See also: Criteria of Sexual Addiction
Definition: a persistent and escalating pattern of sexual behaviors acted out despite increasingly negative consequences to self or others.
It is not the behavior engaged in, but rather the consequences that define the sexual addiction.
Patrick Carnes, a pioneer in the sexual addiction field since 1976, noted that compulsive sexual behaviors resembled the progressive and chronic compulsive behaviors commonly found with other addictions. For this reason, Carnes chose to use the term sexual addiction to describe a set of maladaptive behaviors that were uncontrollable, that brought negative consequences upon the addicted individual, and that harmfully affected those involved with the addicted individual. He further noted that, similar to the early days when public education on alcoholism spurred both ignorance and prejudice, controversy about the use of the term sexual addiction was to be expected.
Definition by Patrick Carnes: having a pathological relationship with sex and using it as a mood-altering drug. The sexual experience is the source of nurturing, focus of energy, and origin of excitement. The experience turns into a relief from pain and anxiety, the reward for success, and a way to avoid addressing other emotional issues in the person’s life. The addiction is truly an altered state of consciousness in which „normal sexual behavior pales by comparison in terms of excitement and relief from troubles that is associated with Cybersex.
The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as "engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others."
In other words, a sex addict will continue to engage in certain sexual behaviors despite facing potential health risks, financial problems, shattered relationships or even arrest.
http://allpsych.com/journal/sexaddiction.html
"Sexual addicts are those who engage in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasingly negative consequences to self and to others. They become addicted to the neurochemical changes that take place in the body during sexual behavior."
Sexual addiction is best described as a progressive intimacy disorder characterized by compulsive sexual thoughts and acts. Like all addictions, its negative impact on the addict and on family members increases as the disorder progresses. Over time, the addict usually has to intensify the addictive behavior to achieve the same results.
For some sex addicts, behavior does not progress beyond compulsive masturbation or the extensive use of pornography or internet pornography or phone or computer sex services. For others, addiction can involve illegal activities such as exhibitionism, voyeurism, obscene phone calls, child molestation or rape.
Sex addicts do not necessarily become sex offenders. Moreover, not all sex offenders are sex addicts.
It is an illness that is chronic but it can be diagnosed and treated.
Sex addiction may include some obsessions and behavior caused by paraphelic disorders. Usually what is described as sex addiction, however, involves conventional, or non-paraphiliac, sexual behaviors that, when taken to an extreme, like alcohol, can interfere with daily functioning and produce guilt, shame and recurrent harm to oneself or others.
Examples described in The Patterns and Themes of Addictive Sexual Disorders are not necessarily representative of an addictive disorder.
Sexual fantasies, multiple relationships, masturbation, and viewing pornography can be normative and/or life-enhancing for most (some) people.
Therapists don't define addiction by number of hours at the computer.
Additionally in different cultures some behaviors maybe normative in some cultures - e.g. paying for sex by unmarried males, exploitative sex with social inferiors (e.g. household servants) .
Sex addiction can involve a wide variety of practices, and may co-occur (dual diagnosis) with drug and alcohol addiction or other substances and psychological disorders.
Neither tolerance nor withdrawal is necessary for designating a behavior or substance as addictive
Therefore, here are conditions that are both necessary and sufficient for the diagnosis of a dependence/addictive disorder.
Goodman (2001) suggested that the two criteria necessary and sufficient for the designation of drug addiction are "(1) recurrent failure to control the use of one or more drugs, and (2) continuation of drug use despite substantial harmful consequences" (p. 195). To arrive at a concise definition of an addictive disorder, Goodman (a) substituted the word behavior for drug in the above conditions and (b) added key elements from those arguments asserting that addictive behaviors are better defined within the context of a compulsion or an impulse control disorder. An addictive disorder can therefore be defined as "A behavior that can function both to produce pleasure and to reduce painful affects is employed in a pattern that is characterized by two key features: (1) recurrent failure to control the behavior, and (2) continuation of the behavior despite substantial harmful consequences.
Similar definitions have been applied to designate gambling and eating disorders as addictive disorders.
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4721460/Sexual-addiction-and-the-Internet.html
Sexual addiction, defined as a loss of control over sex and a persistence in sexual behaviors despite adverse social, psychological, and biological consequences, is rapidly becoming recognized as a major social problem (Ragan & Martin, 2000). Affecting approximately 3% of adult women and 8% of adult men, compulsive sexual behaviors occur in approximately 15 million individuals (Carnes, 1991; Coleman, 1992; Earle & Crowe, 1990). Sexual addictions, like addictions in general, are considered progressive, chronic, and potentially fatal disorders and are characterized by high tolerance, craving, compulsion, secrecy, dependence, withdrawal, obsession, and personality change (M. Cooper & Lebo, 2001; Crawford, 1990).
Many researchers agree that associated symptoms include behavior disregulation, impaired functioning, maladaptive coping skills, and incongruence with one’s values and beliefs.
Sex addicts use sex to medicate their feelings and cope with stress much in the same way as others would use alcohol or drugs.
Sex addicts are more interested in the chase of sex and love encounters, and not necessarily in the person with whom they are involved. In addition, the
role of shame in the sex addict is a key element in their cycle of acting out behaviors. It fuels a chronic negative view of the self and contributes to defensive impaired distortions that result in further pursuit of sexual exploits.
Sexual addiction is, in its simplest form, a normal sex drive that has become obsessive, to the point that behavior is out of control. Sexual addiction is referred to as a 'process' addiction, as opposed to a substance addiction like alcohol or drugs. In a process addiction, the euphoric feeling (or "high") comes from chemicals released into the brain, rather than from an external source. As the mind becomes accustomed to the release of these chemicals, it searches out for continued sources of that high. This could be from eating, the adrenaline rush of competition, putting yourself in dangerous situations, or from sexual stimuli. Sexual addiction can take on many forms, from the use of pornography and masturbation to repeated sexual affairs, patronizing prostitutes, and voyeurism. In extreme cases, sexual addiction can involve molestation, rape, and even murder. The many forms of sexual addiction have one thing in common, the behavior is done in secret, and the sex addict becomes skilled in hiding this secret life from those closest to him.
See also:
External links:
Last update:
Friday, April 04, 2008.
Feedback - send an email to: