Psychology of sex - Total No. of Records in System :: 2032

PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXamong children idiocy, convulsions, epilepsy, hysteria,etc., are not due to masturbation, as an efficient cause:though it has been believed by a few that hysteria andepilepsy might be thus induced. Leyden, among the causesof diseases of the spinal cord, included no form of sexualexcess."In moderation," Erb remarked, "masturbation isnot more dangerous to the spinal cord than natural coitus,and has no bad effects; it makes no difference whetherthe orgasm is effected normally or in solitude/' This isalso the opinion of Toulouse, of Furbringer, of Curschmann,and most other authorities.It is, however, perhaps going too far to assert that masturbationhas no more injuriouseffect that coitus. If thesexual orgasm were a purely physiological phenomenon,this position would be sound. But the sexual orgasm isnormally bound up with a mass of powerful emotionsaroused by a person of the opposite sex. It is in the joycaused by the play of these emotions, as well as in thedischarge of the sexual orgasm, that the satisfaction ofcoitus resides. In the absence of the desired partner theorgasm, whatever relief it may give, must be followed bya sense of dissatisfaction, perhaps of depression, even ofexhaustion, often of shame and remorse. Practically, also,there is more probabilityof excess in masturbation thanin coitus, though whether, as some have asserted, masturbationinvolves a greater nervous effort than coitus ismore doubtful. It thus seems somewhat misleading toassert that masturbation has no more injurious effect thancoitus. But in a moderate form it is,the same level as sexual excitement in sleep.Forel held, much onReviewing the general question of the supposed gravesymptoms and signs of masturbation, and its perniciousresults, we may reach the conclusion that in the case ofmoderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals,