Introduction - What is sexual behavior?

History of the Term 9

The preceding brief history of the term can help us understand a basic truth: When we talk about human "sexual" behavior, we are not simply describing some objective factual occurrences. We are also choosing a very special point of view from which to focus on these occurrences. In short, we are expressing a certain subjective (and perhaps shortsighted) philosophy. It takes a special, modern frame of mind to detect "sexual" signals everywhere and to conceive of "sex" as a fundamental and all-pervasive force. This frame of mind does not necessarily reflect a greater capacity for sensual pleasure or a more vigorous love life. In fact, it may very well be the sign of a crippled or impoverished sensuality. A preoccupation with sex is not the same thing as erotic fulfillment. In any case, it seems only prudent to approach the entire subject with caution.
For example: It is well known that many so-called primitive peoples fail to see the "sexual" element in certain situations which seem to suggest nothing but “sex” to the modern Western observer. This may be true even for peoples who put great emphasis on sexual satisfaction. They simply do not see its many possible “civilized” connotations.
The same can be said of young children in our own culture who engage in "sexual" activity. Much of this activity is not regarded by them as being sexua! at all. Indeed, the seemingly obvious adult interpretation is adopted only gradually and often reluctantly.
Finally, it is a common experience of modern psychotherapists that in sexually mixed encounter groups many interpersonal problems are defined as being “sexual” in nature. However, these same problems are often defined quite differently in all-male or all-female groups. Here the “sexual” aspect does not seem very important, and thus the participants are prepared to look for another explanation.

Front cover of Kinsey’s first “report” of 1948. As the title indicates, the book is written from a biological perspective (for example, a typical biological study might read: “Grooming Behavior in the Male Chimpanzee”). A non-biologist would have chosen a different title, but Kinsey wanted to signal his distance from the then prevailing, mostly medical view of sex. Interestingly enough, he offered no definition of term “sexual behavior”, but simply assumed that the reader knew what was meant.