# Masturbation is a function of captivity Masturbation is a behaviour that is virtually not observed in animals. Monkeys in Indian zoos were observed to masturbate frequently, but not at the Monkey God temple. Some human ethnic tribes also turned out not to masturbate at all, such as the Aka and the Ngandu. The Aka tribe did not even have a word for it. In Congo, the Lese men had trouble providing semen samples without engaging in sexual activity with a woman, despite explicit and lengthy instructions. Masturbation therefore seems to be a behaviour that arises when the individual is confined inside a closed space, whether it be constrained by physical or psychological boundaries. This reminds me of the controversial [Rat Park experiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Park), which attempted to draw a relationship between addiction and environment. --- ## 📚 References - Gatewalla, Chai. [‘Is Masturbation a Function of Captivity?’](http://www.mehergutta.com/masturbation/) Meher Gutta.