The Science Behind Why People Jerk Off

Jerk off is one of the oldest forms of self-pleasure. And while people have been doing it for a really long time, not everyone knows the reasoning behind this and why people are doing it in the first place. It does have to do with the biological drive, and also the brain's unique reward system. Understanding that can help immensely, and it's set to provide a very specific set of results.

The Biological Drive

The important thing to keep in mind here is that humans have evolved with a very strong sexual drive. Masturbation's role is not to focus on reproduction, but it does encourage sexual activity. And it keeps the person sexually engaged, while also harnessing the power of different hormones.

When you jerk off, you are influencing sexual desire and boost testosterone levels, you also get dopamine which increases sexual desire. On top of that, the body releases oxytocin during orgasm, and you also get endorphins, which are natural painkillers that offer relaxation and pleasure. All of these chemicals are inducing a very rewarding sexual stimulation, which also helps reinforce the behavior.

Understanding the Brain's Reward System

What we have to know about the brain's reward system is the fact that jerk off is activating the mesolimbic reward pathway. It's the brain system that's involved in social bonding, eating and activities that are pleasurable.

The way this works is quite simple:

• You have sexual thoughts that stimulate the brain
• Then, dopamine gets released, which brings a sense of desire and anticipation
• Your body is triggering pleasure-focused neurotransmitters
• After that, the brain associates masturbation with reward and relief

That's the reason why after you jerk off, you feel the need to do that over and over in the long run. However, that can lead to addiction, which certainly has its own risks, and you have to address that the best way that you can.

Psychological Reasons

Another reason why you are willing to jerk off comes from psychology. A lot of the time, it has to do with emotional management. You will encounter stress, loneliness, anxiety and boredom, which could influence you to jerk off a lot of the time.

Of course, there are people that do this just for self-exploration and curiosity as well. And in some cases, there's also that inherent need of control and safety. It becomes second nature for some persons, however it does make sense to understand the risks and challenges that arise from something like this.

Lifespan and Developmental Factors

As you get older, especially after puberty, you have an increase in sexual desire due to hormonal surges. When you become an adult, that thing stabilizes, but masturbation still becomes a necessity if your partner can't have sex when you want to.

And something like this will influence you as you age as well. Sexual desire will decrease when you're older, but it never fully disappears. Masturbation still remains a source of pleasure, body awareness and also stress relief, all of which become super important and something you want to focus on.

Cultural and Social Influences

Cultures have a different approach to masturbation. Some don't accept that at all, but there are sex-positive cultures where jerk off is viewed as a form of self-care. There are also more restrictive environments, where people see a sense of shame or guilt, even if there are biological urges. It does make sense to better explore your culture and understand its nuances, as that might bring its own influences and challenges, too.

Medical and Health Reasons

Aside from the other reasons mentioned above, we do have to keep in mind health and medical reasons. Research links masturbation to sleep improvements, a reduction in stress hormones and also possible prostate health benefits, too. Medical organizations don't see masturbation as harmful, either. They only see it problematic if it causes physical injuries, if it's used too much to address emotional problems or if, in some cases, it interferes with the daily functions that you currently have.

These days, masturbation has become universal and most people are accepting it, albeit for very different reasons. It appears in our day to day life due to sexual urges that can't be satisfied. And as we said, it also has various health benefits. As long as, of course, people don't use it compulsively and you have more control over it.

As you can see, jerk off has its benefits, but it can also bring in various risks. Since the human body and brain are designed to seek pleasure and de-stress, we do find jerk off as a great way of dealing with this type of challenges. It's definitely not an easy thing to achieve, and it surely has its ups and downs. But in the end, it's very important to understand the downsides and potential limits you have to abide by. Otherwise, masturbating out of control can be dangerous for your relationship and body as well. Although in regulated, small amounts, it can prove to be useful.