Ask A Genius 616: Historical Sex
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2021/07/22
[Recording Start]
Rick Rosner: Observing the recent 20% increase in COVID cases over the past month, I noted that one of my gyms is not strictly enforcing the mask mandate. This situation led me to contemplate the constraints on sexual expression, particularly for closeted individuals in earlier decades. In the 1950s, for instance, opportunities for such individuals to engage in desired sexual activities were likely infrequent, possibly limited to a few times a year due to societal pressures and lack of opportunity.
Reflecting on this, I considered the broader context of sexual fulfillment across history, gauging it by an index of frequency. For most people, and particularly men, the opportunity to engage in sexual activity is often limited by their circumstances. This scarcity applies to various sexual orientations. Even among gay individuals, whom I assume might have different dynamics, limitations exist. Consequently, masturbation has historically been a common alternative, despite being frowned upon and logistically challenging in many societies.
In earlier eras, like the Middle Ages, communal living conditions and societal norms, heavily influenced by religious teachings such as those in the Bible, made private acts like masturbation difficult. Additionally, the average lifespan was shorter, affecting the total frequency of such acts over a lifetime. However, from the 20th century onward, especially since the 1970s, attitudes towards masturbation have shifted towards acceptance as a natural, biological process. The availability of pornography, particularly with the advent of the internet, has also influenced this trend.
Interestingly, in contemporary America, the interest in sexual activities seems to have diminished somewhat. This could be attributed to a variety of entertainment options available today compared to the 1970s when such diversions were limited. I speculate that the 1970s may have represented a peak in the frequency of masturbation, with a potential decrease in recent decades.
Considering this historical perspective, it appears that people in the last 50 years have engaged in masturbation more frequently than in any other period. This increased frequency has likely influenced the nature of pornography, pushing it towards more novel and diverse themes. This is due in part to the human need for variety in sexual fantasy, leading to the exploration of more unconventional and, at times, extreme content, especially given the vast and easily accessible range available online today. The end.
[Recording End]
License
In-Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.in-sightpublishing.com.
Copyright
© Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing 2012-Present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All interviewees and authors co-copyright their material and may disseminate for their independent purposes.
In-Sight Publishing 