Autoeroticism: Practices, Attitudes, Effects

Abstract

Many intelligent people are still unaware of the fact that masturbation, at all ages and in a variety of situations, is now viewed by researchers in the field of human sexuality as a perfectly normal and healthy form of sexual behavior.¹ Despite the abundance of studies and the findings of researchers, many individuals, particularly those in lower socioeconomic levels, continue to view masturbation as essentially abnormal.² A young, single woman of low socioeconomic status, who may, for example, have no hesitation in admitting frequent coitus with different men, may be extremely reticent on the subject of masturbation, either refusing to discuss it or denying point-blank that she has ever experienced it. It is also not unusual to hear married women of various social classes speak freely about extramarital affairs in order to satisfy their sexual needs, while at the same time rejecting the alternative of masturbation as being abnormal. Public disapproval of masturbatory behavior appears to be a remnant from another era, a belief—hopefully dwindling—promulgated by religious leaders and physicians that masturbation led to neurotic and psychotic disturbances. Certainly, voluminous and conclusive research data are now available to dispel this erroneous notion.