Kinsey's Shocking 1948 Finding: Most Men Last Under 2 Minutes

In 1948, sex researcher Alfred Kinsey dropped a bombshell that would shape sexual discourse for decades: according to his landmark study Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, three-quarters of men ejaculate within two minutes of penetration in over half of their sexual encounters. Based on interviews with approximately 5,300 men over fifteen years, this finding challenged assumptions about what "normal" sexual performance looked like.

But here's the twist: Kinsey didn't think this was a problem.

"Masculine Vigor" vs. Medical Problem

While today's medical establishment classifies premature ejaculation as a sexual dysfunction, Kinsey viewed rapid ejaculation as a sign of "masculine vigor"—basically, biological efficiency in action. He didn't consider it something that needed curing. This perspective stood in stark contrast to the anxiety and stigma that would later surround the issue.

His reasoning? From an evolutionary standpoint, quick ejaculation gets the job done. The goal of sexual intercourse, biologically speaking, is reproduction—not extended performance. Kinsey saw men who climaxed quickly as simply responding to natural biological programming.

How Times Have Changed

Modern sex research tells a different story. A 2005 study found that the average intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) for men aged 18-30 is about six and a half minutes—more than three times Kinsey's reported average. Other research suggests the median is around 5-7 minutes, with significant variation among individuals.

So what explains the discrepancy? Several factors:

• Measurement methods: Kinsey relied on self-reported data from interviews, while modern studies often use stopwatches
• Sample bias: Critics note that Kinsey's sample included prison populations and sex workers, which may not represent the general population
• Cultural shifts: Attitudes about sexual performance and duration have evolved dramatically since 1948
• Self-selection: People willing to discuss taboo sexual topics in the 1940s might differ from the general population

The Kinsey Legacy

Despite its limitations, Kinsey's research revolutionized how Americans talked about sex. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male became a bestseller within three weeks of publication, selling 200,000 copies by mid-March 1948—remarkable for an 804-page scientific tome packed with statistics, tables, and graphs.

The report opened the door for serious scientific inquiry into human sexuality, even if some of its specific findings have been revised by subsequent research. Today's understanding of sexual function is more nuanced, recognizing that "normal" encompasses a wide range of experiences—and that sexual satisfaction involves far more than stopwatch measurements.