Modern sex research says this about masturbation:

1. Masturbation essentially is not only a "normal" and healthy form of sexual behavior, but it is also useful as a means of learning about one's own sexual responses.

2. While the great majority of both sexes masturbate at one time or another, more males do so than females (although increasingly more females are doing so) and they generally masturbate more often.

3. Babies and very young children of both sexes experience genital manipulation as well as deliberate self-stimulation, which at times results in orgasms (orgasms, however, are attained by more young females than males). Moreover, autogenital stimulation during infancy is a positive behavior and appears to be related to a sense of well-being and desirable personality development.

4. Although a number of children masturbate to the point of orgasm, most youngsters do not engage in deliberate autoerotic behavior until about the time of adolescence.

5. Both females and males are beginning to masturbate at younger ages than in the past, but which of the sexes is starting to do so earlier still remains an unsettled question.

6. While at present about 95% or 96% of the men in our society experience masturbatory activity at one time or another, the percentage of women who do so is probably around 80%. And an increasing number of women are indulging in the practice.

7. Autoerotic activity is engaged in by a considerable number of women and men of advanced age and among the aged the behavior is more prevalent on the part of women than men.

8. The main way in which females acquire a knowledge about autoeroticism is through self-discovery while males seem to learn about the practice primarily from hearing about it.

9. There are various reasons why people masturbate and these include specifically sexual ones as well as more complex psychological motives.

10. The masturbatory techniques utilized by females are much more varied than are the ones employed by males and among other things include the use of the hand or fingers, vibrators, all sorts of elongated objects, penis substitutes, running water, and fruits and vegetables.

11. The use of fantasy during masturbation while more prevalent among males than females, is experienced by a substantial percentage of females. And more and more females appear to be employing fantasy during self-stimulation.

12. Sooner or later almost all women learn to achieve an orgasm from masturbatory activity and the average time needed for women to attain an orgasm from masturbation is approximately "a little less than four minutes." The average time required by males to reach an orgasm from masturbation seems to be "between two and three minutes." (Kinsey et al., 1948)

13. Many married women and men masturbate and this is a behavior that is increasing. In the case of women, the use of autoeroticism has a positive rather than a negative effect on their marital sex lives. (The same is probably also true with respect to men.)

14. The practice of autoeroticism definitely does not inhibit one from engaging in sexual activity with other persons, and with respect to females, the experiencing of sexual intercourse tends to result in an increased use of masturbation.

15. Wile fewer people presently experience feelings of guilt, shame, fear, and embarrassment in reference to the practice of masturbation than was true in years past, nevertheless, a surprising number still do, including college students. Acceptance of autoerotic behavior is greater among college educated persons and those of upper social levels than among non-college-educated individuals and those of lower social levels. Also, males are generally more accepting of the practice than are females.

16. Some medical students, residents, and doctors still believe that masturbation causes emotional disorders.

17. Personality characteristics such as feelings of self-esteem (especially) and security seem to be related to an acceptance of autoeroticism.

18. Masturbation to the point of orgasm appears to put less strain on one's heart as measured by an increase in heart rate than does coital activity that results in orgasm.

19. The element of religion, as always, continues to exert a negative influence on the practice of masturbation. Autoeroticism is more prevalent among nonreligious groups of people than among those who are devout.

20. The use of autoerotic activity is being employed more and more in the treatment programs of women and men who have sexual problems and thus far the therapeutic results achieved have been very encouraging.

21. Self-disclosure by sex therapists and the like concerning their own masturbatory experiences appears to be a new development that is becoming more widespread.

22. Diametrically opposed to the attitudes toward masturbation held by authorities of the past, reputable psychotherapists and sexologists are now stating that a lack of masturbatory experience may be related to psychopathology, rather than the practice of autoeroticism.

23. In the years ahead, it appears certain that "masturbation" will become a household word and its use by babies, children, adolescents, and adults will be viewed in a far more positive light than ever before.

[Excerpted from the conclusion to "Research on Autoeroticism: An Overall View," an essay contained in Human Autoerotic Practices edited by Manfred F. De Martino, pages 321–357 (NY: Human Sciences Press, 1979). Copyright 1979 by Human Sciences Press and electronically reproduced by permission. De Martino was a certified sex therapist as well as a certified psychologist who had a private practice. He also was a college psychology professor.]