The mislabeling of sexual impulsivity

Abstract

Several authors have discussed a pattern of behavior that has been called Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Sexual Addiction, or Hypersexuality. The literature concerning this disorder is reviewed. It is suggested that the various labels applied to this disorder are inaccurate descriptions that are not reflective of the true nature of the condition. It is further suggested that this behavioral pattern is best viewed as a manifestation of an Atypical Impulse Control Disorder.

Self-regulation and sexual restraint: Dispositionally and temporarily poor self-regulatory abilities contribute to failures at restraining sexual behavior

“…First, an inability to self-regulate is central to the definition of sexual control disorders (see Wiederman, 2004 for a review). People who experience compulsive sexuality or sexual addiction suffer primarily from an inability to control their sexual behavior (e.g., frequent masturbation, sleeping with strangers; Barth & Kinder, 1987, Carnes, 1983Coleman, 1992;Earle & Crow, 1990;Gold & Heffner, 1998). To control one's behavior is to exert self-control.…”

Internet sex addiction: a licence to lust?

“…It could be common or rare. Some estimates put the prevalence of all sex addiction at 8% (Barth 1987). It might be most frequently seen alone or comorbid with chemical dependence.…”

Debating the Conceptualization of Sex as an Addictive Disorder

“…As noted earlier, addictive behavior has been characterized by the progression from impulsivity (i.e., using the substance for pleasure) to compulsivity (i.e., using the substance to escape from negative emotional states). The degree to which hypersexual patients exhibit compulsive versus impulsive traits have been specifically used to support the obsessive-compulsive [25,34] and impulse-control disorder models [35,36], respectively. However, the literature has failed to produce a consistent and unified phenomenological profile [7].…”