|
Welcome to The Largest Online Source For Curated Information On Compulsive Sexual Behavior
Please read this section first to best utilize the Internet's most comprehensive collection of information about every conceivable aspect of addictive or compulsive sexual behavior.
There is a lot of information, controversy and misunderstanding about the complex topic of addictive/compulsive sexual behavior. Although the phrase "sexual addiction" is not an official diagnosis, and despite ongoing discussion and debate about widely-accepted terminology and exacting definitions, there is no credible debate among professionals that people can use sex in a compulsive way that brings immense devastation to themselves and those around them. The goal of this site is to provide a comprehensive and dynamic site for curated information about this complex behavioral phenomenon, regardless of whether it is termed sexual addiction, compulsive sexual behavior, hypersexuality, poorly restrained sexual behavior, sexual obsession or any other term. Information will be curated from every conceivable source and perspective, in order not to privilege one viewpoint over another to the detriment of an informed and expanded knowledge base with which to develop a continually evolving understanding of this extremely important subject. Topics range from rigorous research to irreverent humor, representing the entire spectrum of attitudes, opinions and understanding about this topic. Some items will have lasting significance while others are likely to merit only brief notice. However, this curation does not focus on mere breadth and quantity of sources with a complete disregard for content. Conscious effort is made to avoid excessive repetiton of content and to separate the wheat from the chaff, and the curator reserves the right to make judicious commentary regarding any item or category. In fact, an editorial or descriptive overview is beginning to emerge for each category or "tag" (see below) to serve as an orientation to the topic at hand. This commentary is likely to continually develop and adapt to incorporate new items and understandings. This site is not designed to promote any specific service or treatment providers; hence there are no direct links to sites that do not contain some relevant information that enhances the knowledge base of the topic. Disclaimer: This site will scrupulously attempt to avoid any copyright infringement by linking directly to all sources instead of reproducing, preparing derivative works, distributing, or displaying them publicly. This site will also not link to any material that appears to be available online as a result of copyright violation. Note: The absolute best way to utilize this site is to use the "Tags" feature at the top of the screen to view only the articles and resources pertaining to any particular category or topic. Otherwise this site will appear very disorganized since most items are not arranged in any particular order. One exception is that time-sensitive items will "lead". Feedback, commentary and suggestions for other sources are strongly encouraged and will help build a stronger site. Most of these items link directly to the sources where they appear. If any links become inactive because the source material has moved, please provide that feedback. This site is curated by Bill Herring, LCSW, CSAT, an Atlanta psychotherapist, counselor, writer and nationally-recognized expert on addictive and compulsive sexual behavior. Please note this site was created December 7, 2011 and is an active work in progress. 
"There is, in fact, nothing like a book on sex addiction to reduce sex to the status of a tiresome obsession. It makes one nostalgic for the bygone days when sin, rather than addiction, was the framework for looking at illicit sex, when moral failings had the gravitas of Don Giovanni being dragged down to hell versus today's mewling on Oprah." ------ Curator comment: this short opinion piece simultaneously supports and skewers David Ley's book "The Myth of Sex Addiction". Author: Ann Marlowe Source: Hudson Institute, "a nonpartisan policy research organization dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity, and freedom." 
"Attorneys.......pointed to his long-standing struggle with gambling and sex addiction, his years of enrollment in 12-step programs and his recent mental breakdown in their efforts to save him from prison time." ... Curator comment: this site has numerous examples (under the "Legal and Forensic Issues" tab) of people citing sexual addiction in criminal trials. This, however, is the first case the curator has noticed in which this history is used, even tangentially, as a mitigating factor in a non-sex related offense. Source: Denver Post, May 15, 2012. 
