Abstract
Although the child masturbation is recognized as not uncommon behavior, our understanding of normative sexual development in humans is fairly limited. To investigate the possible relationship between early childhood masturbation and subsequent sexual cognition, we retrospectively researched three adolescents who had been reared male and who masturbated in early childhood in similar ways, but had different subsequent sexual cognition. The three young people all recalled primary sexual pleasure from masturbation at age 4 or 5. Their distinctive sexual attitudes could be discerned at age 15 to 20. One was transgender, one was homosexual, and one was heterosexual. Combining recent findings of the neural mechanisms of sexual pleasure and cognition, it can be inferred that the early sexual pleasure in preschoolers might have little significance for the development of sexual cognition in adolescence.
Highlights
Studies of psychosexual development and careful clinical observations have shown that preadolescent children have not been regarded as asexual, and preschool children showing sexual behaviors are not uncommon [1] [2] [3]
We do not know if the early masturbation in preadolescents affects the formation of sexual cognition in adolescents, and there are no studies on the underlying neural mechanisms for sexual development and related behaviors, including child masturbation and the origin of sexual awareness or cognition
To investigate the possible relationship between early childhood masturbation and subsequent sexual cognition, we reported three adolescents who had masturbation pleasure at the early age 4 or 5, and had different sexual attitudes at age 15 - 20
Summary
Studies of psychosexual development and careful clinical observations have shown that preadolescent children have not been regarded as asexual, and preschool children showing sexual behaviors are not uncommon [1] [2] [3]. We do not know if the early masturbation in preadolescents affects the formation of sexual cognition in adolescents, and there are no studies on the underlying neural mechanisms for sexual development and related behaviors, including child masturbation and the origin of sexual awareness or cognition. To investigate the possible relationship between early childhood masturbation and subsequent sexual cognition, we reported three adolescents who had masturbation pleasure at the early age 4 or 5, and had different sexual attitudes at age 15 - 20. These cases indicated the complexity of subsequent sexual cognition development, the basic mechanism for the early sexual pleasure in these three men might be unitary
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
