Basic Types of Sexual  Behavior

1. Sexual Self-stimulation: History

Middle Ages

The concern over the possible "waste" of semen also led to a general disapproval of male masturbation in Christianity. While it is true that masturbation is never mentioned in the Bible, the Christians later simply adopted the traditional negative Jewish attitudes.
Still, in medieval Europe masturbation was not seen as much of a problem. While it was condemned in various penitentials, the other theological and pastoral writings of the time hardly mentioned it at all, or referred to it in a rather oblique fashion. Even the popular catechisms that began to appear in the 16th century contained nothing on the subject. This omission may appear strange at first glance, but it becomes understandable when we remember that the medieval concept of sexuality was still relatively narrow. Indeed, the very term was unknown. Instead, people recognized only one kind of activity as being strictly sexual: coitus among adults. It seems, therefore, that at least women and children had no great feelings of guilt about masturbation, but simply thought of it as a way of relieving physical irritations, comparable to scratching.