Parameters of Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Added: 11/09/2005

Those suffering from compulsive sexual behavior have a tough issue to deal with. Partly because sexual behavior is governed by societal decrees deeming what is proper and what's not and in part because sexual interactions have for so many years been relegated to discussions held behind closed doors not to be aired in the public forum. As with any behavior in which there are societal stigmas attached those with compulsive sexual behavior issues often perceive themselves to be pariahs and further exacerbate the problems by keeping their problems to themselves. Since many manifestations of this type of behavior are undesirable it is an understandable reaction.

The mention of the phrase, compulsive sexual behavior elicits a variety of reactions from those hearing it. Many are unaware that compulsive sexual behavior exists, many perceive that all compulsive sexual behavior is antisocial and result from depravity and mental illness while others perceive that some types of compulsive sexual behavior while they can be problematic aren't insurmountable.

Discussions of sexual behavior are becoming more and more common and there is less of a feeling that everything should be as hush hush as it has been in the past. Sexual interactions are a natural component of life and as such shouldn't be relegated to secrecy and the unknown. Those that still subscribe to this thought process of secrecy are contributing to problems engendered whenever there is lack of knowledge about a subject.

Compulsive sexual behavior falls into two categories, paraphilic and nonparaphilic. Paraphilic compulsive sexual behavior are those that are considered anti social and detrimental not only to the person exhibiting them but most particularly to those who are the subject of them. Some manifestations of this type of behavior are considered illegal acts in this and many countries. The category is broken down into various subcategories for each of the unique forms of behavior. These breakdowns include pedophilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, masochism, sadism, transvestism, fetishism and frotteurism. The manifestations of each of these compulsive sexual behaviors results in damage that is physical, emotion and/or mental to the recipient of paraphilic compulsive sexual behavior.

Nonparaphilic compulsive sexual behavior describes the act of taking conventional sexual behaviors to the extreme. This may be a short lived event such as what may happen when teen-agers first reaches puberty and are experimenting with 'something new' or when a couple is in the first stages of romance and can't get enough of each other. There are, of course, the extreme cases that result in long term detrimental life altering, negative repercussions.

The word compulsive can be defined as an irresistible impulse to act regardless of the rationality of the motivation. Societal decrees, in large part, play a major role in how we perceive sexual interactions. Normal sexual interactions haven't been fully explored or understood in part because of the religious and other stigmas that have been placed on frank discussions. Encouraging people to perceive a particular sexual behavior that is in conflict with a specific value system as being obsessive or compulsive or by some other negative connotation is a common tool used to control a cultures populace. Another controlling tool used, promotes the concept that a particular behavior is 'all in the mind'. In other words the idea that a person can control their proclivities even when that behavior has been medically classified as a disorder and therefore in need of medication not lecturing.

Those with compulsive sexual behavior issues often find themselves having to deal with many issues. There are the societal stigmas, the realization that they are hurting themselves and usually others and for those wishing to find help, the awareness that doing so may compromise them further in the eyes of their friends, co-workers and relatives. There was a time when suffering mental illness was seen as a human failing and not to be tolerated. Such concepts have been tossed out with the enlightened reality that most are the result of chemical imbalances. Normal sexual behaviors aren't fully understood and perhaps with a little enlightened thinking people suffering in silence can be helped. Fear is always engendered by the unknown and bringing issues into the full, bright light of day usually renders the fears to the realm of the neglibable or at least the eminently solvable.

For those exhibiting compulsive sexual behavior that are unconscionable at the moment the only solution seems to be the incarceration. More study needs to be done to figure out the exact causes of such behavior and what if anything might be able to help these people.

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