The Role of Classical Conditioning in Sexual Compulsivity: A Pilot Study

Hoffmann, Heather; Goodrich, David E.; Wilson, Molly Rose; Janssen, Erick

doi:10.1080/10720162.2014.895460

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Similarly, men reporting increased consumption of bareback anal pornography (in which actors do not wear condoms) and its consumption at an earlier age, engage in more unprotected anal sex themselves [ 188 , 189 ]. Early consumption of pornography may also be associated with conditioning tastes to more extreme stimulation [ 99 , 190 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports

Park¹,

Wilson²,

Berger

et al. 2016

Behavioral Sciences

133

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Traditional factors that once explained men’s sexual difficulties appear insufficient to account for the sharp rise in erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, decreased sexual satisfaction, and diminished libido during partnered sex in men under 40. This review (1) considers data from multiple domains, e.g., clinical, biological (addiction/urology), psychological (sexual conditioning), sociological; and (2) presents a series of clinical reports, all with the aim of proposing a possible direction for future research of this phenomenon. Alterations to the brain's motivational system are explored as a possible etiology underlying pornography-related sexual dysfunctions. This review also considers evidence that Internet pornography’s unique properties (limitless novelty, potential for easy escalation to more extreme material, video format, etc.) may be potent enough to condition sexual arousal to aspects of Internet pornography use that do not readily transition to real-life partners, such that sex with desired partners may not register as meeting expectations and arousal declines. Clinical reports suggest that terminating Internet pornography use is sometimes sufficient to reverse negative effects, underscoring the need for extensive investigation using methodologies that have subjects remove the variable of Internet pornography use. In the interim, a simple diagnostic protocol for assessing patients with porn-induced sexual dysfunction is put forth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports

Park¹,

Wilson²,

Berger

et al. 2016

Behavioral Sciences

133

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It was shown that sexual arousal is highly reinforcing and physiologically closely related to reward (Georgiadis & Kringelbach, 2012;Stoléru, Fonteille, Cornélis, Joyal, & Moulier, 2012) and that sexual arousal as an unconditioned stimulus can be conditioned (Klucken et al, 2009;Lalumiere & Quinsey, 1998). Moreover, processes of conditioning were demonstrated to play an important role in excessive sexual behaviors offline (Hoffmann, Goodrich, Wilson, & Janssen, 2014). Against the background of learning mechanisms in addiction (Berridge, Robinson, & Aldridge, 2009), we assume cue-reactivity and craving to be important processes within the development and maintenance of CA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Considerations on Factors Contributing to Cybersex Addiction From a Cognitive-Behavioral View

Laier

Brand

2014

Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity

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The nature of a phenomenon often called cybersex addiction (CA) and its mechanisms of development are discussed. Previous work suggests that some individuals might be vulnerable to CA, while positive reinforcement and cue-reactivity are considered to be core mechanisms of CA development. In this study, 155 heterosexual males rated 100 pornographic pictures and indicated their increase of sexual arousal. Moreover, tendencies towards CA, sensitivity to sexual excitation, and dysfunctional use of sex in general were assessed. In a latent structural equation model, dysfunctional use of sex mediated the relationship of sexual excitability with CA. The results of the study show that there are factors of vulnerability to CA and provide evidence for the role of sexual gratification and dysfunctional coping in the development of CA. According to the results and theoretical considerations, we present a cognitive-behavioral model of CA addressing factors of vulnerability, the role of cognitions, and the role of positive and negative reinforcement.

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“…With such a control group, one can determine even more precisely whether and what learning has occurred. At present, it is unclear if the decreased genital arousal toward the CS+ and CS− was due to conditioning or to pseudo‐conditioning [71]. Furthermore, in the present study, due to the use of different measures to assess genital response, direct comparison of genital response between men and women could not be made.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Extinction of Aversive Classically Conditioned Human Sexual Response

Brom

Laan

Everaerd

et al. 2015

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

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Introduction Research has shown that acquired subjective likes and dislikes are quite resistant to extinction. Moreover, studies on female sexual response demonstrated that diminished genital arousal and positive affect toward erotic stimuli due to aversive classical conditioning did not extinguish during an extinction phase. Possible resistance to extinction of aversive conditioned sexual responses may have important clinical implications. However, resistance to extinction of aversive conditioned human sexual response has not been studied using extensive extinction trials. Aim This article aims to study resistance to extinction of aversive conditioned sexual responses in sexually functional men and women. Methods A differential conditioning experiment was conducted, with two erotic pictures as conditioned stimulus (CSs) and a painful stimulus as unconditioned stimuli (USs). Only one CS (the CS+) was followed by the US during the acquisition phase. Conditioned responses were assessed during the extinction phase. Main Outcome Measure Penile circumference and vaginal pulse amplitude were assessed, and ratings of affective value and subjective sexual arousal were obtained. Also, a stimulus response compatibility task was included to assess automatic approach and avoidance tendencies. Results Men and women rated the CS+ more negative as compared with the CS−. During the first trials of the extinction phase, vaginal pulse amplitude was lower in response to the CS+ than in response to the CS−, and on the first extinction trial women rated the CS+ as less sexually arousing. Intriguingly, men did not demonstrate attenuated genital and subjective sexual response. Conclusions Aversive conditioning, by means of painful stimuli, only affects sexual responses in women, whereas it does not in men. Although conditioned sexual likes and dislikes are relatively persistent, conditioned affect eventually does extinguish.

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The Role of Classical Conditioning in Sexual Compulsivity: A Pilot Study

Cited by 18 publications

References 44 publications

Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports

Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports

Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Considerations on Factors Contributing to Cybersex Addiction From a Cognitive-Behavioral View

Extinction of Aversive Classically Conditioned Human Sexual Response

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