Introduction to the Revised Edition

Abstract

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the medical opinion of sex addiction was often stated as "interesting but phenomenological." In medical and scientific jargon, it is not real science. Basically, the concept of sex being an addiction was built on people&s;s stories, which had parallels with each other. Orford&s;s original article in the British Journal of Addiction acknowledged the speculative nature of sexual "dependency". The kinds of behaviors developed into never before understood constellations of sexual expression. The same family of origin types was documented, abuse and shame experiences appeared to be core, and most importantly, their behaviors fit the addiction criteria. Moreover, other addictions appeared to partner with the sexual behavior. Therapists everywhere sooner or later had someone walk in who told the "story," but with cybersex a catalyst. Sex addiction and gaming are affecting our children and the problem is increasing in alarming ways.