sexual behavior in the human male

823 Pages·2013·25.32 MB·English

SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN
THE HUMAN MALE
ALFRED C. KINSEY
Professor of Zoology, Indiana University'
WARDELL B. POMEROY
Research Associate, Indiana University
CLYDE E. MARTIN
Research Associate, Indiana University
W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
1948
~~ B.L.No.64.
lHifl9M Veterinary Research Institute
Library,
MUKTESWAR. 6 \ '2 K\t"
r
Register No. C,'-)I Room No.
Inward No. ,~o 1 ~ Shelf No.
Received. 17 ~', f Book No.
MGIPC-S2-UI.6.25(PD)-6.6.38-250.

Copyright, 1948, by W. B. Saunders Company
Copyright under the International Copyright Union
All Rights Reserved
This book is protected by copyright. No part of it
may he duplIcated or reproduced in any manner
without written permissIon from the publisher.
Published, January 5, 1948
Second Printing, January 19, 1948
Third Printing, January 22, 1948
Fourth Printing, January 23, 1948
Fifth Printing, February 2, 1948
Sixth Printing, February 24, 1948
Seventh Printing, March 5, 1948
Eighth Printing, August 12, 1948
MADE IN U.S.A.
PRESS OF
W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
TO
the twelve thousand persons who
have contributed to these data
AND TO
the eighty-eight thousand more who,
someday, will help complete this study

PREFACE
Seen from the four points of the compass a great mountain may present
aspects that are very different one from the other-so different that bitter
disagreements can arise between those who have watched the mountain,
truly and well, through all the seasons, but each from a different quarter.
Reality, too, has many facets-some too readily disputed or denied by
those who rely only on their own experience. Nor can science itself rightly
lay claim to finality or the complete comprehension of reality, but only to
honesty and accuracy of the additional facets it may be permitted to dis
cover and report. I say "may be permitted" since the human race is familiar
with the suppression of truth in both small matters and great. The history
of science is part of the history of the freedom to observe, to reflect, to
experiment, to record, and -to bear witness. It has been a perilous and a
passionate history indeed, and not yet ended.
Living creatures possess three basic characteristics or capaCities-growth,
adaptation, and reproduction. In human biology, the reproductive func
tion has ·been the least and the last studied, scientifically. To theot'National
Research Council's Committee for Research on Problems of Se.x·~elongs
the credit for sponsoring a more significant series of research studies on sex
than has been accomplished perhaps by any other agency. Among these
studies the findings of Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey and ·his associates at Indiana
University deserve attention for their extent, their thoroughness, and their
dispassionate objectivity. Dr. Kinsey has studied sex phenomena of human
beings as a biologist would examine biological phenomena, and the evi
dence he has secured is presented from the scientist's viewpoint, without
moral bias or prejudice derived from current taboos.
Certainly no aspect of human biology in our current civilization stands
in more need of scientific knowledge and courageous humility than that of
sex. The history of medicine proves that in so far as man seeks to know
himself and face his whole nature, he has become free from bewildered
fear, despondent shame, or arrant hypocrisy. As long as sex is dealt with
in the current confusion of ignorance and sophistication, denial and indul
gence, suppression and stimulation, punishment and exploitation, secrecy
and display, it will be associated with a duplicity and indecency that lead
neither to intellectual honesty nor human dignity.
These studies are sincere, objective, and determined explorations of a
field manifestly important to education, medicine, government, and the
v
vi PREFACE
integrity of human conduct generally. They have demanded from Dr,
Kinsey and his colleagues very unusual tenacity of purpose, tolerance,
analytical competence, social skills, and real courage. I hope that the
reader will match the authors with an equal and appropriate measure of
cool attention, courageous judgment, and scientific equanimity.
ALAN GREGG
The Medical Sciences
Rockefeller Foundation
New York City
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First of all, acknowledgment should be made to the 12,000 persons
who have contributed histories, and particularly to the 5300 males who
have provided the data on which the present volume is based. These per
sons represent each and every age, from children to the oldest groups; they
represent every social level, of several racial groups. If these persons had
not helped there would have been no study. It has taken considerable
courage for many of them to discuss such intimate aspects of their his
tories, and to risk their confidences with the scientific investigators. They
have contributed in order that there should be an increase in our knowledge
of this important aspect of human biology and sociology. It is unfortunate
that we cannot name each and everyone involved. Those who have spent
time in persuading their friends to cooperate have contributed in a very
special way; and to them we are especially indebted for devoted and effec
tive service.
Herman B Wells, the President of Indiana University, Fernandus
Payne, Dean of the Graduate School of the University, the Trustees, and
others in the Administration of the University have constantly encouraged,
materially supported, and stoutly defended the importance oft~is research.
The Rockefeller Foundation has contributed a major portion '(it the cost
of the program during the past six years. Dr. Alan Gregg, as Dfrector for
the Medical Sciences of The Foundation, has encouraged a wide-scale,
long-time project which would adequately cover all social levels and all
aspects of sexual behavior in our society.
The National Research Council's Committee for Research on Problems
of Sex, as a part of the Medical Division of the Council, has administered
the funds granted by The Rockefeller Foundation. It has encouraged and
advised on many aspects of the research. Especial mention should be made
of the cordial support given by Dr. Robert M. Yerkes, who has served as
Chairman of the Research Council's Committee since its inception more
than twenty-five years ago. Under Dr. Yerkes' guidance the Committee has
contributed to a long list of notable projects on the sex endocrines; on the
behavior of chimpanzees at the Yerkes Laboratories at Orange Park,
Florida; on the behavior of lower mammals, particularly under the direc
tion of Dr. Frank A. Beach, formerly at the American Museum of Natural
History and now at Yale University; and on the human studies which were
published by Peck and Wells (1923, 1925), by Hamilton (1929), by Kath
erine Davis (1929), by Terman et al. (1938), by Landis (1940, 1942), and
by still others.
vii
Vlll ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The statistical set-up of the research was originally checked by Dr.
Lowell Reed of the School of Hygiene and Public Health at The Johns
Hopkins University. A long list of persons experienced in sampling and in
other aspects of statistics has been constantly available for consultation.
We are especially indebted to Dr. Frank K. Edmondson, Chairman of the
Department of Astronomy at Indiana University, for continual guidance
and supervision of the details of the statistical methods which have been
used.
Dr. R. L. Dickinson of the New York Academy of Medicine has rendered
peculiar service based on his long experience with research projects in the
field of human sex behavior. As the first head of the National Committee
on Maternal Health, Dr. Dickinson encouraged a long list of pioneer
studies, particularly on the clinical aspects of human reproduction and
sexual behavior; and we have had the benefit of his accumulated experi
ence, and his constant advice on many of the details of this research.
A number of other persons, additional to those whose names appear as
authors of the present volume, have served for various periods of time as
members of the full-time staff on this project. Dr. Glenn V. Ramsey, now
of Princeton University, was responsible for a series of histories from
younger boys and served on this staff for a short time before going into
the Army as clinical psychologist during the recent war. Dr. Vincent Nowlis,
now psychologist at the Child Welfare Research Station of the State Uni
versity of Iowa, and Dr. Robert E. Bugbee, now of the Department of
Biological Sciences at the University of Rochester, were formerly mem
bers of this staff, took some of the histories, and contributed to the labora
tory handling of the data. Dr. Nowlis has critically reviewed the whole
manuscript of this volume. Dr. Paul H. Gebhard, trained in anthropology
at Harvard University, has been a member of the staff during the past
year. Mrs. Elizabeth Murnan has given full time as statistical calculator
during the past three years. Mrs. Velma Baldwin, Mrs. Enola Van Valer
Trafford, and Mrs. Ellen Lauritzen Welch have served as secretaries and
research assistants on the project. Mrs. Hedwig Gruen Leser has been
the German translator on the staff.
Finally, much of the success of this project is to be attributed to our
wives, without whose encouragement and specific heIp, and without whose
support it would have been impossible to have carried this project through
to its present point of development.-
None of these persons is responsible for any of the errors which we,
the authors, may have made in our calculations or in our interpretations
of the data; but the credit for any merits which this volume may have
should be shared by those to whom we h_ave made acknowledgment.
THE AUTHORS