What Does "Gooning" Mean? The Psychology Behind the Internet’s Confusing Kink
If you have spent any time on TikTok or queer Twitter (sorry X 🤮) recently, you have likely run into the word "gooning." It is usually sandwiched between terms like "brain rot" and "sigma," or used to describe someone acting completely foolish over a celebrity crush.
But if you strip away the Gen Z irony and the memes, you are left with a very real, very intense sexual practice, one that has existed in underground subcultures long before it became a trending hashtag.
While the internet laughs about it, thousands of people are actually doing it. And they aren't just "masturbating."
Beyond the Buzzword
At its core, gooning is a physiological state. It refers to a prolonged session of masturbation where the goal is not the orgasm, but the trance-like state achieved through hours of over-stimulation.
Unlike standard edging, which focuses on the physical sensation of the genitals, gooning is about the brain. It is the act of entering a "hypnotic" or "feral" mental space, often called the Goon State, where logic, anxiety, and social awareness shut down, leaving only raw dopamine and sensation.
So, Why Does This Matter?
Why are we discussing this on Enby Meaning? Because for many gender-diverse and queer individuals, the appeal of gooning often overlaps with the psychological concepts of dissociation and flow states.
It is a form of "primal play" that allows a person to detach from dysphoria, societal expectations, or their own "human suit," entering a headspace where gender doesn't exist, only pleasure does.
So let’s move past the tweets to explore the mechanics of the kink. We’ll cover the distinct difference between edging vs. gooning, the psychology of the "Goon Cave," and the critical safety conversations regarding dopamine burnout and mental health.
Edging vs. Gooning: What’s the Difference?
Because both practices involve masturbating for long periods without finishing, the terms are often used interchangeably. However, in the kink community, they describe two very different internal experiences.
Think of it this way: Edging is about control. Gooning is about the loss of it.
Edging: The Discipline of Delay
Edging is a physical practice. It focuses on the sensation of the genitals and the discipline required to bring yourself to the "edge" of orgasm (the point of no return) and then stop.
The Goal: To heighten the eventual orgasm or to build sexual discipline.
The Mindset: Sharp, focused, and present. You are hyper-aware of your body and your arousal levels.
Gooning: The Mental "Mush"
Gooning is a psychological practice. While it involves edging (stopping before you finish), the goal isn't just to delay the orgasm; it is to fry your short-term memory and executive function through over-stimulation.
The Goal: To enter a trance state where you feel "stupid," "empty," or purely instinctual.
The Mindset: Hazy, dissociated, and obsessive. The "gooner" isn't trying to be disciplined; they are trying to surrender entirely to the dopamine flood.
At a Glance: The Comparison
Feature
Primary Focus
Control Level
Mental State
Visuals
The Vibe
Edging
The Genitals (Physical Sensation)
High (Stop-Start Control)
Alert, Focused, Tense
Optional (Can be done via sensations alone)
"I am mastering my body."
Gooning
The Brain (Psychological State)
Low (Surrender/Loss of Control)
Trance-like, "Mushy," Dissociated
Essential (Often relies on "hypnotic" loops or multi-screens)
"I am losing my mind."
The "Goon State"
When a practitioner crosses the line from simple edging into gooning, they enter the Goon State.
In this state, the frontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for logic, shame, and planning) seems to take a backseat. The brain becomes saturated with dopamine, leading to a feeling of euphoria that some compare to a runner's high or a mild hypnotic trance.
For the observer, a person in a "goon state" might look slack-jawed, cross-eyed, or drooling, hence the term "goon." But for the person experiencing it, it feels like a total evacuation of stress and self-consciousness.
The "Goon Cave" and The Psychology of Dissociation
To understand why someone would want to achieve a "goon state," you have to look at the environment they create to get there. Enter: The Goon Cave.
In internet slang, a "goon cave" describes the physical setup used to facilitate the trance. This often involves multiple monitors, LED lighting, and a total blackout of the outside world.
But why all the screens?
The Mechanics of Hypnosis
The visuals used in gooning, often called "Gooneys", are distinct from standard pornography. They are frequently edited into rapid-fire compilations, hypnotic spirals, or repeating loops accompanied by trance music or binaural beats.
This creates a sensory overload. By flooding the brain with more visual and auditory information than it can process, the "thinking" part of the brain shuts down. This intense need for sensory regulation often overlaps with the experiences of neurodivergent people navigating gender identity, where the goal is to bypass conscious thought and drop into a state of pure, reactive instinct.
The Queer Connection: Dissociation as Relief
This is where the conversation shifts from a simple kink to something more profound. For many in the queer, trans, and non-binary community, dissociation is a familiar coping mechanism.
Dysphoria can make being "in" your body painful or uncomfortable. The "goon state" offers a paradox: it is an intensely physical act that allows you to check out of your body mentally.
