John F. Dedek MORAL SURVEY Ill
Maslurbation What do we say to the adolescent with a deeply rooted habit of masturbation?
No other form of sexual activity has been more frequently discussed, more roundly condemned, and more universally practiced than masturbation. Even infra-human animals have been caught in the act. Zoologists inform us that masturbation. sometimes to the point of orgasm, has been observed among the male and occasionally the female members of the following species: the rat, chincilla, rabbit, porcupine, squirrel, horse, cow, elephant, dog, baboon, monkey, and chimpanzee. According to Kinsey, 95% of American men and 70% of American women have masturbated. The estimates for adolescent boys vary between 60% and 100%. The most recurrent figure seems to be around 85%. Unfortunately, these figures give us no way of knowing whether the masturbation reported is habitual, frequent, occasional or seldom. 29