Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Considerations on Factors Contributing to Cybersex Addiction From a Cognitive-Behavioral View
Abstract
The nature of a phenomenon often called cybersex addiction (CA) and its mechanisms of development are discussed. Previous work suggests that some individuals might be vulnerable to CA, while positive reinforcement and cue-reactivity are considered to be core mechanisms of CA development. In this study, 155 heterosexual males rated 100 pornographic pictures and indicated their increase of sexual arousal. Moreover, tendencies towards CA, sensitivity to sexual excitation, and dysfunctional use of sex in general were assessed. In a latent structural equation model, dysfunctional use of sex mediated the relationship of sexual excitability with CA. The results of the study show that there are factors of vulnerability to CA and provide evidence for the role of sexual gratification and dysfunctional coping in the development of CA. According to the results and theoretical considerations, we present a cognitive-behavioral model of CA addressing factors of vulnerability, the role of cognitions, and the role of positive and negative reinforcement.
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This effect was accelerated in participants who reported high subjective craving after the presentation of pornographic pictures in an additional experimental task.
“This effect was accelerated in participants who reported high subjective craving after the presentation of pornographic pictures in an additional experimental task.”
From Integrating psychological and neurobiological considerations regarding the development and maintenance of specific Internet-use disorders: An Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model (2016) · cites this paper as Laier et al., 2014
In a sample of male pornography users, those individuals who performed the task with pornographic pictures on the disadvantageous card decks continued choosing cards from these decks despite receiving high losses.
“In a sample of male pornography users, those individuals who performed the task with pornographic pictures on the disadvantageous card decks continued choosing cards from these decks despite receiving high losses.”
From Integrating psychological and neurobiological considerations regarding the development and maintenance of specific Internet-use disorders: An Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model (2016) · cites this paper as Laier et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Laier, C., & Brand, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Brand, Matthias
- ORCID
- Brand, Matthias
- Venue
- Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-10-02
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 305-321
- ISSN
- 1072-0162 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-5318
- OpenAlex
- W2010436824
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10
- FWCI
- 9.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention (publishedVersion)
- Universitätsbibliographie, Universität Duisburg-Essen (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- cybersex addiction, online pornography, sexual arousal, vulnerability factors, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, cue reactivity, cognitive-behavioral model, sexual gratification, compulsive sexual behavior
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