton College Counseling Center • Donald Joy • Some argue that it is the lust that is wrong. • Some argue that it is homosexual behavior. • Some argue that it is against the sense of Scripture.
Attitudes toward masturbation In my opinion, masturbation is Right Wrong Amoral No opinion 1988 (N=29) 3 (10%) 6 (21%) 15 (52%) 5 (17%) 1995 (N=20) 12 (60%) 2 (10%) 2 (10%) 4 (20%) Note: Class members responded anonymously and voluntarily. Not all class members chose to respond. Sample bias?
Church attitudes about masturbation, 1999 (N = 16) Printed or official policy 0 Addressed from the pulpit 0 Small group/counseling topic 8 Never addressed 4 Positive and affirming 0 Permissive with warning 1 Discouraging 8 Prohibitive 2 No guidance 5
Current social views • The last taboo: Woody Allen and Jerry Seinfeld • NHSLS (1994) special methodology • “OK unless done to excess” • “Could be inappropriate” -- especially if married • 50% of practitioners feel guilty afterward • Why?
A statistical analysis • More men (>90%) than women (65-89%) • More educationmore masturbation • White, educated liberals most likely to • Devoutly religious folks masturbate less • 18-24 year olds masturbate less than 25-54 year olds • 50% of each gender feel guilty about it, but guilt inhibits masturbation only in women
More statistics • 85% of men and 45% of women married or cohabiting had masturbated in the past twelve months • 60% of men and 40% of women overall had masturbated in the past twelve months • Conclusion?
NHSLS reasons for masturbation ReasonMenWomen To relax 26 32 To relieve sexual tension 73 63 Partners unavailable 32 32 Partner unwilling 16 6 Boredom 11 5 Physical pleasure 40 42 Get to sleep 16 12 Fear of AIDS or other STDs 5 5
Fantasy • Primary fantasy • Fantasy to facilitate masturbation • When is it lust? • Shared fantasy for sexual arousal
Shared sexual behavior • Touching: When is it sexual? • Hugging and kissing • Caressing, fondling, stroking skin • Genital stimulation • Manual • Oral: Fellatio and cunnilingus • Genital apposition: “Dry-docking”, “outercourse”
Intercourse • Vaginal: Significant risk for HIV and STD transmission • Anal: High risk for HIV transmission • Surface • Interfemoral • Intermammary • Intergluteal • 1001 Positions
Appeal of various sexual practices, NHSLS, ages 18-44 (% rating very or somewhat appealing) PracticeWomenMen Vaginal intercourse 96 95 Watching partner disrobe 81 93 Receiving oral sex 68 83 Giving oral sex 57 76 Anal intercourse 5 14 What is the role of negative associations?
Caveats for oral-genital contact • Basic hygeine is essential • STDs, including HIV can be transmitted • Non-STD infections may also occur • Bacterial infections of the throat • Infections of the genitals from mouth bacteria • Semen from infected prostates may be dangerous • Do not blow! • The effectiveness of barriers is unknown.