Sex addiction is the new psycho babble buzz word. Like a lot of populist terms, it is often badly misused. On the face of it, it seems like quite a reasonable assumption that if humans can become addicted to drugs, alcohol or tobacco, then they can easily become addicted to sex. But it’s not that simple.

 

Healthy human beings have a strong desire for sex. It’s not called a sex “drive” for nothing. Reproduction is a biological imperative. We are programmed to seek sex. In fact, lack of interest or low interest in sex can indicate a medical problem or psychiatric illness. The compulsion to drink alcohol, smoke or consume drugs is not genetically programmed into us. It is learned behaviour. It is abnormal.

 

There is a wide range of variation in human sexuality that still falls within the range of normal. Someone with a high sex drive is not necessarily a sex addict. It only a compulsion when it seriously interferes with healthy social functioning – when the obsession with sex becomes all consuming and self destructive.

 

Numerous studies have shown that men have a lot more sexual thoughts than women do. It is no coincidence that the porn industry is almost entirely centered on men. There is an inbuilt disparity between male and female sexuality which makes it very easy to label males “sex addicts” as a convenient explanation for what in many cases is entirely normal behaviour.

 

Pinning labels on things is very convenient. It fits in nicely with the prevailing culture of victim hood and avoids the necessity for looking at relationship problems more deeply. While it may be true that there are some people who are genuine sex addicts, the problem is not nearly as widespread as the media would have us believe. Sexual addiction is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a diagnostic guide used by psychologists and psychiatrists.

 

Is it really credible that this “illness” has only emerged in the past few years? And that it is hardly recognized outside of the lucrative American psychotherapy industry? Labeling someone a “sex addict” should be done with great caution. Like so many other fads, this too will pass….