Definition of Sex Addiction

Sex addiction is a psychiatric disorder characterized by compulsive sexual behavior that is pervasive, progressive, and destructive. Sex addiction is not simple promiscuity. Sex addicts act out in a clearly compulsive manner and suffer some of the same after effects as other types of addicts.

Sex addicts are not necessarily sex offenders, and sex offenders are not necessarily sex addicts. There is cross-over between these two issues, but they can be mutually exclusive issues.

The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity defines sexual addiction as “engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others.”

A sex addict partakes in sexual activities that are compulsive, result in damage to self or others, put them at risk for disease, and damage relationships.

The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Psyciatric Disorders describes sex addiction as:

“…distress about a pattern of repeated sexual relationships involving a succession of lovers who are experienced by the individual only as things to be used. [Sex addiction involves] compulsive searching for multiple partners, compulsive fixation on an unattainable partner, compulsive masturbation, compulsive love relationships and compulsive sexuality in a relationship.”

Easy access to pornography on the Internet has led to an increase in addiction to sexually explicit materials. In these cases, spouses and significant others become distressed as the porn addiction takes precedence over all aspects of the person’s life. Compulsive viewing of pornographic material may be so extreme that the person views pornography in the workplace and risks their livelihood.

Because sexual activity is an essential aspect of human survival, treatment can be more complicated than when the addictive activity is not essential (such as drugs, alcohol, or gambling). Therefore, the goal of treatment is to help the sex addict develop a positive, healthy sex life.