Is masturbation still wrong? Comments on Bailey's comments.

Abstract

Although Bailey in commenting on the Zeiss, Rosen, and Zeiss article on masturbatory techniques in sex therapy, sees ethical, moral, philosophical, social and psychological issues, he lists no specific negatives except "potential side effects." Bailey demands that therapy using directed masturbation must be "vastly superior" to conventional techniques or else it is unethical. No rationale for this discrimination is presented except potential side effects. The antiscientific nature of this argument is noted. Bailey's (1978) comments on the Zeiss, Rosen, and Zeiss (1977) article on "Orgasm During Intercourse: A Treatment Strategy for Women" continues a long tradition of intellectual and emotional arguments against masturbation. This tradition reached its zenith in the mid-18th century when S. Tissot of France wrote "Onana, a Treatise on the Diseases Produced by Onanism" (Dearborn, 1966). Following the intellectual and moral position set forth by Tissot in 1866, a British physician, Isaac Baker Brown, described the surgical removal of the clitoris to prevent masturbation and its serious side effects. The title of his volume communicates the flavor: "On the Curability of Certain Forms of Insanity, Epilepsy, Catalepsy and Hysteria in Females" (Corea, 1977).The essence of Bailey's (1978) criticism of Zeiss et al. is that they are insensitive to the "psychological, social, and spiritual side effects of such procedures" (p. 1503). A little later, Bailey acknowledges that "these admittedly elusive side effects to therapy" (p. 1503) have not occurred as yet. This does not prohibit Bailey from warning of the serious negatives that may accrue to "the traditional institutions of marriage, family, and religious values" (p. 1503).Let us be clear about what Zeiss et al. (1977) recommend in their article. A six-step treatment program for women who are inorgasmic during intercourse is described. The program helps these women experience orgasm with vaginal containment of their partner's penis, whereas Nathaniel N. Wagner died on June 13, 1978.

Masturbation prohibition in sex offenders: A crossover study

“…Effective screening tests (or tasks) are particularly important for anonymous self-help groups which, by their nature, tend to attract a wide range of individuals with varying needs and motivations. Finally, prohibition of masturbation as a treatment aid may simply reflect patients' and therapists' own moral, philosophical, and ethical beliefs that, somehow, masturbation itself is wrong (Wagner, 1978).…”