"Thanks for Sharing is a touching and unpredictable comedy that follows three sex addicts as they struggle to function in society while maintaining meaningful relationships. Along the way, Adam (Ruffalo) attempts to forge a relationship with Phoebe(Paltrow), a wildly independent and beautiful woman who has sworn off dating addicts after breaking up with an alcoholic. Mike (Robbins) is married to his high school sweetheart, but becomes as addicted to his 12 step recovery program as he does to sex. Neil(Gad), on the other hand, hides a camera on his tennis shoe to secretly film up women's skirts – all while trying to convince his friends that he can live a life without sex. Throughout the film, they each deal with their addictions in different and hilarious ways in this unusual and sweet comedy." ... Source: Indiewire, "the leading news, information, and networking site for independent-minded filmmakers, the industry and moviegoers alike". 
"With sex addiction claiming celebrity headlines in recent years, Sex Workers Anonymous addresses the less glamorous topic: addiction to prostitution." Curator comment: this is a fascinating look at how some people apply the idea of "addiction" to certain forms of sex industry work, and the corresponding rise of "Sex Worker's Anonymous" meetings. Various perspectives about this provocative concept are offered. Source: The Fix, May 15, 2012. 
The decision by Toronto Police to stop john sweeps means men "addicted" to having sex with hookers will not get the help they need, says the co-ordinator of a prostitution diversion program. ------- Source: Sun News, "(g)overned by a pledge to be controversially Canadian, the Sun News team is unwavering in their commitment to uncover the real stories impacting the lives of everyday working people and their families." 
Despite substantial pressure both within and outside psychiatry, the workgroup rejected proposals to recognize addictions to sex, food, the Internet, and caffeine as diagnosable disorders. Workgroup chairman Charles O'Brien, MD, said the group recognized that, anecdotally, many people meet most of the criteria for addiction to these behaviors. But the DSM-5 emphasis on scientific justification precluded listing them. Said O'Brien, "We looked at sex addiction, but there was no science at all. None." ----- Curator comment: the above is part of an overview of the entire likely changes to be made in the upcoming DSM-5. Source: MedPage Today, "the only service for physicians that provides a clinical perspective on the breaking medical news that their patients are reading." May 10, 2012. 
The wife of former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate and convenience store magnate Christy Mihos reportedly has filed for divorce. ... Curator comment: very brief article.. Source: wcvb.com, Boston. May 4, 2012. 
"L'affaire DSK a révélé en France l'existence de l'addiction sexuelle. Les médecins spécialistes estiment qu'elle concerne 5% de la population." (Translation: "The DSK affair in France revealed the existence of sexual addiction. Medical specialists believe that it affects 5% of the population.") ----- Curator comment: This article (in French) contains a review and extensive extracts from the new book "The Sex Addicts: When Sex Becomes a Hard Drug," by Florence Sandis, with Jean-Benoît Dumonteix (Hors Collection, May 2012). Source: Le Nouvel Observateur, May 2, 2012. 
"This article takes a critical look at the recent history of the concept of sex addiction, an archetypal modern sexual invention.........Though it is essentially mythical, creating a problem that need not exist, sex addiction has to be taken seriously as a phenomenon. Rarely has a socio-psychological discourse taken such a hold on the public imagination—and proven an influential concept in academic circles too. We argue that this strange, short history of social opportunism, diagnostic amorphism, therapeutic self-interest, and popular cultural endorsement is marked by an essential social conservatism—sex addiction has become a convenient term to describe disapproved sex. Sex addiction is a label without explanatory force." ----- Curator comment: the curator is curious to learn how the authors back up these sweeping broadsides and denigrations. Authors: Barry Reay (Department of History, University of Aukland) , Nina Attwood, Claire Gooder, Sexuality & Culture, Online First™, 26 April 2012. 
