With the onset of puberty the auto-erotic instincts are newly stimulated; new sources of auto-erotism become active, principally owing to the development of the genital organs and to the evacuation of the reproductive products. Various theories have been propounded to explain by what means the sexual tension occurring at puberty is induced, this sexual tension being regarded as the ultimate cause of the masturbation of sexually mature human beings. The most plausible hypothesis is the chemical theory of sexual tension and sexual excitement, which was explained in more detail above ([p. 47]). It may be that, as Freud assumes, a substance generally diffused throughout the organism is destroyed by the stimulation of the erogenic zones, and that the products of decomposition of this substance give rise to a discharge of sexual energy; it may be that the reproductive organs themselves produce such chemical substances, sexual toxins. This assumption is supported by the experimental observation that when in animals the ovaries and all the nerves connected with these organs have been removed, and consequently the ordinary periodic recurrence of sexual activity is no longer seen, if now ovarian extract is injected into the body of such animals, rutting once more occurs. Starling introduced the term “hormone” to denote these chemical sexual substances. They appear also to play a part in connexion with certain abnormalities and perversions of the sexual impulse—a matter to which we shall return later. R. Kossmann also speaks of a “neuro-chemical” injury—a kind of intoxication of the nervous system induced by “retained secretions or excretions of the reproductive organs.”[404]
The same author also advances the neuro-mechanical theory of sexual tension. He understands by this that the purely mechanical distension of the organs belonging to the reproductive apparatus exercises a mechanical stimulus on the genital nerves, and thus has a reflex action upon the centres of the brain and spinal cord, which reflex stimulation is allayed by orgasm and ejaculation. Haig explains the feeling of relief after masturbation, and the consequent discharge of sexual tension, as rather dependent upon the mechanism of the blood-pressure. He remarks:
“Since the sexual act gives rise to a low and falling blood-pressure, it must necessarily alleviate conditions which are due to high and increasing blood-pressure—for example, mental depression and ill-humour—and if my observations are correct, we have here an explanation of the relation between conditions of high blood-pressure with mental and physical depression, on the one hand, and masturbatory practices on the other, for such practices alleviate this condition, and are readily indulged in for this purpose” (quoted by Havelock Ellis).
The statement made to Dr. Garnier by a monk, thirty-three years of age, bears out this view:
“If no nocturnal seminal emissions occur, the tension of the semen gives rise to general depression, headache, and sleeplessness. I admit that sometimes, in order to obtain relief, I lie upon the abdomen, and so produce a seminal discharge. I immediately feel freed, as if a burden had been lifted from me, and sleep returns” (ibid., p. 273).
Similar motives for masturbation are alleged by many otherwise healthy onanists. They apply, moreover, in an equal degree to the normal, not excessive, sexual intercourse of ordinary human beings. Persons belonging to the most diverse classes of society—men of letters, shopmen, labourers, etc.—of whom I have inquired regarding the effect of seminal emissions, whether produced by masturbation or by coitus, have unanimously agreed in describing to me this sense of “freeing” from a burden, from pressure, from harmful substances accumulated in the body—a sense of mental energy and creative power after such discharges of sexual tension not exceeding normal limits. The frequency of these discharges varies in different individuals; in one the intervals were short, in another they were long. This point has a very important bearing upon the “question of sexual abstinence,” and we shall return to it in the discussion of that topic.
Masturbation is often the means for inducing sleep and repose; it dulls nervous sensibility, and connected with this is the fact that pain is often allayed by masturbation. Here I may refer once more to the previously quoted ([p. 44]) view of a talented young alienist, Edmund Forster, that, in association with sexual tension, there occurs an increased stimulation of the pain-perceiving nerves of the genital organs. It is conceivable that sexual tension, especially if it depends upon chemical causes, also increases pains arising from other areas of the body, and that the discharge of sexual tension would thus alleviate or completely allay these pains. Coe reports (American Journal of Obstetrics, 1889, p. 766) the case of a woman who was accustomed by masturbation to obtain immediate relief of intense menstrual ovarian pains. It is very remarkable that these pains were accompanied by a powerful sexual impulse, which ceased when the pain ceased, and did not return during the intermenstrual period. Here we have a striking testimony of the accuracy of Forster’s view. The phrenologist Gall was aware of the manner in which masturbation relieves pain.
In addition to these more natural causes of masturbation, which in themselves suffice to explain the wide diffusion of the practice, we have also to consider masturbation dependent upon seduction and upon morbid states.
To seduction must be referred all the phenomena of group-masturbation (masturbation on the large scale) in schools,[405] training-ships, barracks, factories (especially in this case as regards female employees!), prisons, etc. One leads another astray, and masturbation is diffused like an epidemic disease; the individuals are subjected to the influence of the suggestion of the crowd, which they are unable to resist. Thomalla describes boarding-schools in which masturbation was practised for a wager, and that boy won the prize in whom seminal emission first occurred! He further speaks of a school club in which obscene readings were held, and in which by means of forbidden pictures the boys were sexually excited until erection occurred, then followed general masturbation, also accompanied by wagers.
This group-masturbation is the best proof of the fact that those who masturbate are not simply individuals with an inherited morbid predisposition; for nothing is easier to suggest than masturbation. Havelock Ellis[406] reports the following case of an unmarried healthy young woman, thirty-one years of age, which throws a strong light on this suggested manifestation: