Does Sex Addiction Have Any Basis in Science?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

As per the underlying mechanics of the addiction. Create a neural pathway to facilitate something, and its perpetuation is easy. Which is also why some habits are hard to break.

"I wish I knew how to quit you."

you two get a room.

That was a quote to some of my habits...

[Niels Bohr 72]

I can cure sex addiction. All female who are victims to this rehabilitating disease, come to my place. I'll relieve you of your pains.

[HannahP 119]

Any behavior/stimulus that activates too many dopaminergic neurons in the pleasure centers of the brain (basal ganglia) will habituate those connections to preferentially fire upon repetition to the point of requiring more exposure to such behaviors and stimuli in the future. This is the classical neurobiological definition of addiction.

So yes- even sex can become an addiction unto itself. Of course- the study of grade of addiction can be broken down into the pleasurable experience of sex triggered by higher cortical functions (addiction to one person as a spouse) or the pleasurable experience in itself... meaning that the addiction can get 'out of hand.' The latter tends to happen when the association of pleasure, sex, and repetition is tied to a reward that does not have consequences. The brain actually codes this one way or another.

I love someone who can conjure up a decent understanding of psychiatry/neuro-biology.

But I can't have sex with a computer.

Edited December 20, 2008 by HannahP

[Niels Bohr 72]

Well, as a Computer Engineer...I can tell you that my computer is my second wife. I know its intimate detail. From microprocessor to micro-contollers, and from machine software to higher level software, I know the ins and outs. I know my computer more so than I do know my wife.

[Amby 490]

you're such a giver

[*Robert* 2]

I need to see pictures to better understand the article.

Well, as a Computer Engineer...I can tell you that my computer is my second wife. I know its intimate detail. From microprocessor to micro-contollers, and from machine software to higher level software, I know the ins and outs. I know my computer more so than I do know my wife.

TMI!!!

[HAL 9000 96]

As per the underlying mechanics of the addiction. Create a neural pathway to facilitate something, and its perpetuation is easy. Which is also why some habits are hard to break.

"I wish I knew how to quit you."

[HAL 9000 96]

Any behavior/stimulus that activates too many dopaminergic neurons in the pleasure centers of the brain (basal ganglia) will habituate those connections to preferentially fire upon repetition to the point of requiring more exposure to such behaviors and stimuli in the future. This is the classical neurobiological definition of addiction.

So yes- even sex can become an addiction unto itself. Of course- the study of grade of addiction can be broken down into the pleasurable experience of sex triggered by higher cortical functions (addiction to one person as a spouse) or the pleasurable experience in itself... meaning that the addiction can get 'out of hand.' The latter tends to happen when the association of pleasure, sex, and repetition is tied to a reward that does not have consequences. The brain actually codes this one way or another.

I love someone who can conjure up a decent understanding of psychiatry/neuro-biology.

But I can't have sex with a computer.

Does it help that my MS Thesis covered neuronal plasticity in Somatosensory cortex?

But HAL 9000 loves everyone.

[Ban Hammer 12,839]

But HAL 9000 loves everyone.

#######!

[DeadPoolX 9]

I don't know if I really believe in "sex addiction" or at least, something such as that which could be added to the DSM-IV. However, if you wished to cure someone's sex addiction, one option would be to make yourself resemble a member of his or her family (i.e. mother, father, grandfather, grandmother). Unless you've run into a Jerry Springer invitee, the chances of him or her being interested in that case is exceedingly slim.

[*Robert* 2]

But HAL 9000 loves everyone.

#######!

But in a good way!

[NickD 202]

Watched a science program on sex, said of the animal world, the human race has the greatest sex drive and is the only species that can engage in sex 24/7. So is that an addiction or we born that way?

Use to be, okay for your kids to watch murder on TV, you know cowboys and indians, but never sex, sex is a dirty word, but even that is changing now. Depending on how many times the F word is used or how many sex scenes, can be rated PG-13, R, or even X.

Ha, was brought up to think that girls didn't like sex, man, were they wrong. They are worse than us guys are!

[HAL 9000 96]

But HAL 9000 loves everyone.

#######!

Jealous.

[HAL 9000 96]

Watched a science program on sex, said of the animal world, the human race has the greatest sex drive and is the only species that can engage in sex 24/7. So is that an addiction or we born that way?

Use to be, okay for your kids to watch murder on TV, you know cowboys and indians, but never sex, sex is a dirty word, but even that is changing now. Depending on how many times the F word is used or how many sex scenes, can be rated PG-13, R, or even X.

Ha, was brought up to think that girls didn't like sex, man, were they wrong. They are worse than us guys are!

Well... the current line of thinking in that about our species being ohhh ohhh ohhh more sexxed up has to do with being able to couple higher cortical memories, thoughts, and feelings of sex with the physical aspects of the phenomenon. Plus having it surrounding us in everything from our entertainment to our language helps its manifestation a little more than say with chimps or dolphins... two other pretty wild and crazy mammalian species.

[Ban Hammer 12,839]

But HAL 9000 loves everyone.

#######!

Jealous.

i'm not touching your keyboard, no telling where it's been.