Saturday, November 2, 2013
Repost: Marty Klein and "Sex Addiction"
I have a big academic crush on Marty Klein. I think his writing is clear and informative, although at times inflammatory (which I like).
I also appreciate his stance on “sex addiction” See his two most recent blog posts on it:
Are These Symptoms of Sex Addiction? No.
and
If It Isn’t Sex Addiction, How Do You Treat It?
Definitely go take the Sexuality Addiction Screening Test: it’s a hoot if you use pornography or erotica, go to sex clubs, engage in casual sex, have BDSM as part of your erotic life, or engage in exhibitionism or voyeurism. It’s also funny because it assumes that the people around you hold the same beliefs and values that you do around sexuality; thus, other people’s value systems are the basis for how you score.
Although I haven’t read a bunch about “sex addiction,” from what I know about addiction in general and from the information I have read from Marty Klein, I would tend to agree with him. It is interesting to me, though, that even sex positive organizations that serve the LGBTQ community in Portland offer space for sex addiction support groups to meet. Clearly, there are folks who believe sex addiction is a real thing. In fact, I then came across the website for Portland’s Sex Addicts Anonymous group; according to their criteria for what may be part of sex addiction, feeling asexual could be a component of sex addiction. What?!
Klein offers many other ways for folks to be treated for their compulsive or obsessive sexual behaviors, and his list makes sense to me. I especially love the last paragraph of his second post:
“Finally, let’s not forget that some “symptoms” of sex addiction don’t need treatment at all. They need a better understanding of the broad range of human sexuality, a bit of tolerance, and a culture that’s far less suspicious of eroticism. And a willingness for couples to confront their actual relationship (and for people to confront their actual desires), rather than taking the easy way out and demonizing sex.”
What are your thoughts on sex addiction? Have you ever felt addicted to sex? Do you know someone who feels they are addicted to sex?
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I read his post a week or so ago and couldn't agree more (with him and you). Sex probably can become an addictive like problem, but ironically I doubt that it's the sex that's addicting.
ReplyDeleteI'm no biologist, but from what I have read (which is a lot) the hormones that trigger the sexual drive do not work like other motivators in that they do not decrease in effectiveness with increased use.
You see, most drugs (from coffee to haroin) must be taken in increasing quantities over time in order to maintain the same level of effect.
Sex is not like this in that there is no decrease in the pleasure response with increased sexual activity.
In short, it's non-addictive. So, people who have an addictive like problem with sex (whatever that means) are probably addicted to something only tangentially related to the sex (such as the thrill of doing something "naughty" or a power thrill, etc).