Some people view masturbation as a lustful act and assume that it is always wrong; others believe it involves a normal bodily function and has nothing to do with sin. Certain actions often associated with masturbation are sinful and should be dealt with: lustful thoughts, inappropriate sexual stimulation, and pornography use, for example. If these problems are tackled, masturbation becomes less of a temptation. For those wondering, masturbation is lust or not, the answer may depend heavily on the intentions and context behind the act.
What Is Masturbation?
Masturbation, or self-pleasuring, is touching and rubbing parts of your body for sexual pleasure, such as the penis, clitoris, and vulva. It is a normal and healthy way for people to explore their bodies and find out what feels good, where and how they like to be touched, and how to achieve an orgasm.
Masturbation is a normal behavior that is seen at all ages, from childhood, through the teen years and into adulthood.
While it’s hard to put exact numbers on the amount of people who masturbate, some research has been done in this area. It reports that 92% of men and 79% of women between the ages of 18 and 59 have masturbated during their lifetime.
What Is Lust?
The definition of lust is “an intense longing” or “usually intense or unbridled sexual desire.” The word is often used in sexual contexts, but it’s often used in other ways as well.
For example, a lust for power refers to an intense desire or craving for authority, control, or dominance over others.
In the psychological community, lust is an intense psychological impulse that leads someone to attempt to acquire a person or object of desire. Lust is often used in a sexual context, described as an intense sexual desire that can lead to unexpected and sometimes unacceptable behavior.
Some psychologists use lust interchangeably with “libido” or sex drive, describing it as a “craving” for sexual gratification associated primarily with hormones.
Is Masturbation Always Connected to Lust?
Is masturbating lust? That depends. Lust is not pleasure. Sometimes pleasure is experienced when a person lusts, but this is by no means always the case. Instead, lust is a form of desire.
Sexual desire without respecting a person’s humanity, their consent, or their other relationships, is mainly because of objectification. Rape, and adultery are immediately ruled out as morally wrong if we believe that lust is wrong.
This definition is also consistent with Jesus’ teaching that looking at a person lustfully is committing adultery in one’s heart. His Jewish culture was an orthopraxy rather than an orthodoxy: everything was about what you did rather than what you thought. But Jesus’ teaching prevented people from being able to defend their boundary-transgressing sexualized thinking with “I didn’t touch her, therefore I didn’t do anything wrong.”
A person who is consumed by the “lusts of the flesh” is someone who neglects their relationship with God, the pursuit of spiritual gifts, and a good life in order to pursue these worldly things that are both insatiable and temporary.
Scientific View: Is Masturbation Harmful or Normal?
There are a lot of myths about masturbation, partly because many of us can feel awkward talking about it. Some people claim that masturbation is bad for you and that it can even harm your body.
Masturbation is not inherently bad for you. No evidence suggests it harms your mental or physical health.
Common myths about masturbation include the idea that it’ll make you go blind or that it causes impotence and infertility. There isn’t any evidence for this.
However, excessive masturbation, or masturbating incorrectly, can lead to some side effects.
While masturbation addiction is not a mental illness as classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), it’s possible to develop an unhealthy compulsion around masturbating. Some may even ask, is masturbation considered lust if it becomes compulsive or obsessive? The answer may vary depending on one’s moral framework.
It’s hard to say how much masturbating counts as excessive masturbation because it varies from person to person.
Side effects of extremely frequent or improper practices
- Bacterial infection, including UTIs — not from masturbating itself, but from not cleaning sex toys or hands properly before use
- Skin irritation if you masturbate too frequently or too roughly
- Edema on the penis (which is swelling) if you masturbate too frequently
For many people, masturbation is an enjoyable and pleasurable activity, and it could actually benefit your health.
Brain effects
Masturbation can trigger the release of certain hormones. This can have a positive effect on your mental and physical health.
These hormones include:
- Endorphins, a natural pain reliever that can lift your mood and reduce stress
- Dopamine, a hormone associated with happiness
- Oxytocin, which is often called the love hormone and is associated with social bonding
These hormones may help reduce stress and improve mood.
Sleep
There’s very little research on the effects of masturbation on sleep, but many people claim that masturbating helps them sleep better.
And this makes sense: Because the above hormones are associated with relaxation and happiness, it’s no wonder why masturbating might help you fall asleep.
Stress
Endorphins, in particular, are associated with stress relief. The primary function of endorphins seems to be to reduce stress and pain. They’re often released in response to pain, but can also be released because of exercise, eating, or sex.
For this reason, masturbating can be a great way to relieve stress.
Self-awareness
Masturbating can be a good way to connect with your body on a physical, sensual, and sexual level.
