It is hard to conceptualize what sex addiction is. For so many people sex addiction isn’t even something that registers as an actual addiction. Throughout most of peoples schooling we are taught about how bad alcohol and drug addiction is bad, but rarely is sex addiction talked about. Perhaps this is because there is still a stigma around sex, that it should all be hush hush and not discussed in a public forum. Sex addiction could also be pushed to the wayside because of how we as a society handle sex based on gender. The more partners a man has the more well respected they are. If they have many partners, it is not sex addiction, it’s just them fulfilling their biology. It’s the opposite for women, they are frowned upon the more partners they …show more content…
Talking to Dr David Ley, the writer of “The Myth of Sex Addiction” Cosmo talks about the way people use the sex addict label. Ley makes the argument against sex addiction using Ariel Castro’s plea to the court that the crimes he committed against three young women were an act of addiction and claims that “sex addiction [is] an excuse for his monstrous behavior…” and that it “creates the idea that men are not responsible for their sexual behavior”. While I can see how this would be a compelling claim and I think in any case a medical diagnosis should be used in determining an addiction, he cannot just claim that no one is a sex addict purely on the misuse of it by one person. It is also belittling the suffering and pain that people who are addicted to sex go through. It isn’t just having sex when in the mood, it is a compulsion. Research done by the Center for Addiction Research categorizes sex addiction when “sex dominates an individual’s life to the exclusion of other activities” leaving no room for anything else. They go on to say that sex quickly switches from healthy to an addiction “ when the person care more about the act itself than the other person involved” and sex addiction is often a sign of deeper mental struggles such as bipolar, depression or
In this paper I will be comparing and contrasting the Psychoanalytic formulations of addiction and the Cognitive models of addiction. According to Dennis L. Thombs, “people tend to get psychoanalysis and psychotherapy mixed up. Psychotherapy is a more general term describing professional services aimed at helping individuals or groups overcome emotional, behavioral or relationship problem” (119). According to Thombs and Osborn, “Cognitive refers to the covert mental process that are described by a number of diverse terms, including thinking, self-talk, internal dialogue, expectations , beliefs, schemas and so much more” (160). I believe these two factors play a major part in an individual’s life that has an addiction.
George F. Koob defines addiction as a compulsion to take a drug without control over the intake and a chronic relapse disorder (1). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association defined "substance dependence" as a syndrome basically equivalent to addiction, and the diagnostic criteria used to describe the symptoms of substance dependence to a large extent define compulsion and loss of control of drug intake (1). Considering drug addiction as a disorder implies that there are some biological factors as well as social factors.
He argues that addiction is a behavioral disorder caused by the person’s social environment and the lack of resources. Levy believes that, most of the time, an addict does not have services or resources available in order to remove herself from “the environment” where drugs are found constantly. He also stated that most of these addicts are physically unfit since they are poorly nourished, and they are struggling with their own personal stress. Levy, in his article, highlighted that a person’s environment, his health, and the resources he has, play a crucial role in determining whether or not the person will abuse drugs. Levy’s arguments seem to hold a strong position concerning addiction and its causes. However, his arguments seem to contain ambiguous words which can leave readers wandering about the actual definition of the word, and also interrupt their reading. For instance, Levy argues that addiction can be defined as a disease only if it includes pathological deviations from “norms of brain function” (Levy, 2013). He also mentions claims like addiction can lead to some deficits that are “relatively minor”, and addiction can cause impairment only in “certain” social environments (Levy, 2013). These words, norms, minor, certain, can be viewed as ambiguous words since it can have more than one meaning. In addition, Levy, in his article, seems to contradict some of his
Addiction /ə-ˈdik-shən, a-/ noun 1. A strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble), 2. An unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (Addiction). Addiction can cause a person to sabotage their lives in order to get their next fix, whether that be scoring another gram of coke or a double with cheese, a large fry, and a large soda. Addicts are stuck in a constant cycle of getting cravings, going through with their ritual, using, experiencing guilt, and being emotionally triggered, thus bringing them back to the beginning. Now, most people when they hear the word “addiction”, the first thing that comes to their mind is drugs. However, if a vast majority of individuals
Sally Satel, author of “Addiction Doesn’t Discriminate? Wrong,” leads us down a harrowing path of the causes and effects that lead people to addiction. It can be a choice, possibly subconscious, or a condition that leads a person left fighting a lifelong battle they did not intend to sign up for. Mental and emotional health/conditions, personality traits, attitudes, values, behaviors, choices, and perceived rewards are just a few of the supposed causes of becoming an addict.
Patrick Carnes’ book offers a real life look at the problem of sexual addiction. He used
For example, Charlie Sheen admitted and spoke about his reputation as a womanizer and the love for prostitutes. Even though he has not admitted to being a sex addict, he has admitted to paying for the services of prostitutes. He has had failed marriages and his current relationship has ended because of infidelity issues. His actions have caused him to acquire HIV. Magic Johnson was also considered a sex addict and because of his actions, he too developed HIV. Instead of his marriage ending, his wife made the decision to work through their issues and stay together. Tiger Woods, Kayne West, and the list can go on naming people with the diagnosis of Hyper Sexual Addiction. Some individuals do not think of themselves as sex addicts. Some may say they love having sex. However, what is the reasoning behind the urges and the desires for sex? It may be fun to some, but for others, they do suffer from some kind of psychological issue, such as a chemical imbalance. If it were not for some celebrities and actor’s infidelity situation made public, some would continue with their lifestyles. It is very hard for someone to admit they have a problem, but in order for sex addicts to do this, they must come to terms with the fact that they do suffer from this
Kemp describes that addiction often arises through a pursuit of pleasure, or to reduce pain. (Kemp, 2009a). The addict seeks to avoid the world, often living a narrow set of relations to the world and those in it. (Kemp, 2011).
The APA has been unable to confirm whether sex addiction is an actual addiction or a compulsive disorder. It’s so undefined that some people think it’s a myth and is the product of cultural influences. Social media has to do with this; for one if a celebrity is caught having an affair a story is made in which he/she is automatically diagnosed as a sex addict. Also social media is to blame that sex addiction is not recognized by the APA or DSM-IV-TR. The reason for this is because they always “diagnose” celebrities just because they were caught having an affair. One example of this was Tiger Woods, when he was caught having an affair the media immediately rushed to cover the story and instantly said he was a sex addict. The reason why sex addiction is not taken seriously is the media summaries the person having an affair as a sex addict. A sex addict is just like a drug addict, ...
Main Point: What defines an addiction? According to Psychology Today, “Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance…. or engages in an activity….that can be pleasurable but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health.” This can range anywhere from drug use to eating disorders, to gambling, to even texting in today’s generation. Shocking to say the least, especially when most people do not even know they are addicted or are an addict until they realize this definition.
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction is normally thought of as drug abuse and alcoholism but people can also be addicted to things such as gambling and sex as well. The controversy on if addiction is a disease or a choice is a continuous debate. Everyone has an opinion on this topic, one side believes it’s a disease, while the other believes it is a choice. Although addiction has been assumed to be a lack of willpower and a weakness, addiction is actually a complex disease that changes the wiring of the brain. Addiction is a brain disease expressed in the form of compulsive behavior (Leshner.) Both devolping
There are many different definitions in which people provide regarding addiction. May (1988) describes that addiction “is a state of compulsion, obsession, or preoccupation that enslaves a person’s will and desire” (p. 14). Individuals who suffer from addiction provide their time and energy toward other things that are not healthy and safe. The book
Addiction, Is it just an issue or is it one’s choice? Although no one chooses to walk around in their life and decides if he or she has or wants an addiction. An addiction is a “condition of being addicted to a particular substance” (Peele, 2016). One can be addicted to nicotine, drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, and even shopping if it has an impact on their everyday life. Consequently, some people with an addiction may reach a point in their life where it can turn harmful, therefore, people need to look for assistance. Even so, people still neglect to talk about addictions because people are ashamed, or in denial, and it is probably not one’s choice of topics that is brought up at your breakfast table, or you may never have confronted anyone before. Still, addiction is all around us, and most people today still do not understand or have misconceptions about addictions because addiction is a disease, and studies have indicated that addictions are a physical defect in the brain, thus, making it hard for some people to give up their addictions on their own.
Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., the first person to identify and treat this affliction, hypothesized sex addiction results from a person needing certain neuro-chemical changes (4). Everybody experiences certain neuro-chemical changes that make the physical act of sex feel pleasurable. A normal person produces this stimulus, attains the natural high, and is satisfied. An addict, however, uses this chemical to escape pain or seek relief from stress (4). This theory supports a nature argument because there is nothing a person can do about it. Their body creates an altered response to a completely normal act and fosters an uncontrollable need to experience sex. It is comparable to an alcoholic's reaction to alcohol (4). The sex addict needs this chemical to be released in order to desensitize themselves from their problems. This is not healthy, but i...
The ranges of sexually addictive behaviors are various. Sexual addictive behaviors include, but are not limited to compulsive masturbation, multiple affairs, unsafe sex, sexual anorexia, multiple or anonymous partners, pornography viewing, phone or cybersex, voyeurism, and exhibitionism (National, Sex). Despite the differences in the acting out behaviors, sexual addictions all have the same common denominator in their origins and aspects in relation to their developments. Thus, the underlying causes are the same.