The processes that are involved in sexual addiction and recovery were explored in this research. A phenomenological-hermeneutic method was employed in interviewing five male recovering sexual addicts. Themes of sexual addiction and recovery were then extrapolated from the words the participants used to express their life experience. Eleven themes characterizing the addiction process emerged from the transcriptions of the participant's in-depth interviews, as well as six themes relating to recovery. It is hoped that a deeper understanding of the sexual addict's internal and external motivations for the use of sex, will be achieved by depicting several addict' experiences in an unfolding story. It is up to readers of this research to draw their own conclusions and to take what is relevant to them from the words of the sexual addicts and the researcher's interpretation of those words. There is one absolute interpretation of the participants' life experiences. This research only suggests possibilities to illuminate interpretations of the lived experiences of the five participants involved. / vii, 128 leaves ; 29 cm.

Sexual compulsivity describes poorly controlled sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, and behavior. The purpose of the current study was to examine and compare, utilizing a non-clinical sample, the relative psychometric properties of two existing scales used to assess sexual compulsivity, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory. Participants were 334 male undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 42 years (M =19.54, SD = 2.16) enrolled in Introductory Psychology courses at a mid-sized Midwestern university. Zero-order correlation analyses were conducted to identify which sexual behaviors and constructs associated with sexuality were significantly related to scores on the CSBI and the SCS. Examination of the differential patterns of sexuality relations suggests the CSBI and the SCS may measure different aspects of compulsivity. Step-wise regression analyses indicated that the use of drugs and alcohol to gain compliance from a sexual partner, fantasies of impersonal sex, and sexual anxiety were significant predictors for both the CSBI and the SCS. On the CSBI, the final predictor that accounted for a significant increase in variance accounted for was expressing anger, while on the SCS additional variance was accounted for by sexual preoccupation. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. / Department of Psychological Science

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1995. / Includes project contract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 281-285).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 2002. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 283-291).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 2002. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 283-291).

First offering insight into the disease of sexual addiction overall and what, in fact, does delineate it from sexual promiscuity, this paper will go on to seek ways to mitigate such behavior by exploring not only symptoms, but the existing underlying issues as well through a yogic whole-body perspective. Furthermore, diving deeper into such an application, specifically under the context of the yamas and niyamas and investigating how both might, not only serve as therapeutic tools for sex addicts, but perhaps allow for a healthier approach overall to sex in the modern world. First offering insight into the disease of sexual addiction overall and what, in fact, does delineate it from sexual promiscuity, this paper will go on to seek ways to mitigate such behavior by exploring not only symptoms, but the existing underlying issues as well through a yogic whole-body perspective. Furthermore, diving deeper into such an application, specifically under the context of the yamas and niyamas and investigating how both might, not only serve as therapeutic tools for sex addicts, but perhaps allow for a healthier approach overall to sex in the modern world.

Over the last three decades, social justice-oriented evangelical Christians of various political stripes have become increasingly concerned about the problem of human trafficking. This issue has brought together Christians concerned about pornography and sex addiction, the social effects of immigration policy, and the exploitation of the poor in a globalized world. Widespread evangelical interest in the problem of human trafficking – particularly sex trafficking – has created an entire industry of non-profit service providers, foundations, advocacy organizations, missions, and parachurch ministries devoted to “ending modern slavery.” Their advocacy has spread beyond overtly religious spaces, and the movement to end human trafficking has become one of the most significant religious and humanitarian movements of the twenty-first century. Why has “ending modern slavery” become a special calling for American evangelical Christians, and what does this tell us about evangelical humanitarianism? How do everyday Christians – from non-profit CEOs and legal advocates to lay volunteers and social workers – conceptualize human trafficking as a distinct category of human exploitation, come to feel a particular calling toward anti-trafficking work, and imagine possible solutions to this humanitarian and moral crisis? My project centers on an ethnographic study of a faith-based, anti-trafficking non-profit organization in New York City, Restore NYC, and intervenes in broader political and academic conversations about the nature of American evangelicalism; the neoliberalism of faith-based humanitarianism; and gender, affect, and genre in the “rescue industry.” I use ethnography, archival research, and popular media analysis to explicate the motivations, tactics, ideology, and theology of the contemporary anti-trafficking movement, while positioning it within the longer history of evangelical humanitarianism.

Internet is today described as a new platform for sex and sexual encounters with unlimited access to anonymous sex, cybersex and pornography due to the expansion of Internet throughout the word. Computers provide new technology and the possibility of constant access via phones, tablets and computers. Even though many people claim this is something positive it has also been discussed in terms of sexual exploitation, abuse and dependence. Risks expected to increase in line with the technological development that is taking place. The purpose of this study is therefore to explore the capacity of different health facilities to cater the need of care in regard to an increased number of people, with risk to develop a behaviour that could be classified as sex addiction. The study is based on interviews with four professionals at three different health facilities in Malmö with the intention to find out how different health facilities look at the concept of sex addiction, when a behaviour transitioning to become an addiction and what treatment they recommend.According to respondents a behaviour become an addiction when the patient/client experience the consequences of the behaviour as negative or when the behaviour becomes compulsive. In addition, all stated that they never would ascribe a patient/client as a sex addict and all were careful in their use of the term sex addiction. Additionally it became clear that there are individual differences in course of action taken by the professionals within these health facilities.

Partners of sex addicts report symptoms similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder in a mental health crisis known as betrayal trauma. Behaviors that constitute sexual addiction include viewing pornography, a behavior often claimed to affect no one but the user. This article presents an analysis of 1,191 qualitative responses to an item on the Trauma Inventory for Partners of Sex Addicts (TIPSA), with particular emphasis on respondents’ self-reported disruption to relationships outside of the marriage/romantic relationship (e.g., with their children, employers, friends) following discovery of betrayal. Phenomenological analysis was conducted on participants’ responses to determine if other relationships are/are not being significantly affected. Seven themes of disruption were found, including impairment to functioning, difficulty fulfilling roles, preoccupation, loss of identity, shame, getting stuck, and moving on. A discussion is included on the implications of these findings, including the implications for therapists who work with sex addicts and their partners and recommendations for policy changes.

In recent decades there has been an increase in literature regarding sexual addiction as well as a growing number of clients presenting in therapy with problems related to their sexual behaviors (including internet sexual addiction). More recently, the impact of sexual addiction on couples has been noted, but little is known regarding how couples can be assisted in the recovery process. In this qualitative study, I explored in depth the critical change processes in couple therapy for sexual addiction from the therapist's perspective, including the therapist's role in that process. The findings suggest that couple recovery from sexual addiction includes (a) individual responsibility in recovery (which includes themes of trauma, family-of-origin, emotional reactivity, depersonalizing, and utilizing other resources), (b) couple recovery (which includes the themes of family-of-origin, communication, empathy, intimacy, trust, and sexual intimacy), (c) balancing individual recovery with couple recovery in the process of healing (which includes the themes of education, accountability, and couple perspective) and (d) distinguishing affairs from sexual addiction. I discuss the implications of study findings, offering a sequential outline of the process of therapy with couples who are struggling to recover from sexual addiction, including therapist interventions that may assist in that process. Limitations to the study and implications for future research in sexual addiction generally and MFT specifically are presented. / Ph. D.