Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 5: Erotic Symbolism; The Mechanism of Detumescence; The Psychic State in PregnancyEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 5: Erotic Symbolism; The Mechanism of Detumescence; The Psychic State in Pregnancy
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
When I entered the university the effects of my useless struggle
with the practice of masturbation were pretty well developed. I
could no longer fix my attention steadily upon my work and found
that only by "cribbing" and "bluffing" could I keep my place at
the head of my classes. I was troubled not a little by the
shoddiness of my work, and tried again and again during the
course of the two years spent at this college to shake off the
habit. At the university I was introduced gradually to a wider
social circle and so far outgrew my bashfulness that I began to
seek the society of the opposite sex assiduously. As I gained
self-confidence I became reckless, getting at one time into
serious trouble with the authorities which came near resulting in
my expulsion. I became one of the more popular members of the
clique to which I belonged--much to my surprise and even more to
that of my acquaintances. The physical culture craze attacked me
at this time and my pet ambition was the attainment of strength
and agility. My bump of vanity also grew apace, but an unmeasured
hatred of all kinds of foppishness kept me on the safe side of
moderation in my dress and behavior.
During my second year of university life I had two love affairs
in the course of which I found that my interest in any particular
member of the fair sex disappeared as soon as it was returned.
The pursuit was fascinating enough, but I cared nothing at all
for the prize when once it was within reach. I may add that the
interest I had in the girls was purely ideal. While at this
school I do not think I masturbated half as often as while at the
preparatory school.
When I left this college for ---- University I took with me a
formidable catalogue of good resolutions, first among which was
the determination to abandon all kinds of "self-abuse." I think I
kept this one about a month. As I had gone from a comparatively
small school to one of the largest of American universities the
change was great and the revelations it brought me frequently
humiliating. I was lonesome, home-sick, and my bump of
self-esteem was woefully bruised; and not unnaturally I soon
began to seek a partial solace in day-dreams and masturbation.
After I had become somewhat adapted to my new environment I
indulged less frequently in either, and from that time to the
present I have masturbated very irregularly, sometimes but little
and again to excess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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