Is living without sex psychologically sane?

[GreenCommunism]

Can anyone tell me if living without sex psychologically viable.

[Quail]

I have no real idea, but I would imagine that suppressing your natural sexual desires and urges would be psychologically challenging and damaging.

[hatzel]

I...see no reason why it would be...remembering that some claim to be completely asexual, I guess that's just the way it is.

Living without sex when not asexual, though, might not be the best idea...

[Apoi_Viitor]

Can anyone tell me if living without sex psychologically viable.

Maybe, but I think you'd get bored of your hand after a while.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

I'm not entirely sure of the scientific arguments regarding this, but I can speculate with the argument that many people go for long periods without sex because they simply don't have the opportunity to have sex. Are all these people risking psychological damage? Or is lacking sexual opportunities as natural and as much a part of human behaviour as sexual desire itself?

I will speculate on the other side of the coin too, and say that forcing celibacy on yourself is probably a dangerous game, because you are counteracting your bodies natural inclination to fulfil its sexual desires. From a biological point of view, forcing celibacy on oneself is probably not a good idea.

I'd hazard a guess that most of the psychological damage that one would feel would be as a result of historical and social contexts that determine what the normal amount of sex an average person should have. If you do not meet this socially-crafted criteria (that probably has its roots in biology too, but I'd argue is socially crafted to a large extent), then you are not seen as 'getting enough' by society, and in turn your perceived understanding of the general consensus regarding sex in society conjures up all sorts of anxieties that may lead to psychological problems. In a world, a person may experience anxieties regarding their sex life, due to the way society understands sex, as in what is normal and what isn't. If the socially accepted amount of sex was different, as I'm sure it has been in different cultures at different times, then the psychological implications would probably be different too. If sex was still understood as merely a tool for procreation, and not a pleasurable activity, then someone who had a lot of 'unusual' sexual desires would be seen as unhealthy by society, and this would affect their psychological state in turn.

As I said, though, I am unaware of the science on this matter. The only thing I have ever heard on it was a question regarding the celibacy of Catholic Priests and whether that has anything to do with them molesting children. Maybe other people will know of studies on the matter.

[Quail]

I...see no reason why it would be...remembering that some claim to be completely asexual, I guess that's just the way it is.

Living without sex when not asexual, though, might not be the best idea...

If one was asexual, it would be a different story, but I think that people who were sexually attracted to others would get extremely frustrated.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

If the behaviour of the Catholic clergy is anything to go by, then yes, repressing one's sexual urges is psychologically unhealthy.

[GreenCommunism]

If the behaviour of the Catholic clergy is anything to go by, then yes, repressing one's sexual urges is psychologically unhealthy.

there are other religious group who advocate ascetism and they did not behave like the catholic clergy, the problem with christianity +ascetism is how sex is considered evil or dirty. thus it is effectively repressing one's sexuality.

[Pawn Power]

It really depends on the individual. I would image that there are people born with little or no sex drive. There are also, of course, powerful social and cultural factors that repress people's physiology- like the in the case Nixion sites above.

The point is, I would be weary of trying to create universals to decide what is and is not healthy for all individuals. We know very little about the functioning of the human mind and of human nature (if such a thing exists).

[GreenCommunism]

i would be talking strictly on the biological side of things, anybody is a fan of freud here?

[Quail]

Hang on a minute. So in this hypothetical situation where you had no sex, would masturbation be allowed?

I think that for most people, the lack of intimacy would be difficult to deal with. Unless you have no interest in physical intimacy, a lack of it can be really depressing and make you feel unhappy/unloved.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Hang on a minute. So in this hypothetical situation where you had no sex, would masturbation be allowed?

I think that for most people, the lack of intimacy would be difficult to deal with. Unless you have no interest in physical intimacy, a lack of it can be really depressing and make you feel unhappy/unloved.
As far as I know, Catholic priests are not allowed to masturbate either. They are not allowed to engage in any sexual activity, which is obviously much worse than the hypothetical man or woman who doesn't have a sexual partner. They can satisfy their desires to some sort of extent with masturbation, whereas a priest has to forcefully repress his sexual desires in the interest of his clerical role.

[Apoi_Viitor]

I'm not one to empathize or communicate with Freudian thought, but I'm fairly certain a lack of sexual release would have severe, adverse psychological repercussions.

[L.A.P.]

Can anyone tell me if living without sex psychologically viable.
I'm a virgin and I feel like I lose my sanity everyday.:laugh:Seriously.

[gorillafuck]

As far as I know, Catholic priests are not allowed to masturbate either.
I bet that rule gets broken so much.

[Apoi_Viitor]

As far as I know, Catholic priests are not allowed to masturbate either.

According to the Catholic Church, masturbating is a sinful act no matter who engages in it (be it priests, you or I). Of course, the actual Bible however, remains blissfully silent on the topic (except for a part of the old testament, where it states if you ejaculate, you have to sacrifice some pigeons or something).

[ZeroNowhere]

According to the Catholic Church, masturbating is a sinful act no matter who engages in it (be it priests, you or I). Of course, the actual Bible however, remains blissfully silent on the topic (except for a part of the old testament, where it states if you ejaculate, you have to sacrifice some pigeons or something).
So Tom Lehrer was just being a devoted Christian, then?

Anyhow, it's quite possible for asexuals. I wouldn't know about sexuals, though.

[GreenCommunism]

dude i am talking about the psychological impact of being loved for fuck sake. don't we need love?

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

dude i am talking about the psychological impact of being loved for fuck sake. don't we need love?

But your thread title (and your OP) talk about sex, not love. They are not the same thing.

[Ocean Seal]

Can anyone tell me if living without sex psychologically viable.
If you don't have physical or psychological urges for sex then I say why not. If you do, well then I don't know enough about psychology to give you an informed answer.

[Lodestar]

I have no real idea, but I would imagine that suppressing your natural sexual desires and urges would be psychologically challenging and damaging.


I find I'm most productive and at the best of my abilities and judgment when I'm not nurturing salacious thoughts. I mean, sure there is a time for such things, but in the absence of any sexual partners (in my case) it's only a waste of time, and a frustration to boot.

I am living without sex, and have been for most of my life, with few exceptions. I'm pretty sure I'm sane.

btw, I have no idea why I haven't been able to develop any relationships or sexual bonds with anyone outside of a drunken encounter, so maybe I'm not the best example.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I find I'm most productive and at the best of my abilities and judgment when I'm not nurturing salacious thoughts. I mean, sure there is a time for such things, but in the absence of any sexual partners (in my case) it's only a waste of time, and a frustration to boot.

I am living without sex, and have been for most of my life, with few exceptions. I'm pretty sure I'm sane.

btw, I have no idea why I haven't been able to develop any relationships or sexual bonds with anyone outside of a drunken encounter, so maybe I'm not the best example.

Sounds like you have a naturally low sex drive.