Masturbatory reconditioning with sexual deviates: An evaluative review

Masturbatory reconditioning procedures all involve having the client use masturbation to modify his sexual preferences. Four methods of masturbatory reconditioning—thematic shift, fantasy alternation, directed masturbation, and satiation—are evaluated. There are few controlled studies and no group comparison studies. Most of the literature involves uncontrolled case reports and expresses confidence in the application of these procedures. However, a careful appraisal of the evidence offers little encouragement for thematic shift or fantasy alternation, but some hope that directed masturbation and satiation may be effective. More careful, larger scale studies are required before we can say that these procedures rest on a sound empirical basis.