Definition
Sexual interest in, arousal from, or satisfaction with one's own body, or sexual behavior directed toward oneself.
Etymology
From 'autoerotic' plus the noun suffix '-ism'. This psychological term emerged in early 20th-century psychiatry as sexual development and behavior became subjects of scientific study.
Kelly Says
Early psychologists realized that autoeroticism was a normal, universal part of growing up for humans and many animals—it was actually seeing it as shameful or abnormal that was the weird part!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
የ自己 ደስ
ye-sebi dees
ARالعربية
الاستمتاع الذاتي
al-istamtaʿ al-ḍaṭṭī
BNবাংলা
আত্মপ্রেম
atma-prem
CACatalà
autoerotisme
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zhm
CSČeština
autoerotismus
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-moos
DADansk
autoerotisme
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zhm
DEDeutsch
Autoerotismus
ow-toh-eh-roh-tee-moos
ELΕλληνικά
αυτοeroτισμός
avto-eh-roh-tee-smohs
ESEspañol
autoeroticismo
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-see-moh
FAفارسی
خودارضایی
khodr-adi-ayi
FISuomi
autoerotiikka
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-kka
FRFrançais
auto-érotisme
oh-toh-eh-roh-tee-zhm
GUGU
આત્મપ્રેમ
aatma-prem
HAHA
kwanciya
kwan-chi-ya
HEעברית
אווטוארוטיסם
av-to-ah-roh-tee-sm
HIहिन्दी
स्व-प्रेम
स्व-प्रेम
HUMagyar
autoerotizmus
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-moos
IDBahasa Indonesia
otoerotisme
oh-toh-eh-roh-tee-sme
ITItaliano
autoerotismo
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zmoh
KKKK
өзіне қуаты
özi-ne qwaty
KMKM
ការពិពណ៌នា
ka-ar pi-piv-na
MSBahasa Melayu
otoerotisme
oh-toh-eh-roh-tee-sme
MYမြန်မာ
ကိုယ်ပေါက်
ko-ye-pauk
NLNederlands
autoerotisme
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-sme
NONorsk
autoerotisme
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zhm
PLPolski
autoerolizm
aw-toh-eh-roh-liizm
PTPortuguês
autoerotismo
ow-toh-eh-roh-tee-zmoh
RORomână
autoerotism
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zhm
RUРусский
автоэротизм
avtoerotizm
SVSvenska
autoerotism
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zhm
SWKiswahili
kuzimu
koo-zee-moo
TAதமிழ்
தன்னன்ப
thanna-n-p
TEతెలుగు
ఆత్మప్రేమ
aatma-prema
THไทย
การสำราญตนเอง
gaan sam-raan ton-eng
TLTL
autoerotismo
aw-toh-eh-roh-tee-zmoh
TRTürkçe
otoerotizm
oh-toh-eh-roh-teez-m
UKУкраїнська
автоеротизм
avtoerotizm
URاردو
خودپسندی
khud-pasandi
VITiếng Việt
tự ưng
tự ưng
ZUZU
ukuthula
koo-thoo-la
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Emerged in 19th-century medical literature with heavy gendered pathologization; female sexuality was over-scrutinized while male sexuality was often normalized.
Inclusive Usage
Use neutrally and scientifically; apply consistent standards across all genders without implicit bias toward one as 'deviant.'
Empowerment Note
Contemporary sex educators and therapists have reframed this as normal human development, correcting historical misogyny in medical discourse.