Medium quarto in purple duotone wraps; viii, 335 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm; bibliographical references (pages 321-324) and index Paperback original (PBO). "Discusses various perspectives on masturbation, including its changing role throughout history, how it has impacted cultures, and answers numerous questions." ó Publisher. || Contents: Self-Abuse or Self-Love? --; Learning About Masturbation --; Chapter 1; Language: Meanings and Words for Masturbation; 3 --; Evolving Meanings; 3 --; The Word Masturbation and Its Synonyms; 10 --; Words for Masturbation in English and Other Languages; 15 --; Bibliography of Major Sources for Words and Expression; 23 --; Chapter 2; History: Masturbation Through the Centuries; 27 --; Mistaken Ideas; 27 --; Prehistory and the Ancient World; 29 --; Judeo-Christian Traditions; 29 --; Medical Traditions; 33 --; Modern Times; 37 --; Section II; Nature: People, Animals, and Evolution --; Chapter 3; Physiology and Medicine: Masturbation's Physical Effects; 45 --; How the Body Reacts to Masturbation; 45 --; Possible Positive Medical Effects of Sex and Masturbation; 50 --; Masturbation and Possible Hazards; 54 --; Chapter 4; Sociology: Who Masturbates, How They Do It, and What People Think; 65 --; How Many Have Done It: Pre-Kinsey Studies; 66 --; How Many Have Done It: Modern Studies; 67 --; Age and Frequency, Learning, and Demographic Characteristics: Modern Studies; 68 --; How People Masturbate: Modern Studies; 72 --; What People Think About Masturbation: Modern Studies; 74 --; Chapter 5; Anthropology: Masturbation Cross-Culturally; 83 --; Reports About Individual Societies; 83 --; Cross-Cultural Overviews; 84 --; Chapter 6; Zoology: How Animals Masturbate; 97 --; Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex; 97 --; Clellan Ford & Frank Beach, Patterns of Sexual Behavior; 98 --; Desmond Morris, Patterns of Reproductive Behavior; 103 --; Frans de Waal, Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape; 104 --; Chapter 7; Evolution: Masturbation's Influence on the Species; 107 --; Charles Sarlin, "Masturbation, Culture, and Psychosexual Development"; 107 --; Aaron Lynch, Thought Contagion; 108 --; Paul Abramson & Steven Pinkerton, With Pleasure; 110 --; Meredith Small, What's Love Got to Do with It?; 111 --; Sci.bio.evolution Newsgroup, Re: Masturbation; 113 --; Section III; Cultural Authorities --; Chapter 8; Psychology and Psychiatry: Masturbation and Mental Health; 121 --; Psychology and Psychiatry: Authoritative Statements; 122 --; Psychologists and Psychiatrists Write About Masturbation; 124 --; Modern Concerns About Psychosocial Problems and Masturbation; 133 --; Chapter 9; Law: Legal Codes, Regulations, and Masturbation; 139 --; Indecency Laws; 140 --; Laws Affecting Sex Toys --; Other Laws That Might Affect Masturbation --; The Verdict --; Chapter 10; Philosophies of Masturbation -- Alan Soble; 149 --; Aquinas' Legacy --; Sex and Sexual Desire; 150 --; Psychological Completeness --; Sex as Talk --; Men's Feminism; 154 --; The Marriage Bed --; Metaphysical Illusions --; Two Models of Sexuality; 159 --; Chapter 11; Religion: Spirituality and Masturbation; 167 --; Judaism; 167 --; Christianity; 173 --; Islam; 174 --; Buddhism; 178 --; Hinduism; 181 --; "God of The Body": Unification and Spiritual Experiences; 183 --; Chapter 12; Modern Christians and Masturbation: Ministering to Single Adults -- Harold Ivan Smith; 191 --; Observations; 191 --; Reflections on the Issue; 197 --; Section IV; Knowledge and Advice from Sexuality Experts --; Chapter 13; Education: Basic Information about Masturbation for All Ages; 211 --; Sex Education for Adults about Masturbation; 212 --; Sex Education for Children about Masturbation; 213 --; Sex Education for Adolescents about Masturbation; 216 --; Talking to Young People about Masturbation; 218 --; SIECUS Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education; 224 --; Chapter 14; Sex Therapy and Enhancement: Masturbation and Improving Sexual Experiences; 225 --; Masturbation as Training for Young People about Coupled Sex; 226 --; Masturbation as Sex Therapy for Adults; 227 --; Masturbation as Enhancement in Marriage and Relationships; 234 --; Masturbation as Treatment for Sex Offenders; 236 --; Section V; Talking about Jt --; Chapter 15; Literature: Creative Writing about Masturbation; 241 --; Marcus Valerius Martial, "To Ponticus"; 242 --; Thomas Nashe, "Dildo"; 243 --; Samuel Pepys, Diary; 244 --; Denis Dierot, D'Alembert's Dream; 244 --; Mark Twain, Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism; 246 --; August Strindberg, "The Reward of Virtue"; 248 --; James T. Farrell, Young Lonigan; 249 --; Albert Camus, The Stranger; 250 --; Philip Roth, Portnoy's Complaint; 251 --; John Lennon et al., Oh! Calcutta!; 252 --; Jerzy Kosinski, Being There; 254 --; William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist; 254 --; Erica Jong, Fear of Flying; 255 --; Alice Walker, The Color Purple; 256 --; Fleur Adcock, "Against Coupling"; 256 --; David Leavitt, The Lost Language of Cranes; 257 --; John Whitworth, "The Reason Why"; 259 --; Charles Thomson, "On the Low Status of Masturbation"; 260 --; Chapter 16; Humor: Can I Do It until I Need Glasses?; 263 --; Dildos, Apparatus, and Innovations; 264 --; Faute de Mieux --; Playing with It --; Kid Stuff --; Sex with the One You Love Most --; The Deprived Spouse --; Semen as Child --; Miscellaneous Benefits and Hazards; 268 --; Cartoons; 272 --; Section VI; Masturbation Onward --; Chapter 17; Masturbation Today; 285 --; Heroes and Martyrs of the Decade; 286 --; Our Popular Culture and Technology; 290 --; So Where Are We Now?; 297 --; Chapter 18; Masturbation Future; 303 --; "Nature Does Not Tolerate Anything Useless"; 305 --; Additional Research into Masturbation --; New Language, More Words --; Self-Love-or Self-Abuse?; 307. || Encyclopedias. Publishers' advertisements -- California -- San Francisco -- 2003. Encyclopedias.
