Introduction
Prior literature has identified some distinctions between the related domains of “compulsive sexual behavior,” “hypersexuality”/“hypersexual disorder,” and “sexual compulsivity”. In the present chapter, we will use the term “sexual addiction” to refer to all of the above. Sexual addiction is often characterized by a difficulty in controlling inappropriate or excessive sexual fantasies, urges/cravings, or behaviors that cause marked distress or impairment in one’s life (Kraus et al. 2016). In this chapter, we will explore the defining features of sexual addiction, its prevalence, associated personality features, comorbid psychiatric problems, related neurobiological factors, and current approaches to treatment. We will conclude with a discussion of implications of the literature review as well as recommendations for future exploration of this condition.
Clinical Correlates of Sexual Addiction
Onset. Data from cross-sectional research has provided useful information on the...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Crosby, J. M., & Twohig, M. P. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy for problematic internet pornography use: A randomized trial. Behavior Therapy, 47, 355–366.
Dhuffar, M. K., Pontes, H. M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). The role of negative mood states and consequences of hypersexual behaviours in predicting hypersexuality among university students. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 4, 181–188.
Erez, G., Pilver, C. E., & Potenza, M. N. (2014). Gender-related differences in the associations between sexual impulsivity and psychiatric disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 55, 117–125.
Kafka, M. P. (2010). Hypersexual disorder: A proposed diagnosis for DSM-V. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 377–400.
Klos, K. J., Bower, J. H., Josephs, K. A., Matsumoto, J. Y., & Ahlskog, J. E. (2005). Pathological hypersexuality predominantly linked to adjuvant dopamine agonist therapy in Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 11, 381–386.
Kraus, S. W., Potenza, M. N., Martino, S., & Grant, J. E. (2015). Examining the psychometric properties of the Yale – Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale in a sample of compulsive pornography users. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 59, 117–122.
Kraus, S. W., Voon, V., & Potenza, M. N. (2016). Should compulsive sexual behavior be considered an addiction? Addiction, 111, 2097–2106.
Kraus, S. W., Martino, S., Potenza, M. N., Park, C., Merrel, J., & Hoff, R. A. (2017). Examining Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Psychopathology Among a Sample of Post-deployment US Male and Female Military Veterans. Military Psychology, 29(2), 143–156.
Kuzma, J. M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Epidemiology, prevalence, and natural history of compulsive sexual behavior. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31, 603–111.
Odlaug, B. L., Lust, K., Schreiber, L. R., Christenson, G., Derbyshire, K., Harvanko, A., … Grant, J. E. (2013). Compulsive sexual behavior in young adults. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 25, 193–200.
Pinto, J., Carvalho, J., & Nobre, P. J. (2013). The relationship between the FFM personality traits, state psychopathology, and sexual compulsivity in a sample of male college students. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10, 1773–1782.
Reid, R. C. (2010). Differentiating emotions in a sample of men in treatment for hypersexual behavior. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 10, 197–213.
Reid, R. C., Carpenter, B. N., Spackman, M., & Willes, D. L. (2008). Alexithymia, emotional instability, and vulnerability to stress proneness in patients seeking help for hypersexual behavior. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 34, 133–149.
Reid, R. C., Carpenter, B. N., Hook, J. N., Garos, S., Manning, J. C., Gilliland, R., … Fong, T. (2012). Report of findings in a DSM-5 field trial for hypersexual disorder. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9, 2868–2877.
Rosenberg, K. P., Carnes, P., & O’Connor, S. (2014). Evaluation and treatment of sex addiction. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 40, 77–91.
Smith, P. H., Potenza, M. N., Mazure, C. M., McKee, S. A., Park, C. L., & Hoff, R. A. (2014). Compulsive sexual behavior among male military veterans: Prevalence and associated clinical factors. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3, 214–222.
Voon, V., Mole, T. B., Banca, P., Porter, L., Morris, L., Mitchell, S., … Irvine, M. (2014). Neural correlates of sexual cue reactivity in individuals with and without compulsive sexual behaviours. PLoS One, 9, e102419.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Cooper, I., Houchins, J.R., Kraus, S.W. (2018). Personality and Sexual Addiction. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2114-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2114-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences