The adoption of pets, self pleasuring, fantasy and artistic expression work are examples of transference. Transference satisfies this human need, but in a less direct way. People frequently transfer sexual needs into the compulsive work, for example. Groups that forbid sexual contact frequently produce highly productive members, but some may become human pressure cookers which explode in antisocial behaviors. In its perverse form, sexual hunger can be satisfied by pain, self castigation, self mutilation, and obsessions.
Every human needs to be busy and part of a purposeful plan.
The most depressed person is often one who can't find structure or can't find structures that provide necessary elements. A person needs to have places to go, and things to do. We need direction and organization. Sometimes we use a club, a church, or a job. Marriage may provide positive structure or can represent the failure of structure.