ABNORMALITIES IN THE SEXUAL RESPONSE: MASTURBATION & MENTAL HYGIENE TEACHING

Formerly it was customary to frighten children from the habit of masturbation by telling them direful tales about how it would wreck their health, cause feeble-mindedness and produce a nervous break-down or even insanity. We know today that there is no evidence to substantiate such assertions. From the physical standpoint alone there is probably no more injury to health in a moderate amount of masturbation than there is in a moderate amount of normal sexual intercourse. If any harm results from masturbation, it is due to mental disturbances which are caused by moral conflicts. If one could indulge in the habit without any moral compunction, remorse or feelings of inferiority, there would be no injury to the health. But it is usually impossible to avoid these mental conflicts and therefore most persons conclude that the pleasure is not worth the struggle and give up the habit sooner or later.

The important thing, however, which mental hygiene teaches is that one should treat the question of masturbation unemotionally, objectively, and rationally, taking into account all the facts one has at hand, and should make one's conduct conform to one's decision, whatever it may be. If one does not approve of masturbation, then it is certainly not good mental hygiene to indulge in it. If one does approve of it, there is no evidence that it will injure the health.

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Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction