Is Sex an Addiction

1. Is Sex an Addiction? By: Kelly Dawald Minnesota State University Moorhead I�m going to start out by reading you a story of a man whose life was overcome by sex. This story should help you get a better understanding of the topic I will be covering today as many of you probably don�t realize or have even ever thought that sex can have such a dramatic influence on your everyday life along with the painful struggles that accompany it. �When I was 17 I lost my virginity to the neighborhood freak�The energy and enjoyment she showed me during sex was incredible. That first sexual encounter awakened cravings inside me that I would do anything to fulfill. I was immediately hooked. In college I perfected my routine so that I could fit sex in as often as possible�I learned how to zone in on the easiest targets�I�d buy her a drink and shower her with compliments. Within a few hours I�d have her back at my place. For years I lived recklessly, having sex with more than 700 women, often without a condom. I got crabs and Chlamydia, but that didn�t stop me. I took trips�just to meet new women to sleep with. I�ve even lost jobs because of my irresponsible behavior�In between all of this, I managed to get married-- twice. Both unions ended in divorce. I simply wasn�t able to commit. The night my first wife and I got back from our honeymoon, I dropped her off at home and went out to have sex with another woman. My wake-up call came�when I went home with a woman who claimed her boyfriend wouldn�t be back until�the next morning�he came home earlier than expected and chased me out the back door with a gun�it was only then that I realized I was risking my life for sex. In therapy I found out that my overwhelming desire to please women extended back to my childhood. Since both my parents were drug addicts, I was given to my grandparents to raise. My grandmother never showed me any affection. Because I never got approval from the two most important women in my life, I somehow felt validated satisfying women sexually�.I�m going to start out by reading you a story of a man whose life was overcome by sex. This story should help you get a better understanding of the topic I will be covering today as many of you probably don�t realize or have even ever thought that sex can have such a dramatic influence on your everyday life along with the painful struggles that accompany it. �When I was 17 I lost my virginity to the neighborhood freak�The energy and enjoyment she showed me during sex was incredible. That first sexual encounter awakened cravings inside me that I would do anything to fulfill. I was immediately hooked. In college I perfected my routine so that I could fit sex in as often as possible�I learned how to zone in on the easiest targets�I�d buy her a drink and shower her with compliments. Within a few hours I�d have her back at my place. For years I lived recklessly, having sex with more than 700 women, often without a condom. I got crabs and Chlamydia, but that didn�t stop me. I took trips�just to meet new women to sleep with. I�ve even lost jobs because of my irresponsible behavior�In between all of this, I managed to get married-- twice. Both unions ended in divorce. I simply wasn�t able to commit. The night my first wife and I got back from our honeymoon, I dropped her off at home and went out to have sex with another woman. My wake-up call came�when I went home with a woman who claimed her boyfriend wouldn�t be back until�the next morning�he came home earlier than expected and chased me out the back door with a gun�it was only then that I realized I was risking my life for sex. In therapy I found out that my overwhelming desire to please women extended back to my childhood. Since both my parents were drug addicts, I was given to my grandparents to raise. My grandmother never showed me any affection. Because I never got approval from the two most important women in my life, I somehow felt validated satisfying women sexually�.

2. Throughout my presentation I will be going over addiction in general and move into what some people consider to be sexual addiction. I will cover two opposing sides of the controversy and include an evaluation of each side as well. I will conclude with my thoughts on the debate and how this issue has been progressing and making some headway.Throughout my presentation I will be going over addiction in general and move into what some people consider to be sexual addiction. I will cover two opposing sides of the controversy and include an evaluation of each side as well. I will conclude with my thoughts on the debate and how this issue has been progressing and making some headway.

3. What is Addiction? Definition of addiction according to the DSM-III-R (Goodman, 1990) Powerlessness & Unmanageability Webster�s Definition of addiction (2006) Psychological or physiological dependence on anything; a compulsion. Permanent Disorder of the Brain (Psychology Today, 2004) What is addiction? Well according to the DSM-III, addiction designates a process whereby a behavior, that can function both to produce pleasure and to provide escape from internal discomfort, is employed in a pattern characterized by (1) recurrent failure to control the behavior or (powerlessness) and (2) continuation of the behavior despite significant negative consequences or (unmanageability). According to the definition from Webster�s Standard Dictionary a 2006 version, addiction is defined as a psychological or physiological dependence on anything; a compulsion. Also according to Psychology Today, addiction has been considered to be a permanent disorder of the brain. Whether you have stopped the behavior or not you are still thought to be an addict because it has become part of who you are, something that won�t change. For example, if you were once a heavy heroin user but have remained clean for several years, you are still labeled a drug addict.What is addiction? Well according to the DSM-III, addiction designates a process whereby a behavior, that can function both to produce pleasure and to provide escape from internal discomfort, is employed in a pattern characterized by (1) recurrent failure to control the behavior or (powerlessness) and (2) continuation of the behavior despite significant negative consequences or (unmanageability). According to the definition from Webster�s Standard Dictionary a 2006 version, addiction is defined as a psychological or physiological dependence on anything; a compulsion. Also according to Psychology Today, addiction has been considered to be a permanent disorder of the brain. Whether you have stopped the behavior or not you are still thought to be an addict because it has become part of who you are, something that won�t change. For example, if you were once a heavy heroin user but have remained clean for several years, you are still labeled a drug addict.

4. What is Sex Addiction? Sexual activity that goes beyond normal practices to point of losing control (Ewald, 2003) Consequences Addicted to neuro-chemical changes Sex addiction in turn, as defined by Ewald, is engaging in any sexual activity that eventually transcends beyond any normal sexual practices to the point of losing control. There are seemingly harmful consequences to one�s self and others associated with sex addiction. Also, these addicts tend to become addicted to the neuro-chemical changes that may take place in their bodies during the time they are experiencing sexual behaviors. There are different types of sexual behaviors that may control the person�s life; some examples may include compulsive masturbation, porn, ongoing affairs, fetishes, prostitution and telephone sex to name a few. Regardless of the price he/she may pay, an addict may spend an excessive amount of time devoted to the arrangements and recoveries of these sexual activities and will have a hard time trying to end the behaviors if they are able to at all. All of the previous definitions I have read on addiction imply that sex is an actual addiction so I will be covering that side of the issue first.Sex addiction in turn, as defined by Ewald, is engaging in any sexual activity that eventually transcends beyond any normal sexual practices to the point of losing control. There are seemingly harmful consequences to one�s self and others associated with sex addiction. Also, these addicts tend to become addicted to the neuro-chemical changes that may take place in their bodies during the time they are experiencing sexual behaviors. There are different types of sexual behaviors that may control the person�s life; some examples may include compulsive masturbation, porn, ongoing affairs, fetishes, prostitution and telephone sex to name a few. Regardless of the price he/she may pay, an addict may spend an excessive amount of time devoted to the arrangements and recoveries of these sexual activities and will have a hard time trying to end the behaviors if they are able to at all. All of the previous definitions I have read on addiction imply that sex is an actual addiction so I will be covering that side of the issue first.

5. Sexual Addiction 15 million people affected in U.S. (Carnes) Characteristics of sex addiction (www.sexaddictionhelp.com) Sex is shameful Sex is a secret (e.g. Pastors) Sexual behavior is abusive Stems from an unhealthy childhood (Ewald, 2003) Patrick Carnes, the leading authority on sexual addiction, was the initial voice on the identification of sexual addiction as a true disease. Carnes found that during a ten year study, there is an estimate of roughly over 15 million men and women who are affected with sexual addiction in the United States alone. According to a website I found on sex addiction, sexaddictionhelp.com, there are three characteristics of a sex addict. The first characteristic is that the sex addict may feel that the sex is shameful. While he/she is engaging in these sexual behaviors, they may experience embarrassment for their actions but to curb these feelings they may focus their attention to more sexual behaviors so the feelings of humility are again replaced with pleasure. They may also associate their sex acts with some sort of explanations for it to make a justification for their actions. Another characteristic of a sex addict is that the sex is a secret. The person more or less ends up creating a double life for themselves. While you attend church every Sunday to listen to your pastor preach on God and sin, you may be unaware what he does when he gets home behind closed doors. While your pastor can be a well respected man in your community, you may be surprised at the sexual behaviors he employs when the urge to do so arises. In a survey done in 2000 by Christianity Today, it was estimated that nearly 37 percent of pastors actually say that pornography is an ongoing struggle for them in their daily lives! The last characteristic mentioned on the website is that the sexual behavior is abusive. It could be that the sex addict goes against other�s rights in order to receive gratification such as rape or the use of violence or they just may inflict pain upon themselves by excessive masturbation to the point where actual physical injury has occurred. Ewald states that sexual addiction usually stems from childhood. The child may have grown up in a hostile, unwelcoming, abusive environment or a perfectly normal home but either way the child seeks affection because there was no love expressed while growing up. While masturbation and experimenting with other sexual behaviors, can be a normal part of a child�s development, it can also become very detrimental for a child who uses these actions as a means of avoidance from real-world situations, out of boredom, or to unconsciously make up for the lack of the affection received in the home. . It all boils down to the child being introduced to sex in unfortunate ways. Patrick Carnes, the leading authority on sexual addiction, was the initial voice on the identification of sexual addiction as a true disease. Carnes found that during a ten year study, there is an estimate of roughly over 15 million men and women who are affected with sexual addiction in the United States alone. According to a website I found on sex addiction, sexaddictionhelp.com, there are three characteristics of a sex addict. The first characteristic is that the sex addict may feel that the sex is shameful. While he/she is engaging in these sexual behaviors, they may experience embarrassment for their actions but to curb these feelings they may focus their attention to more sexual behaviors so the feelings of humility are again replaced with pleasure. They may also associate their sex acts with some sort of explanations for it to make a justification for their actions. Another characteristic of a sex addict is that the sex is a secret. The person more or less ends up creating a double life for themselves. While you attend church every Sunday to listen to your pastor preach on God and sin, you may be unaware what he does when he gets home behind closed doors. While your pastor can be a well respected man in your community, you may be surprised at the sexual behaviors he employs when the urge to do so arises. In a survey done in 2000 by Christianity Today, it was estimated that nearly 37 percent of pastors actually say that pornography is an ongoing struggle for them in their daily lives! The last characteristic mentioned on the website is that the sexual behavior is abusive. It could be that the sex addict goes against other�s rights in order to receive gratification such as rape or the use of violence or they just may inflict pain upon themselves by excessive masturbation to the point where actual physical injury has occurred. Ewald states that sexual addiction usually stems from childhood. The child may have grown up in a hostile, unwelcoming, abusive environment or a perfectly normal home but either way the child seeks affection because there was no love expressed while growing up. While masturbation and experimenting with other sexual behaviors, can be a normal part of a child�s development, it can also become very detrimental for a child who uses these actions as a means of avoidance from real-world situations, out of boredom, or to unconsciously make up for the lack of the affection received in the home. . It all boils down to the child being introduced to sex in unfortunate ways.

6. Sexual Addiction (Cont�d) Narcissistic Personality (Birchard, 2004) Carried into adulthood Try to find ways to reduce pain, may turn into an addiction Why addicted to sex? Preoccupation with sex Prevalence of sex in childhood Along with the idea that sexual addiction stems from childhood Thaddeus Birchard, who is one of the leading therapists on sex addiction, proposes that a narcissistic personality is the central problem behind all types of addiction. This type of personality is something that gets carried into adulthood from your younger years where your environment was unaffectionate and potentially harmful. Instead of resolving the issues associated with narcissism, some people whether they mean to or not, turn to ways in which they can reduce the pain they experience. This process translates into an addiction and why some people choose sex as their crutch depends on two additional factors suggested by Birchard. The first factor that could be used to explain the lean towards sex is the preoccupation of either sexual avoidance or exposure of sex in earlier generations. The other factor acknowledged is the prevalence of sex in childhood and that could include the obvious or the not so obvious forms of sex that was experienced. Along with the idea that sexual addiction stems from childhood Thaddeus Birchard, who is one of the leading therapists on sex addiction, proposes that a narcissistic personality is the central problem behind all types of addiction. This type of personality is something that gets carried into adulthood from your younger years where your environment was unaffectionate and potentially harmful. Instead of resolving the issues associated with narcissism, some people whether they mean to or not, turn to ways in which they can reduce the pain they experience. This process translates into an addiction and why some people choose sex as their crutch depends on two additional factors suggested by Birchard. The first factor that could be used to explain the lean towards sex is the preoccupation of either sexual avoidance or exposure of sex in earlier generations. The other factor acknowledged is the prevalence of sex in childhood and that could include the obvious or the not so obvious forms of sex that was experienced.

7. Sexual Addiction (Cont�d) Narcissistic Personality Disorder (DSM-IV-TR) Need for admiration Fantasies Interpersonally exploitative Arrogant behaviors To help the argument that sex is an addiction, you can take a further look at narcissistic personality traits. From the DSM, Narcissistic Personality Disorder has features that could be used to explain characteristics of the personality of a sex addict. The need for admiration comes from the fact that the addict did not receive any or enough affection in their childhood and as a result is constantly looking to fulfill that area in their life which can account for the preoccupation with sexual fantasies. Being interpersonally exploitative shows that an addict will take advantage of others in order to achieve their goals.To help the argument that sex is an addiction, you can take a further look at narcissistic personality traits. From the DSM, Narcissistic Personality Disorder has features that could be used to explain characteristics of the personality of a sex addict. The need for admiration comes from the fact that the addict did not receive any or enough affection in their childhood and as a result is constantly looking to fulfill that area in their life which can account for the preoccupation with sexual fantasies. Being interpersonally exploitative shows that an addict will take advantage of others in order to achieve their goals.

8. Addiction Cycle Four Stage Cycle (Hall, 2006) Preoccupation Stage Ritualization Stage Engaging in Sexual Act Despair Repeat� There is a four stage addiction cycle proposed by Patrick Carnes but reviewed in an article by Hall (2006) that helps us to better understand the processes and thoughts of a sex addict. The first stage is preoccupation where the individual does nothing expect think and obsess over their next sexual defeat. They become entirely immersed in these fantasies that their real world, everyday life gets pushed aside. The individual then moves into the ritualisation stage where the obsession continues over planning and preparing for their sexual escapade. Intensity and anticipation builds until the sex addict finally gets to pursue the sexual action of choice. Finally after their mission is complete and the feelings of excitement subside, the sex addict falls into despair which is the last stage of the addiction cycle. Once they have reached this point they know that what they have done is wrong and that once again there was nothing they could do to overcome their urges and control their behaviors. The sex addict is shameful of their actions and the only way of coping with that is to again become preoccupied with something that would be pleasing to them and that in turn starts the cycle all over again.There is a four stage addiction cycle proposed by Patrick Carnes but reviewed in an article by Hall (2006) that helps us to better understand the processes and thoughts of a sex addict. The first stage is preoccupation where the individual does nothing expect think and obsess over their next sexual defeat. They become entirely immersed in these fantasies that their real world, everyday life gets pushed aside. The individual then moves into the ritualisation stage where the obsession continues over planning and preparing for their sexual escapade. Intensity and anticipation builds until the sex addict finally gets to pursue the sexual action of choice. Finally after their mission is complete and the feelings of excitement subside, the sex addict falls into despair which is the last stage of the addiction cycle. Once they have reached this point they know that what they have done is wrong and that once again there was nothing they could do to overcome their urges and control their behaviors. The sex addict is shameful of their actions and the only way of coping with that is to again become preoccupied with something that would be pleasing to them and that in turn starts the cycle all over again.

9. Media and the Internet Sex is everywhere (Longo-Disse, 2006) Sex sells! Accessibility to sex on internet 4.2 million porn sites, 12% of all websites (Hall, 2006) �Virtual Cheating� (Daneback et al., 2006) Another point to this side of the issue that needs to be discussed is the impact of media and the internet on sex. You can be watching your favorite television show, viewing a new movie, flipping through a magazine, or shopping for birthday presents on the internet and it doesn�t matter if you are looking for it or not, sex is there. Since the U.S. industry is focused on selling products to make profits, they are constantly trying to find better ways to make more money faster and what better way than through sex because sex sells! Every other commercial on television is displaying sexual innuendos in order to help sell their products or services. While flipping through almost any type of magazine you can easily come across a dozen advertisements doing the exact same thing. It seems to be that movies and television programs that include sex in their content receive higher ratings. Sex can become so imbedded in our minds just by watching a few hours of TV every week that it becomes hard not to imagine things in a sexual manner. With the explosion of the internet, the accessibility of sex is even more prevalent whether it being intentional or not. Relating back to Hall (2006), there are more than 4.2 million pornographic websites online today and that actually calculates to about 12 percent of all the websites out there. These statistics can make it very easy for a sex addict to feel shameless as they get in their daily fixes because they can remain anonymous while online. A study done in 2006 found that most of the people logging onto the internet for sexual stimulation were found to be men and a significant majority of these users happen to be married, in a serious relationship, or dating. This implies the greater need for secrecy when living their double life because while the sex addict may feel guilt or shame for their actions, if their actions become exposed their relationships will suffer because of the �virtual cheating� taking place.Another point to this side of the issue that needs to be discussed is the impact of media and the internet on sex. You can be watching your favorite television show, viewing a new movie, flipping through a magazine, or shopping for birthday presents on the internet and it doesn�t matter if you are looking for it or not, sex is there. Since the U.S. industry is focused on selling products to make profits, they are constantly trying to find better ways to make more money faster and what better way than through sex because sex sells! Every other commercial on television is displaying sexual innuendos in order to help sell their products or services. While flipping through almost any type of magazine you can easily come across a dozen advertisements doing the exact same thing. It seems to be that movies and television programs that include sex in their content receive higher ratings. Sex can become so imbedded in our minds just by watching a few hours of TV every week that it becomes hard not to imagine things in a sexual manner. With the explosion of the internet, the accessibility of sex is even more prevalent whether it being intentional or not. Relating back to Hall (2006), there are more than 4.2 million pornographic websites online today and that actually calculates to about 12 percent of all the websites out there. These statistics can make it very easy for a sex addict to feel shameless as they get in their daily fixes because they can remain anonymous while online. A study done in 2006 found that most of the people logging onto the internet for sexual stimulation were found to be men and a significant majority of these users happen to be married, in a serious relationship, or dating. This implies the greater need for secrecy when living their double life because while the sex addict may feel guilt or shame for their actions, if their actions become exposed their relationships will suffer because of the �virtual cheating� taking place.

10. DSM-IV-TR Dependence Criteria for dependence (Hagedorn & Juhnke, 2005) Certain drugs listed don�t have any physiological dependence 3 of 7 criteria has to be met Tolerance and withdrawal not essential One final argument used on this side of the debate, and may be one of the most relevant arguments, is pointed out in an article from 2005 that comes from the DSM-IV-TR. In this edition of the DSM, certain drugs are listed under the criteria for dependence and none of those particular drugs are proven to have any physiological dependence but are classified as addictive because only 3 of the 7 criteria actually has to be present in order to be diagnosed. Also tolerance and withdrawal are not specifically essential to be classified as substance abuse in the DSM-IV-TR. One final argument used on this side of the debate, and may be one of the most relevant arguments, is pointed out in an article from 2005 that comes from the DSM-IV-TR. In this edition of the DSM, certain drugs are listed under the criteria for dependence and none of those particular drugs are proven to have any physiological dependence but are classified as addictive because only 3 of the 7 criteria actually has to be present in order to be diagnosed. Also tolerance and withdrawal are not specifically essential to be classified as substance abuse in the DSM-IV-TR.

11. �Sex Addiction� Evaluation Stems from childhood Means of coping with psychological pain Definition of addiction Narcissistic Personality traits Sex can be related to substances that are actually diagnosed as dependence To sum up this side of the debate, sex addiction usually stems from your childhood where you learn to repress your troubled past. This happens through a process of focusing in on sexual desires that will in turn help you to maintain a state of mind and to the sex addict this feels like a means of coping with psychological pain. With the definition of addiction implying any behavior that produces both pleasure and negative consequences, with the behavior being able to get out of control, sex can easily be classified as an addiction. Along with the idea that narcissistic personality traits are at the base for most addiction disorders, these traits conveniently help describe characteristics of a sex addict and that can be scientifically diagnosed; so sex addiction appears to be in existence. Also if sex can be used in relation to other substances diagnosed as dependence than why shouldn�t sex addiction become diagnosable as well?To sum up this side of the debate, sex addiction usually stems from your childhood where you learn to repress your troubled past. This happens through a process of focusing in on sexual desires that will in turn help you to maintain a state of mind and to the sex addict this feels like a means of coping with psychological pain. With the definition of addiction implying any behavior that produces both pleasure and negative consequences, with the behavior being able to get out of control, sex can easily be classified as an addiction. Along with the idea that narcissistic personality traits are at the base for most addiction disorders, these traits conveniently help describe characteristics of a sex addict and that can be scientifically diagnosed; so sex addiction appears to be in existence. Also if sex can be used in relation to other substances diagnosed as dependence than why shouldn�t sex addiction become diagnosable as well?

12. To start out the opposing side of the debate I am going to read you another case study as an example that I will be referring back to throughout the rest of my presentation. A 21-year-old single, female, high school graduate�engaged in compulsive telephone sex accompanied by masturbation. She considered these to be the most important secrets in her life�She described her family as very religious and strong conformists to traditional rules and beliefs in eastern Turkey that emphasize the value of virginity and regard premarital sex as shameful and dishonorable. Not being married, she had never had a sexual partner. She gave a history of starting to masturbate compulsively at 6 years of age. She experienced menarche at 11 years of age, after which her sexual desire increased excessively�She had been refused permission by her father to go to work and�devoted herself to religious activities�However, she could not stop masturbating with even more intensity. Because her religious belief considered any sexual activity as �dirty�, she felt she had to take a bath whenever she masturbated. She fantasized about men in her room for hours, masturbating compulsively 15-16 times a day and taking a bath each time�[eventually] having succeeded in restricting her compulsive masturbation�another problem emerged, i.e. she started calling phone numbers randomly and speaking to men 15-16 times a day. The content of these conversations was always sexual. She regretted these acts afterwards but was unable to stop. At the same time, she felt disgusted when she looked at areas of her body that reminded her of her sexuality�� There was no history of psychological illness in her family. She described �her father as a sympathetic man and her mother as a cold and domineering woman. To start out the opposing side of the debate I am going to read you another case study as an example that I will be referring back to throughout the rest of my presentation. A 21-year-old single, female, high school graduate�engaged in compulsive telephone sex accompanied by masturbation. She considered these to be the most important secrets in her life�She described her family as very religious and strong conformists to traditional rules and beliefs in eastern Turkey that emphasize the value of virginity and regard premarital sex as shameful and dishonorable. Not being married, she had never had a sexual partner. She gave a history of starting to masturbate compulsively at 6 years of age. She experienced menarche at 11 years of age, after which her sexual desire increased excessively�She had been refused permission by her father to go to work and�devoted herself to religious activities�However, she could not stop masturbating with even more intensity. Because her religious belief considered any sexual activity as �dirty�, she felt she had to take a bath whenever she masturbated. She fantasized about men in her room for hours, masturbating compulsively 15-16 times a day and taking a bath each time�[eventually] having succeeded in restricting her compulsive masturbation�another problem emerged, i.e. she started calling phone numbers randomly and speaking to men 15-16 times a day. The content of these conversations was always sexual. She regretted these acts afterwards but was unable to stop. At the same time, she felt disgusted when she looked at areas of her body that reminded her of her sexuality�� There was no history of psychological illness in her family. She described �her father as a sympathetic man and her mother as a cold and domineering woman.

13. Labeling Perspective Mental illnesses are culturally constructed because of ideas that deviate from the norm (Levine & Troiden, 1988) Nominal Fallacy: give something a name to understand it Circular Reasoning One of the theories that disputes the original clinical justifications for mental illnesses is the labeling perspective which implies that the result of mental illnesses are culturally constructed and are not an actual psychological disorder in which people acquire this comes from a study done by Levine & Troiden done in 1988. In addition, psychological conditions most often accumulate from ideas that deviate from the cultural expectations of what normal is considered to be in our society resulting in the need to clarify the unknown or �norm violations.� This perspective also can be related to the nominal fallacy which is thinking something has been explained because a name was given to it. Just because frequent sexual activity can be correlated with the title of sex addiction does not mean there is evidence for this as an actual disorder. The nominal fallacy can also produce a type of circular reasoning meaning that when someone experiences frequent uncontrollable urges to perform sexual behaviors they are a sex addict and because you are a sex addict you experience frequent sexual behaviors. Using the previously mentioned case study as an example of the labeling perspective, the woman who participated in frequent masturbation was seeking answers to her behaviors because in her culture, religion, and home, her actions were seen as deviant. She was taken in for therapy and eventually was diagnosed with compulsive sexual behavior because in her culture you learn that sex is shameful and when she displayed aggressive acts of sex she was seen through the eyes of others as deviant. In order to come up with an explanation for her behavior, she was labeled with compulsive sexual behavior. Whether this is a true disorder or something that was culturally constructed because it violated the norms of this culture is undetermined. It goes back to the values and beliefs of the culture you are socialized into.One of the theories that disputes the original clinical justifications for mental illnesses is the labeling perspective which implies that the result of mental illnesses are culturally constructed and are not an actual psychological disorder in which people acquire this comes from a study done by Levine & Troiden done in 1988. In addition, psychological conditions most often accumulate from ideas that deviate from the cultural expectations of what normal is considered to be in our society resulting in the need to clarify the unknown or �norm violations.� This perspective also can be related to the nominal fallacy which is thinking something has been explained because a name was given to it. Just because frequent sexual activity can be correlated with the title of sex addiction does not mean there is evidence for this as an actual disorder. The nominal fallacy can also produce a type of circular reasoning meaning that when someone experiences frequent uncontrollable urges to perform sexual behaviors they are a sex addict and because you are a sex addict you experience frequent sexual behaviors. Using the previously mentioned case study as an example of the labeling perspective, the woman who participated in frequent masturbation was seeking answers to her behaviors because in her culture, religion, and home, her actions were seen as deviant. She was taken in for therapy and eventually was diagnosed with compulsive sexual behavior because in her culture you learn that sex is shameful and when she displayed aggressive acts of sex she was seen through the eyes of others as deviant. In order to come up with an explanation for her behavior, she was labeled with compulsive sexual behavior. Whether this is a true disorder or something that was culturally constructed because it violated the norms of this culture is undetermined. It goes back to the values and beliefs of the culture you are socialized into.

14. Explanation for Mental Disorders Constructed by health professionals to create order in society (Levine & Troiden, 1988) Placing stigmatizing labels to behaviors out of the norm Feel better about the unknown when it has a name Sense of understanding Another idea sparked from Levine and Troiden (1988), is that mental disorders are constructed by medical health professionals in order to impose a sense of order in society by making everyone conform. This basically translates into psychologists and psychiatrists labeling everyone who strays from the cultural norm with a mental illness. Placing stigmatizing labels to behaviors out of the norm is suppose to create social order in our culture. Levine and Troiden make a valid argument when they state that mental illnesses such as sex addiction are only therapeutic constructions. People tend to feel better about the unknown when it has a name.Another idea sparked from Levine and Troiden (1988), is that mental disorders are constructed by medical health professionals in order to impose a sense of order in society by making everyone conform. This basically translates into psychologists and psychiatrists labeling everyone who strays from the cultural norm with a mental illness. Placing stigmatizing labels to behaviors out of the norm is suppose to create social order in our culture. Levine and Troiden make a valid argument when they state that mental illnesses such as sex addiction are only therapeutic constructions. People tend to feel better about the unknown when it has a name.

15. Addiction Affected by certain primary factors (Peele, 2000) Cultural Social & Ethnic Factors Situational Traumatic, Developmental, & Ritualistic Factors Cognitive Beliefs & Social Learning Values Stable & Evolving Values According to an article by Peele (2000), addiction is affected by certain primary factors that develop throughout our lives. These four sections are cultural, situational, cognitive, and values. Each section also has subsections. The section in which Peele focuses most his attention is the value section. He states that people zone in on what is important to them and they don�t let themselves partake in situations that they would not normally let themselves do. Peele recalls from his previous research that the fact �that people take drugs at all reflects their values�that people continue to use drugs, to use them excessively, to actually become addicted to drugs, to remain addicted to drugs, and quit being addicted are all in large part value statements.� If sex was to be considered an addiction, than it would become a matter of your values and that would entail you being addicted to your values and that shouldn�t be something that needs to be diagnosed and deviated against. Referring back to the case study, her values originated through her religion which was that any sexual activity is considered �dirty�, from her culture which emphasizes the value of virginity and believing premarital sex as shameful, from her family environment whom are strong conformists to traditional rules and beliefs of their culture, and the fact that she was indeed also a virgin indicates that masturbation was her only means of sexual exposure. These aspects of her development signify that sex was not one of her values so sex cannot necessarily be considered an addiction based on the primary factors Peele has established. According to an article by Peele (2000), addiction is affected by certain primary factors that develop throughout our lives. These four sections are cultural, situational, cognitive, and values. Each section also has subsections. The section in which Peele focuses most his attention is the value section. He states that people zone in on what is important to them and they don�t let themselves partake in situations that they would not normally let themselves do. Peele recalls from his previous research that the fact �that people take drugs at all reflects their values�that people continue to use drugs, to use them excessively, to actually become addicted to drugs, to remain addicted to drugs, and quit being addicted are all in large part value statements.� If sex was to be considered an addiction, than it would become a matter of your values and that would entail you being addicted to your values and that shouldn�t be something that needs to be diagnosed and deviated against. Referring back to the case study, her values originated through her religion which was that any sexual activity is considered �dirty�, from her culture which emphasizes the value of virginity and believing premarital sex as shameful, from her family environment whom are strong conformists to traditional rules and beliefs of their culture, and the fact that she was indeed also a virgin indicates that masturbation was her only means of sexual exposure. These aspects of her development signify that sex was not one of her values so sex cannot necessarily be considered an addiction based on the primary factors Peele has established.

16. �Sex is not an Addiction� Evaluation Mental disorders are socially constructed Created to enforce conformity in society Addiction is based off of your values As an evaluation for this side of the issue, mental disorders are considered something that has been socially constructed. By giving behaviors such as frequent sexual activity the name of sexual addiction employs a sense of satisfaction in thinking out of the ordinary occurrences are now understood. Also the idea of enforcing conformity in a society by labeling is another to achieve an easily understood society. By indicating that your values are part of the process in building addiction is plausible but it doesn�t work for sex as an addiction in all scenarios especially when sex isn�t a value of yours in the first place. So if sex addiction is something invented as an explanation for the uncharacteristic behaviors displayed in certain individuals, why can�t society just accept that everybody is different and that these abnormalities don�t have to be diagnosed and treated especially if no harm comes out of it?As an evaluation for this side of the issue, mental disorders are considered something that has been socially constructed. By giving behaviors such as frequent sexual activity the name of sexual addiction employs a sense of satisfaction in thinking out of the ordinary occurrences are now understood. Also the idea of enforcing conformity in a society by labeling is another to achieve an easily understood society. By indicating that your values are part of the process in building addiction is plausible but it doesn�t work for sex as an addiction in all scenarios especially when sex isn�t a value of yours in the first place. So if sex addiction is something invented as an explanation for the uncharacteristic behaviors displayed in certain individuals, why can�t society just accept that everybody is different and that these abnormalities don�t have to be diagnosed and treated especially if no harm comes out of it?

17. Conclusion Still a heated debate Sex as an addiction has more scientific reasoning Discussion of including sexual addiction and compulsivity into DSM-V (Delmonico, 2005) Additional research needed In conclusion for the entire issue as a whole, the debate on sex addiction is a heated one with reasonable arguments to be had by both sides. If in fact sex is found to be an actual addiction, individuals who suffer from this will need proper resources and help in order to recover from this disorder. If sex is found not to be an addiction than time, money, and effort that hasn�t already been put into the research will be spared. I tend to agree more with the ideas presented for sex is an addiction because the research was more scientific and seemed to hold more truth rather than opinion oriented findings. Also this side seems to be making more leeway because there is discussion of including sexual addiction and compulsivity into the DSM-V. The DSM is a collection of disorders that has evolved with us through the years and if sex addiction were to be included it would be a break through in every area of science that has ever looked at the issue. Also for the individuals who are believed to be affected by this disorder, it would mean a great deal of relief knowing what they are experiencing is recognized and help is available. In order to come up with an all-inclusive ending to the debate, all research and studies on this area needs to be more thoroughly reviewed as well as adding additional research on the topic. In conclusion for the entire issue as a whole, the debate on sex addiction is a heated one with reasonable arguments to be had by both sides. If in fact sex is found to be an actual addiction, individuals who suffer from this will need proper resources and help in order to recover from this disorder. If sex is found not to be an addiction than time, money, and effort that hasn�t already been put into the research will be spared. I tend to agree more with the ideas presented for sex is an addiction because the research was more scientific and seemed to hold more truth rather than opinion oriented findings. Also this side seems to be making more leeway because there is discussion of including sexual addiction and compulsivity into the DSM-V. The DSM is a collection of disorders that has evolved with us through the years and if sex addiction were to be included it would be a break through in every area of science that has ever looked at the issue. Also for the individuals who are believed to be affected by this disorder, it would mean a great deal of relief knowing what they are experiencing is recognized and help is available. In order to come up with an all-inclusive ending to the debate, all research and studies on this area needs to be more thoroughly reviewed as well as adding additional research on the topic.

18. THE END Thank You Questions?