(1952). Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 21:490-527 Authority and Masturbation—Some Remarks on a Biblographical Investigation Every culture worthy of the name is based on a social organization and on the norms and values shared by its members. Therefore it must regulate sexual life. The regulation may be pragmatic, with utilitarian aspects, or it may be so highly idealistic as to negate completely utilitarian aspects and lead to self-extinction. But within this wide gamut of possibilities some form of regulation can always be disclosed. Primarily, this regulation involves the function of reproduction in its relation to the group. Inevitably, however, other social institutions sooner or later impinge on sexuality and it is then that regulation of deviant attitudes and deviant sexual practices begin to be imposed. Such regulations stem from authority, religious or secular, ruling the life of each social system. According to the culture and according to its ideals, it addresses itself to the various aspects of sexuality, that is, to the manifestations of the partial instincts, and to the form in whi [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