It might improve your sexual experiences with other people, as you’ll know more about what you enjoy and what feels good for you. In this way, masturbation can improve your sex life.
Religious and Cultural Views on Masturbation and Lust
The Scripture does not explicitly say, “Thou shalt not masturbate.” However, it does speak of sexually immoral acts and about what is healthy. We know that most sexually immoral acts come from selfish, sinful desires and pain. We know that most of these acts are done secretly and have shame attached. Shame is an experience that makes you hide from God, others, and yourself.
It is an individual process; it is not thinking about the marriage. It is stealing from the marriage, or if single, it is practicing sexually out of the commanded context. Because it is often done in secret, it produces shame. In addition, there is no chance of procreation.
Education about what Scripture says about our sexuality will start to reframe a person’s view from one that is distorted to one that is healthy.
If you’re wondering is masturbating lust in the eyes of your faith tradition, spiritual counsel and scriptural study might provide deeper insight.
Read this article on What Does The Bible Say About Lust? Top Bible Verses About Lust to understand better.
Psychological Perspective: Desire vs. Lust
Nowhere in the Bible is sexual desire condemned. Lust, yes. Desire, no. Sexual desire leads to fostering “character, generosity, and love—let alone beauty…; It is the stirring of the body and the heart to pleasure.”
Sexual attraction is natural. When a good-looking female walks by and a man notices (something that happens pretty regularly), it’s not necessarily the same thing as lusting after her.
Lust involves a choice and an act of the will. To a certain extent, it’s a conscious decision to pursue a desirable object instead of simply allowing it to pass on by. It’s a willingness to give in to natural impulses. That’s what happened when David, after seeing Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop, went the next step by sending messengers to bring her to his palace (2 Samuel 11:3-4)).
When Does Masturbation Become a Problem?
Ultimately, any behavior is a problem when it impairs daily functioning. You might feel “driven” to do it even when there could be consequences. Perhaps feeling like you “need to do it” is bothersome to you. Some people complain that they struggle to get work done because they feel such strong urges to masturbate or are distracted by sexual fantasies.
- Loss of Control: Individuals with masturbation addiction often find it challenging to control the compulsive masturbation episodes. There may be unsuccessful attempts to limit or stop the behavior.
- Excessive Time and Energy: A significant amount of time and energy is devoted to thinking about, engaging in, or recovering from masturbation. This preoccupation can interfere with daily activities, work, and relationships.
- Continued Behavior Despite Consequences: Despite experiencing negative consequences, such as relationship problems, health issues, or legal concerns, people with masturbation addiction continue the behavior without modifying their actions.
- Distress and Anxiety: Masturbation addiction often leads to emotional distress, anxiety, or feelings of guilt and shame. People may recognize the negative impact of their behavior but struggle to stop.
- Isolation: Individuals may withdraw from social activities, avoiding friends, family, or intimate relationships due to embarrassment, shame, or the need to engage in the behavior in private.
Final Thoughts: Is Masturbation Lust?
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right-hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:27–30)
We have Jesus’ own teaching that sin does not originate in our body or in our outward actions, but in our hearts.
The overall message is that our evil actions come from our hearts and minds, not from our physical bodies. Though we can attempt to suppress evil thoughts and desires from coming out into action, the only way to fully and radically deal with them is to deal with them at their source—which is our “heart,” meaning our loves, motives, and intentions.
In conclusion, asking is masturbation considered lust isn’t simply a scientific or moral question—it’s also a personal and spiritual one.
FAQ: Is Masturbation Lust or Normal Human Behavior?
1] Is it sinful to masturbate if there’s no lust involved?
The Bible specifies that masturbation isnt itself a sin, but only becomes one when evil thoughts or lust are involved.
2] Can masturbation be a form of self-love instead of lust?
Masturbation is a part of self-love. Your first relationship starts with self. If that is off, all your other relationships will be off.
3] How can I know if my thoughts are lustful or natural?
Lust is an intense desire for something. Lust can take any form, such as the lust for sexuality (see libido), money, or power. It can take such mundane forms as the lust for food (see gluttony) as distinct from the need for food or lust for redolence, when one is lusting for a particular smell that brings back memories.
4] Does religion always condemn masturbation?
Among the world’s religions, views on masturbation vary widely. Some religions view it as a spiritually detrimental practice, some see it as not spiritually detrimental, and others take a situational view.
5] What if I feel guilty after masturbating?
To stop feeling guilty after masturbating, begin to normalize self-pleasure by recognizing its natural and intrinsic nature. Challenge negative thoughts with reasonable self-compassion and understanding. Engage in open communication with partners to alleviate potential relationship tensions.