Recovery from Sexual Compulsivity
Abstract
Sexual compulsivity is a developmental adaptation to neglect or abuse that leads to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional consequences as well as impairment in capacity for intimacy. Recovery from sexual compulsivity involves integration of various psychotherapy components needed to address underlying trauma, repetition compulsion, developmental roadblocks, compulsive behavioral reenactments, emotion dysregulation, and intimacy disorder. Effective treatment involves trauma work, symptom-specific treatment, and reconstruction of an erotic template or love map that reduces objectification, compulsion, and variance while affording opportunities for corrective emotional experience, skills development, and enhancement of choices for intimacy.
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These fantasies often masquerade as coping mechanisms.
“These fantasies often masquerade as coping mechanisms but can evolve into shame, dependency, and emotional harm (Schwartz and Southern 2017).”
From Toward an Ethic of Synthetic Relationality: Identity, Intimacy, and Risk in AI-Mediated Roleplay Environments (2025) · cites this paper as Schwartz and Southern 2017
These fantasies can evolve into shame, dependency, and emotional harm.
“These fantasies often masquerade as coping mechanisms but can evolve into shame, dependency, and emotional harm (Schwartz and Southern 2017).”
From Toward an Ethic of Synthetic Relationality: Identity, Intimacy, and Risk in AI-Mediated Roleplay Environments (2025) · cites this paper as Schwartz and Southern 2017
Cites
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Object relations, dependency, and attachment: a theoretical review of the infant-mother relationship
Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1969) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1127008 · Cited by 1,461 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Secure attachment in intimate relationships refers to the capacity to turn to caretakers for a secure base, feelings of safety and security, and the experience of being seen and known as valued (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980).”
BackgroundFoa, E. B., Rothbaum, B. O., Riggs, D. S., & Murdock, T. B. (1991) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.59.5.715 · Cited by 1,444 · see citing works
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Detached Mindfulness In Cognitive Therapy: A Metacognitive Analysis And Ten Techniques
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Young, K. S. (2008) · American Behavioral Scientist · doi:10.1177/0002764208321339 · Cited by 227 · cited 2× · see citing works
“temporary Internet culture of sexual compulsivity favors virtual and non-relational sex through ease of access, affordability, and anonymity (Cooper, Putnam, Planchon, & Boies, 1999; Young, 2008).”
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Bhat, M. (2025) · Proceedings of the AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society · doi:10.1609/aies.v8i1.36560 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Schwartz, M. F., & Southern, S.
- Affiliations
- Harmony Place Monterey, Monterey, California
- Corresponding author
- Schwartz, Mark F.
- Venue
- Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-07-03
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 224-240
- ISSN
- 1072-0162 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-5318
- OpenAlex
- W2755507208
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Sex work and related issues
- Keywords
- compulsive sexual behavior, recovery, child sexual abuse, neglect, trauma work, repetition compulsion, emotional dysregulation, corrective emotional experience, psychotherapy
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