Final Draft Research
Lisa Iannotti
Professor Harris
Human Sexuality
19 October 2014
Sexual Addiction: Fact or Fallacy?
Understanding addiction is imperative in determining treatment for an addiction; however, comprehending sexual addiction is a difficult task fraught with controversy. Webster defines hypersexuality as “exhibiting unusual or excessive, concern with, or indulgence in, sexual activity” (Hypersexual). The problem with this definition is there is no one person, board, or group to determine who is plagued with sexual addiction. According to Kounteya Sinha (2014), “there is currently no formally accepted definition of diagnosing” sexual addiction. Researchers at University of California, use brain scans to prove hypersexuality is “not a true addiction or mental disorder”; conversely, researchers at the University of Cambridge, in London, and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, offer brain scan data which proves hypersexuality is a legitimate concern (Peele; Sinha; “Behavioral”). With the professionals disagreeing on whether hypersexuality is a disease and how to diagnose it, sexual addiction is even harder for the person dealing with the issues surrounding the addiction. Additionally, families and social networks are affected by the addict’s behaviors. Research shows no clear-cut definition for sexual addiction, or hypersexuality disorder, and even more ambiguity is found in diagnosing and treating the disorder; consequently, the addict and their surrounding support systems have even greater difficulties in working through their problems.
The confusion surrounding hypersexuality starts with lack of consistent definition which stems from conflict in the medical, professional, and political arenas. Webster’s definition of “hypersexual” is vague, but upon further investigation can lead one to even more baffling results. Words, such as concupiscent, goatish, horny, hot, lustful, itchy, lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, licentious, lubricious (or
Professor Harris
Human Sexuality
19 October 2014
Sexual Addiction: Fact or Fallacy?
Understanding addiction is imperative in determining treatment for an addiction; however, comprehending sexual addiction is a difficult task fraught with controversy. Webster defines hypersexuality as “exhibiting unusual or excessive, concern with, or indulgence in, sexual activity” (Hypersexual). The problem with this definition is there is no one person, board, or group to determine who is plagued with sexual addiction. According to Kounteya Sinha (2014), “there is currently no formally accepted definition of diagnosing” sexual addiction. Researchers at University of California, use brain scans to prove hypersexuality is “not a true addiction or mental disorder”; conversely, researchers at the University of Cambridge, in London, and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, offer brain scan data which proves hypersexuality is a legitimate concern (Peele; Sinha; “Behavioral”). With the professionals disagreeing on whether hypersexuality is a disease and how to diagnose it, sexual addiction is even harder for the person dealing with the issues surrounding the addiction. Additionally, families and social networks are affected by the addict’s behaviors. Research shows no clear-cut definition for sexual addiction, or hypersexuality disorder, and even more ambiguity is found in diagnosing and treating the disorder; consequently, the addict and their surrounding support systems have even greater difficulties in working through their problems.
The confusion surrounding hypersexuality starts with lack of consistent definition which stems from conflict in the medical, professional, and political arenas. Webster’s definition of “hypersexual” is vague, but upon further investigation can lead one to even more baffling results. Words, such as concupiscent, goatish, horny, hot, lustful, itchy, lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, licentious, lubricious (or
Cited: "10 Famous Female Sex Addicts " LIVE 105. CBS Local Media, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. ASAM Board of Directors. "Definition of Addiction." Definition of Addiction Medicine. American Society of Addiction, 19 Apr. 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. Brunk, Doug. "Axis I Ailments Common in Men with Hypersexual Disorder." InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. Carnes, Patrick J., Ph.D., C.A.S. "Addiction or Compulsion: Politics or Illness?" Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention. Taylor and Francis Online, 08 Nov. 2007. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. "Dr. Marty Klein: Relationship Advice, Sex Addiction, Porn Addiction, Sexual Dysfunction, Sex Problems Palo Alto." Dr. Marty Klein Therapy Comments. Dr. Marty Klein, 2014. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. Gideonse, Ted. "All Sex, All the Time." InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, 26 May 1998. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. Hays, Brooks. "Brain Scans Offer Clues about Sex Addiction." InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, 11 July 2014. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. "Hypersexual." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. "An Invitation to Recovery." Sexual Addicts Anonymous. International Service Organization of SAA, Inc., 2007. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. Kafka, Martin P. "Hypersexual Disorder: A Proposed Diagnosis for DSM-V." American Psychiatric Association 39: 377-400. Arch Sex Behav. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. Kasl, Charlotte D. "Women, Sex & Addiction: Is Your Relationship Bonded with Love or Compulsion?" InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, Aug. 1989. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. Klein, Marty. "You 're Addicted to What? Challenging the Myth of Sex Addiction." InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, July-Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Peele, Stanton. "Addicted to Brain Scans: The Debate about Sex Addiction Relfects a Larger Cultural Confusion." InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. Ragan, Paul W., and Peter R. Martin. "The Psychobiology of Sexual Addiction." Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 7.3 (2000): 161-75. Taylor and Francis Online. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. Reid, Rory C., Ph.D., LCSW. "Treatment." Rory C. Reid, Ph.D., LCSW. Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior/UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. "Sexaholics Anonymous." Sexaholics Anonymous. Sexaholics Anonymous, 1997. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. Sinha, Kounteya. "Brain Responds Similarly to Sex and Drug Addictions." InfoTrac College Edition. Gale, 15 July 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. "You Are Not Alone." Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. The Augustine Fellowship, 1997. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.