Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 | Page 4

the difficulties--at all events, for an English
investigator--are by no means overcome. He may take for granted that
any serious and precise study of the sexual instinct will not meet with
general approval; his work will be misunderstood; his motives will be
called in question; among those for whom he is chiefly working he will
find indifference. Indeed, the pioneer in this field may well count
himself happy if he meets with nothing worse than indifference. Hence
it is that the present volume will not be published in England, but that,
availing myself of the generous sympathy with which my work has
been received in America, I have sought the wider medical and
scientific audience of the United States. In matters of faith, "liberty of
prophesying" was centuries since eloquently vindicated for Englishmen;
the liberty of investigating facts is still called in question, under one
pretence or another, and to seek out the most vital facts of life is still in
England a perilous task.
I desire most heartily to thank the numerous friends and correspondents,
some living in remote parts of the world, who have freely assisted me
in my work with valuable information and personal histories. To Mr.
F.H. Perry-Coste I owe an appendix which is by far the most elaborate
attempt yet made to find evidence of periodicity in the spontaneous
sexual manifestations of sleep; my debts to various medical and other
correspondents are duly stated in the text. To many women friends and
correspondents I may here express my gratitude for the manner in
which they have furnished me with intimate personal records, and for
the cross-examination to which they have allowed me to subject them. I

may already say here, what I shall have occasion to say more
emphatically in subsequent volumes, that without the assistance I have
received from women of fine intelligence and high character my work
would be impossible. I regret that I cannot make my thanks more
specific.
HAVELOCK ELLIS.

CONTENTS.
THE EVOLUTION OF MODESTY.
I.
The Definition of Modesty--The Significance of Modesty--Difficulties
in the Way of Its Analysis--The Varying Phenomena of Modesty
Among Different Peoples and in Different Ages.
II.
Modesty an Agglomeration of Fears--Children in Relation to
Modesty--Modesty in Animals--The Attitude of the Medicean
Venus--The Sexual Factor of Modesty Based on Sexual periodicity and
on the Primitive Phenomena of Courtship--The Necessity of Seclusion
in Primitive Sexual Intercourse--The Meaning of Coquetry--The Sexual
Charm of Modesty--Modesty as an Expression of Feminine Erotic
Impulse--The Fear of Causing Disgust as a Factor of Modesty--The
Modesty of Savages in Regard to Eating in the Presence of Others--The
Sacro-Pubic Region as a Focus of Disgust--The Idea of Ceremonial
Uncleanliness--The Custom of Veiling the Face--Ornaments and
Clothing--Modesty Becomes Concentrated in the Garment--The
Economic Factor in Modesty--The Contribution of Civilization to
Modesty--The Elaboration of Social Ritual.
III.
The Blush the Sanction of Modesty--The Phenomena of

Blushing--Influences Which Modify the Aptitude to Blush--Darkness,
Concealment of the Face, Etc.
IV.
Summary of the Factors of Modesty--The Future of Modesty--Modesty
an Essential Element of Love.
THE PHENOMENA OF SEXUAL PERIODICITY.
I.
The Various Physiological and Psychological
Rhythms--Menstruation--The Alleged Influence of the Moon--Frequent
Suppression of Menstruation among Primitive
Races--Mittelschmerz--Possible Tendency to a Future Intermenstrual
Cycle--Menstruation among Animals--Menstruating Monkeys and
Apes--What is Menstruation--Its Primary Cause Still Obscure--The
Relation of Menstruation to Ovulation--The Occasional Absence of
Menstruation in Health--The Relation of Menstruation to "Heat"--The
Prohibition of Intercourse during Menstruation--The Predominance of
Sexual Excitement at and around the Menstrual Period--Its Absence
during the Period Frequently Apparent only.
II.
The Question of a Monthly Sexual Cycle in Men--The Earliest
Suggestions of a General Physiological Cycle in Men--Periodicity in
Disease--Insanity, Heart Disease, etc.--The Alleged Twenty-three Days'
Cycle--The Physiological Periodicity of Seminal Emissions during
Sleep--Original Observations--Fortnightly and Weekly Rhythms.
III.
The Annual Sexual Rhythm--In Animals--In Man--Tendency of the
Sexual Impulse to become Heightened in Spring and Autumn--The
Prevalence of Seasonal Erotic Festivals--The Feast of Fools--The
Easter and Midsummer Bonfires--The Seasonal Variations in

Birthrate--The Causes of those Variations--The Typical
Conception-rate Curve for Europe--The Seasonal Periodicity of
Seminal Emissions During Sleep--Original Observations--Spring and
Autumn the Chief Periods of Involuntary Sexual Excitement--The
Seasonal Periodicity of Rapes--Of Outbreaks among Prisoners--The
Seasonal Curves of Insanity and Suicide--The Growth of Children
According to Season--The Annual Curve of Bread-consumption in
Prisons--Seasonal Periodicity of Scarlet Fever--The Underlying Causes
of these Seasonal Phenomena.
AUTO-EROTISM: A STUDY OF THE SPONTANEOUS
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SEXUAL IMPULSE.
I.
Definition of Auto-erotism--Masturbation only Covers a Small Portion
of the Auto-erotic Field--The Importance of this Study, especially
To-day--Auto-erotic Phenomena in Animals--Among Savage and
Barbaric Races--The Japanese rin-no-tama and other Special
Instruments for Obtaining Auto-erotic Gratification--Abuse of the
Ordinary Implements and Objects of Daily Life--The Frequency of
Hair-pin in the Bladder--The Influence of Horse-exercise and Railway
Traveling--The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle--Spontaneous Passive
Sexual Excitement--Delectatio
Morosa--Day-dreaming--Pollutio--Sexual Excitement During
Sleep--Erotic Dreams--The Analogy of Nocturnal
Enuresis--Differences in