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chickentribs · 12-27-2004, 11:54 PM

Kid - I believe that society as a whole has been too aggressive in labeling sex as an addiction prone behavior. Addiction is a serious malady that is has extreme physical consequences and needs to be treated medically many times, as a disease. To be more accurate, you will find sexual (and gambling) compulsions, which refers to the need to behave in a specific way to reinforce negative ideas that a person may have about themselves that are designed to have bad consequences (Cheating on partners habitually or taking your paycheck to the casino).

Much more common is sexual impulsiveness, which refers to somebody who enjoys the feeling of sex or orgasm and pursues it out of a natural desire to feel good, many times to the exclusion of other things (homework vs. 10 good minutes with Penthouse).

By the accepted ideas of "sexual addiction", most 15 - 18 year old males (and a fair share of females) would be considered "addicts" in this country.

It's unfortunate that we have allowed the religious right to demonize sexual relations and sell guilt to the point we question ourselves for the most basic of instincts. I'm certainly no psychologist, but I do believe that most compulsions are a direct result of people that can't come to terms with sexualness, and it becomes the pain they can't stop focusing on.

Simply put - do good, feel good. Respect others, and enjoy stuff. When you read and hear how sex is "bad, perverted, sinful", don't be afraid to question it - be confident that as long as you are being safe, honest, and responsible, that is more morality than the strangers pointing fingers will ever have.

12-27-2004, 11:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
chickentribs Addict Location: Mansion by day/Secret Lair by night	Kid - I believe that society as a whole has been too aggressive in labeling sex as an addiction prone behavior. Addiction is a serious malady that is has extreme physical consequences and needs to be treated medically many times, as a disease. To be more accurate, you will find sexual (and gambling) compulsions, which refers to the need to behave in a specific way to reinforce negative ideas that a person may have about themselves that are designed to have bad consequences (Cheating on partners habitually or taking your paycheck to the casino). Much more common is sexual impulsiveness, which refers to somebody who enjoys the feeling of sex or orgasm and pursues it out of a natural desire to feel good, many times to the exclusion of other things (homework vs. 10 good minutes with Penthouse). By the accepted ideas of "sexual addiction", most 15 - 18 year old males (and a fair share of females) would be considered "addicts" in this country. It's unfortunate that we have allowed the religious right to demonize sexual relations and sell guilt to the point we question ourselves for the most basic of instincts. I'm certainly no psychologist, but I do believe that most compulsions are a direct result of people that can't come to terms with sexualness, and it becomes the pain they can't stop focusing on. Simply put - do good, feel good. Respect others, and enjoy stuff. When you read and hear how sex is "bad, perverted, sinful", don't be afraid to question it - be confident that as long as you are being safe, honest, and responsible, that is more morality than the strangers pointing fingers will ever have. __________________ Oft expectation fails... and most oft there Where most it promises - Shakespeare, W.