Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1

Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 is a pioneering work by English physician and sexologist Havelock Ellis, first published in 1897. The book forms the opening volume of Ellis’s influential six-part series examining the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of human sexuality. A groundbreaking and often controversial thinker of his time, Ellis helped shape early modern discussions of sexuality. He introduced concepts such as narcissism and auto-eroticism, contributed to early writing on transexual psychology, and supported feminist ideas, believing that expanding women’s freedoms would ultimately benefit society as a whole.

This first volume brings together three major studies: The Evolution of Modesty, The Phenomena of Sexual Periodicity, and Auto-Eroticism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse. Through these essays, Ellis explores the psychological foundations of sexual behaviour, examining how emotions such as modesty develop and how sexual impulses appear and fluctuate across individuals and cultures.

Drawing on observations from history, anthropology, and contemporary society, Ellis compares attitudes toward sexuality across different cultures and eras. He argues that social expectations strongly shape how people understand and express their sexual identities. Rejecting purely moralistic approaches to the subject, Ellis calls instead for a careful scientific study of sexuality—one that treats the topic with honesty and intellectual openness.