"Taking off the Human Suit": As sex worker and writer JV Marx noted, gooning allows people to shed their social persona. For a trans or non-binary person, this can be a relief from the constant exhaustion of enby burnout and minority stress.
Reclaiming the "Mush": In a world that demands hyper-vigilance from queer people, the desire to turn the brain off to become "empty" or "mush" can feel like a radical act of self-soothing.
It is not just about the orgasm; it is about the silence in the head.
The Linguistics: From Hired Thugs to TikTok Slang
Language on the internet moves fast, and "gooning" is a prime example of semantic drift—when a word completely changes its meaning over time. If you are confused about why you see the word in memes about Minecraft or celebrities, here is the breakdown of how we got here.
1. The Original Meaning: The Thug
Historically, a "goon" meant a hired thug, a heavy lifter, or an enforcer. Think of a "hockey goon", the guy sent onto the ice to start a fight. It implied someone big, imposing, and perhaps not the sharpest tool in the shed.
2. The Subculture Shift: The Face
In the early 2010s, adult internet subcultures (forums like 4chan and Reddit) co-opted the term. They used it to describe the facial expression achieved during the trance state we described earlier.
Because the "goon state" often leaves a person slack-jawed, cross-eyed, and drooling, they looked affectionately or derogatorily like a cartoonish "goon." The noun became a verb, and the act became "gooning."
3. The Mainstream Dilution: "Brain Rot"
Fast forward to the 2020s. The term escaped the confines of adult websites and spread to TikTok and Twitter (X). As it entered the mainstream vocabulary of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, it lost its sexual specificity.
This shift is partly due to the complex nature of TikTok’s content moderation regarding queer topics, where users often soften language (e.g., "unalive" or "corn") to avoid bans. Similarly, "gooning" became a safer, meme-ified way to talk about obsession.
Today, if you see "gooning" on a non-adult timeline, it usually means:
Being Obsessed: "I am absolutely gooning over this new album."
Acting Silly/Delirious: Connected to "brain rot" humour (alongside terms like skibidi, sigma, and rizz).
The "Face": Making a silly face for the camera.
The Confusion: This creates a hilarious but awkward linguistic minefield. One person might use it to mean "I'm excited," while another hears "I am entering a masturbatory trance." Context is everything.
The Dark Side: The Risks of the "Gooner" Lifestyle
While exploring kinks can be a healthy part of sexual expression, the nature of gooning, specifically the pursuit of the "trance", comes with unique risks that the memes often ignore.
Because gooning relies on hijacking the brain’s reward system, it has a higher potential for habit formation than standard masturbation. Here is what you need to know to stay safe.
1. Dopamine Desensitisation
The "goon state" floods the brain with super-normal levels of dopamine. Over time, the brain adjusts to this baseline, leading to desensitisation.
The Risk: You may find that "vanilla" sex or standard pornography no longer arouses you. You might need increasingly extreme or specific content to achieve the same high.
The Fix: Moderation is key. If you find your ability to enjoy other forms of intimacy is fading, it may be time for a "dopamine detox" or a break from the screens.
2. The Physical Toll ("Death Grip")
Prolonged edging sessions can lead to what sex educators call "Death Grip Syndrome." This is when the penis or clitoris becomes desensitised to anything softer than the tight grip of a hand or a specific toy.
The Consequence: This can make it difficult or impossible to climax with a partner.
3. Isolation and the "Cave"
The concept of the "Goon Cave" promotes isolation. When sexual satisfaction is tied to a multi-screen setup in a dark room, it can create a barrier to real-world connection.
The Reality Check: If the practice starts interfering with your daily life, sleep schedule, or willingness to socialise, it has moved from a "kink" to a compulsion. Grounding yourself is essential; remember the fundamentals of living well and finding community outside of the digital trance.
FAQ
-
No. Edging focuses on physical control and delaying orgasm. Gooning focuses on psychological surrender, using over-stimulation to enter a trance-like state known as the "goon state."
-
A "goon cave" refers to the physical environment used to facilitate the trance, often a dark room equipped with multiple screens, LED lights, and surround sound to create sensory overload.
-
For some, the trance state of gooning offers a form of controlled dissociation, allowing relief from gender dysphoria or the pressures of daily life by temporarily "shutting off" the brain.
“Gooning”: Meme or Kink?
So, is gooning a funny TikTok word for acting silly, or is it an intense form of sexual meditation? The answer, confusingly, is both.
For the queer and gender-diverse community, understanding the distinction is helpful. Whether you are using the term to joke about a celebrity crush or using the practice to navigate dysphoria and reclaim bodily pleasure, the key is awareness.
Gooning offers a powerful way to "turn off" the world, but make sure you remember to come back to reality when you're done.
Enjoyed this read?
Follow Enby Meaning for more. Subscribe, share, and check out a few posts that connect to this one ↓