"We need to be absolutely clear that HIV happens to our community, because we need to be part of the solution to end it. We can’t hide it under a rock. But we also need to be clear that it’s not because of some hypersexuality in our communities." ---- Curator comment: this is the report of a roundtable discussion on the increasingly dire HIV epidemic among young black gay men. Source: Advocate.com 
"The nucleus accumbens.....plays a prominent role in mediating the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse, food, sex, and other addictions.........This article focuses on sex addiction, but we hypothesize that.....biological drives may have common molecular genetic antecedents, which if impaired, lead to aberrant behaviors. Based on abundant scientific support, we further hypothesize that dopaminergic genes, and possibly other candidate neurotransmitter-related gene polymorphisms, affect both hedonic and anhedonic behavioral outcomes.........(W)e anticipate that future genotyping studies of sex addicts will provide evidence for polymorphic associations with specific clustering of sexual typologies based on clinical instrument assessments. We recommend that scientists and clinicians embark on research coupling the use of neuroimaging tools with dopaminergic agonistic agents to target specific gene polymorphisms systematically for normalizing hyper- or hypo-sexual behaviors." ---- Authors: Kenneth Blum, Tonia Werner, Stefanie Carnes, Patrick Carnes, Abdalla Bowirrat, John Giordano, Marlene-Oscar-Berman & Mark Gold Journal of Psychoactive Drugs: Vol. 44, No. 1 (2012), pp. 38-55. Abstract only. 
"Turk Henry, an overweight, unemployed rock star married to a supermodel, has discovered that Thailand is probably the last place a recovering sex addict should go on vacation, yet here he is........Turk’s struggles with monogamy, however, pale beside a greater challenge when his wife is abducted by a group of renegade, shipless Thai pirates." ... Curator comment: This is a well-reviewed humorous novel by the author of "Baked", "Delicious" and "Moist". |
"Although I wish sex addiction was never an issue in polyamory, the truth is that polyamory does provide a convenient cover story for addicts who are generally in denial about having an addiction." ---- Curator comment: This is a fascinating and characteristically well-written piece about one aspect of the complex interplay between sexually addictive dynamics and alternative sexual lifestyles. As is so often typical for these kinds of articles, many of the reader comments are themselves illuminating. Author: Deborah Anapol, Ph.D. Source: Psychologytoday.com "Love Without Limits", April 11, 2011. 
"RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A social worker testified Thursday that a man accused in the brutal 2010 rape and murder of Kathy Taft is a sex addict." ... Curator comment: This story, in the curator's opinion, is a cautionary example of the dubious use of the phrase "sex addict". This is a case in which a licensed mental health practitioner applies this term to a man accused of a vicious murder. There are differing levels of responsibility for the use of this phrase, depending on the situation, and it is not the generally recognized standard of care for an expert in the assessment and treatment of compulsive sexual behavior to use this phrase injudiciously with a person who has committed a violent sexual offense. The transcript of this testimony is not available, so it is likely that a great many qualifying statements were made by this professional that were not reported in this story. Source: WTVD-TV, Raleigh (NC), May 24, 2012. 
"This article describes the application of the Sexual Health Model.....to treatment for cybersex....... Specific strategies are discussed regarding the components of the sexual health model as a pathway for interventions addressing problematic cybersex behaviors." Author: Weston Edwards Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: Vol. 19, Issue 1-2 (2012) pages 3-15. Abstract only. 
