Girls of high school age are turning to animals for sexual expression rather than masturbation, or a coital relationship with a boy their own age. Society asks how is it possible for a young and affectionate girl to engage in bestiality where there is a birth of love and tenderness. A few psychologists even state they are merely masturbating with the assistance of an animal. The question that must be asked then only relates to animals in an indirect way. The real question is concerned about sex without love. The fact that an animal is used is merely incidental. Isn't it psychologically damaging for a high school girl to prefer sex without love? Will it stunt her emotional growth?
In Sex Without Guilt by the noted psychologist Albert Ellis Ph.D., we're told that: "… sex is a biological, as well as social drive, and that in its biological phases it is essentially non-affectional. If this is so, then we can expect that, however we try to civilize the sex drives… and civilize them to some degree we certainly must… there will always be an underlying tendency for them to escape from our society inculcated shackles and to be still partly felt in the raw."
"When so felt, when our bisocial sex urges lead us to desire and enjoy sex without (as well as with) love, I do not see why we should make their experiences feel necessarily guilty."
"Many individuals, many millions in our society, have little capacity for affection or love. The majority of these individuals, perhaps, are emotionally disturbed, and should be preferably helped to increase their affectional propensities. But a large number are not particularly disturbed, and instead are neurologically or cerebrally deficient…"
In brief, it is not vital or even desirable in a young person, especially a girl of high school age, to feel love or affection during the sex act. At that age, the urge for sex is purely physical, and a purely physical act should result…
Animal love then is synonymous with erotic love. In The Art of Loving, (1956), psychologist Erich Fromm has this to say about erotic love: "… the craving for a complete fusion for union with one other person. It is by its very nature exclusive and not universal…"
When a high school girl accepts an animal for her lover she is giving free and uninhibited expression to her libido, or instinctive sex drive. The question must be asked: is it harmful for a teen-age girl to give free expression to the libido?
From The Encyclopedia of Human Behavior: "… the libido provides the energy not only for psychological growth, but for all creative activities, for poetry, art, music, science, and any attempt to improve the lot of mankind. These are all interpreted by Freud as transformations or sublimations of the original instinctive force. Later in his, or her life, the term life instinct, or Eros can be applied to this constructive energy, according to Freud…"
We are told then that the sexual drive in a very young girl is nothing but sheer lust. There is little or no love or affection attached to the need of a high school girl for physical fusion with a member of the opposite sex. Her impulse to fornicate is nothing but a lustful but very natural desire on her part. And so, she turns to a male for this physical release. The male doesn't necessarily have to be human. An animal male, with genitals, and the urge to copulate with a human female will satisfy her just as well, and perhaps, during this period of her life, better. With an animal, there is no need for a long, personal relationship.
But the moralists claim that bestiality between a high school girl and an animal is wrong, and the girl will eventually suffer a mental problem. In brief, she will experience remorse as a punishment for her original sin. Phychologist Carl Jung had something to say about the expression of libido. He believed that the development of the individual depended on the early day expression of the libido. To thwart the early-year desires of the libido, Jung believed, was to stunt the emotional growth of the individual.
In analyzing the cases presented in High School Girls and Their Four Legged Lovers, it became apparent that one dominant reason girls turned to animals was their ability to control the situation. They could choose the position of coitus. In our western society, the socially accepted position has become the man-on-top. But this conflicts with natural instincts, and especially in a teenage girl.
In Complete Sexual Fulfillment by Barbara Bross and Jay Gilbey, we're told that: "… one of the most important factors in determining the sexual position is the psychology of both partners. It is natural for all of us to assume that the person on top is the dominant one not only in sexual matters but in all matters in life… The whole aspect of superiority, dominance and command is often psychologically reflected in the physical position and location of the person in command…"
In this era of Woman's Lib, the high school girl had been very greatly affected. She no longer desires to regard the high school boy as her dominant master. The position of sex with him on top would imply as much. And in most cases, the high school boy merely apes the movements of his elders. He is not, as yet, matured in sexual development. He naturally adopts the socially accepted position of male-on-top. And this no longer suits the young girl. Indeed, she wants to assume the position of superiority. With an animal, she feels free to assume any position, her instincts dictate.
One of those positions pertain to anal entry. In the cases discussed herein, anal sex was closely related to animal coitus. The animal, inflamed by the aroma of the female genitals, will accomplish entry in to either the vagina or anus. Is anal play abnormal in a high school girl? The authors of Complete Sexual Fulfillment have this to say about anality: "… there can be no doubt that the anus is a genuine erogenous zone of the body in men and women. The nerves that line the anal opening and that lead back from it are nerves that produce erotic sensations. Therefore, the anus is a legitimate organ of sexual pleasure."
"Generally, women are found to be analerotic; some prefer stimulation of this area to vaginal stimulation. However… the anus, usually associated with defecation also has psychological fetters concerning touching it. Like the genitals, though, the anus can be washed…"
"There are several ways of stimulating the nerves of the anus and in the vicinity. During foreplay, the buttocks can become a focal point of attention with the male pinching them, running the fingers and nails and full palms over them as well as kissing and breathing lightly over them. Slowly these caresses should concentrate on the gap and then upon the bud of the anus…"
"During intercourse, the coital rhythm may be reproduced by moving a finger in and out of the anus. Some women who are anal erotic prefer the insertion of a finger at climax to trigger their own orgasm…"
In our Western culture, most adult men as well as boys have been conditioned against analism. Associated with elimination, the sex play around and in the anus is considered a filthy and degrading act. Indeed, in certain states, there are still laws on the statutes against the practice of sodomy or anal penetration. However, in a young girl of adolescent age, the desire for anal caresses and anal penetration is strong. Later in life this craving for anal attentions may diminish. But in the young, the anal desire is still a very strong one. The high school girl can experience anal sex with an animal without any problems. The animal instinctively prefers to smell, kiss, tongue and in given the opportunity, have intercourse in the rectum of the desirable female. Thus, without complications, the girl indulges in anal sex with her animal lover.
Aside for natural or instinctive preferences for animals as lovers, there are other considerations. These considerations have to do with socioeconomic circumstances. Girls from poorer families are pushed by their parents to gain acceptance with girls who come from wealthier homes. Quite often, girls from more affluent backgrounds are more sophisticated in their sexual habits. They accept animal sex as a natural function. And if the girl from the lower, or middle class family wants to keep up with her class mates, she must also perform with animals to gain their acceptance.
In summation, it can be concluded that the sex act between a high school girl and an animal need not be psychological harmful, and at a particular age, it can be considered as a natural act. It only becomes harmful when the girl prefers the company of animals to the exclusion of all members of the opposite sex. The normal high school girl who indulges her desires for animals, date high school boys and are otherwise well-adjusted. During the high school period, they are going through a period of adjustment which can enrich their sexual lives in later years.
Martha Jorgensen, Ph.D.
New York City, N.Y.
1. Bross, Barbara and Gilbey, Jay, Complete Sexual Fulfillment, New American Library, 1967.
2. Reik, Theodor, The Need to Be loved, The Noonday Press, 1963.
3. Reuben, David M.D., Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, David McKay Company, Inc., New York, 1969.
4. Frued, Sigmund, The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud, The Modern Library, Inc. 1935.
5. Goldenson, Robert, M., Ph. D., The Encyclopedia of Human Behavior, Doubleday and Company, Inc. 1970.
6. McCary, James Leslie, Ph.D., Human Sexuality, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1967.