Basic Types of Sexual  Behavior

1. Sexual Self-stimulation

Masturbation

Top: Woman using two artificial penises (dildos) for masturbation Bottom: Satyr masturbating (After ancient Greek vase paintings)

The word masturbation is derived from the Latin verb masturbare: to defile by hand or to disturb by hand (i.e. manus: hand + either stuprare: to defile, or turbare: to disturb). The term was introduced into the English language only about 200 years ago. Before that time, people apparently used less definite references and descriptions, such as "youthful passions" or "solitary pleasures". Today, however, the word "masturbation" has become part of most European languages, and in professional textbooks it has replaced all other expressions. Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to follow the common usage in this course.
Still, it is important to realize that the term is actually quite imprecise and misleading because both males and females can masturbate without using any hands. Therefore, for modern sex researchers, masturbation is "any deliberate physical self-stimulation that produces a sexual response."