"(W)omen who are struggling with repeated patterns of problem sexual behavior are more likely to enter therapy or treatment reporting romance-oriented symptoms ..... Although sexual addiction experts have shared anecdotal evidence from the field, there is not yet a formalized process for identifying, diagnosing and treating women who struggle with sexual addiction ....... Complicating matters is our cultural gender bias toward sexual behavior. " ---- Curator comment: this is another nice overview of the some of the differences that tend to obscure the assessment and help available for women struggling with these issues. Source: Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S, "Sex & Intimacy in the Digital Age" 
"Simon admitted he was on his way to a sex addict meeting when he pulled over for the undercover police officer posing as a prostitute." Curator comment: the above comment demonstrates both the pernicious nature of this behavioral syndrome (repeatedly engaging in the same behavior in the face of almost certain negative consequences) as well as the common criticism, as noted in the editorial comment, that sex addiction is nothing more than "men excusing their behavior". There is a great difference between an excuse and an explanation or context. The subject who was quoted did not state that he wasn't responsible for his behavior. Source: CBS4, Miami, May16, 2012. "Thus far......there are no other published family or twin studies available on compulsive buying, compulsive sexual behavior, or compulsive computer use......This review also points out the necessity for family studies on other behavioral addictions, such as compulsive buying, compulsive sexual behavior and compulsive computer use. Aside from evidence for family aggregation, these studies can yield important information regarding comorbid conditions and genetic and environmental effects that could help refine the phenotype of behavioral addictions........Due to the lack of genetic studies on compulsive buying, compulsive sexual behavior and compulsive computer use, it is early to speculate whether genetic findings in these behavioral addictions would be similar to the findings on pathological gambling. However, if neurobiology or neuroimaging studies show that similar areas are activated in pathological gambling and other behavioral addictions, it would be reasonable to hypothesize that molecular genetics findings would be consistent across different behavioral addictions." -------------------- Lobo, D. and Kennedy, J. ,"The Genetics of Gambling and Behavioral Addictions", CNS Spectr. 2006;11(12)931-939 CNS Spectrums: "First in Applied Neuroscience"
"Compulsive sexual behavior in pathological gamblers appears common, and gamblers should be screened for a co-occurring sexual addiction." ----- Grant, J. and Steinberg, M., "Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Pathological Gambling", Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: Vol. 12, No. 2-3, pp. 235 - 244, (2004). Abstract only. 
"The addiction therapist, working with a newly recovering but 12-step-averse client can and should bring the themes, wiring, and writing of 12-step recovery into the treatment arena. Once the actual problem has been clearly assessed and client/treatment goals and expectations are aligned, it is very productive to initiate discussions on themes like surrender, feeling out-of-control/powerless, asking for help, turning it over, etc., all related to the behavioral problem itself, while using a cognitive behavioral treatment format." ----- Curator comment: this is a useful primer on how to integate 12-step recovery principles into the sex addiction therapy process. Author: Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S 
"Nathan Haug is an upstanding high school student, on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. He has a high GPA, serves on the student council and swims competitively, but Haug had a secret he kept hidden from his family and friends during his early teen years -- he suffered from an addiction to online pornography." ----- Source: ABC News Nightline, May 8, 2012. 
"Pictures of women in the media have increasingly become hyper-sexualised, research has found. But the same is not true of the portrayal of men." ---- Source: Daily Mail, August 15, 2011. 
"Female sexual mania took two forms. Erotomaniacs......were 'restless, thoughtful, greatly depressed in mind, agitated, irritable and passionate'. Nymphomaniacs were less prone to mood swings and obsessions, and more given to indiscriminate sexual hunger. It suited Isabella’s counsel to be vague about which of the two conditions afflicted her." ---- Curator comment: this is an absorbing account by Kate Summerscale, in her new book "Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace", about an 1858 divorce trial that invoked a novel defense against charges of a woman's repeated infidelity. Source: The Telegraph, April 30, 2012. 
".......At this point the movie gives up its examination of the nature vs. nurture debate and moves into the area of sexual obsession.......Alraune is not portrayed as just a slut. She is a strong woman filled with excitement and a large appetite for what this world has to offer. Such a character was shocking in 1927, but today she would just be a normal modern woman.". ---- Curator comment: this is a review of what appears to be a fascinating 1928 movie by the director of "Nosferatu." The entire site reviews a number of what appear to be some extremely interesting films from the 1920's. Source: Rusty White's Film World 
Calling Kristina D. Renner "perhaps the most addictive personality I've run across in terms of drug, alcohol and sexual addiction," Putnam County Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter suggested Thursday that she needed "some significant time in jail." ---- Source: Greencastle Banner-Graphic (Indiana), April 27, 2012. |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  |
18 |
|
Next |
Good site. Keep it up.