Sex and Porn Addiction: Psychology, Causes and Treatment

Any behavior that exceeds the norms and turns into addiction is considered a disorder even if it concerned a regular activity such as sex.

Because of the sex hormones present in the bodies of human beings, sex is considered a regular activity; however, when the desire for sex takes over the person’s life in such a case that he thinks of nothing other than sex, then this means that the person has developed a specific psychological disorder.

This article will tell you about sex addiction psychology, the causes of sex and porn addiction, and how it can be treated.

What causes sex/porn addiction, the psychology of sex addiction

When trying to understand sex addiction from a psychological point of view, you have to forget about hormones and focus on the psychological drives that could motivate a person to go after sex all the time.

Here are a few examples that will show you how sex addiction can be the result of certain unmet psychological needs that has nothing to do with sex:

• Sex addiction and asserting masculinity: Some men become addicted to sex because they doubt their masculinity. For them having sex reminds them of the fact that they are men, and that’s why they become addicted to it. You will also find a connection between people who like dirty jokes and the fact that they doubt their masculinity. By challenging their masculinity, I mean hating certain traits about themselves that are not considered manly characteristics according to their frame of reference.
• Sex addiction and the need for love: Some women who were neglected as children and who didn’t find enough love in their childhood turn into sex addicts. Those women might not become aware that the main cause behind their sex addiction is feeling unloved. They find themselves becoming sex addicts without understanding the reason behind it.
• Sex addiction and escapement: The desire to escape from life’s problems can result in sex addiction. I have said that many people turn to addiction to escape from life problems, and sex addiction is no different. Because sex makes the person feel good many people become sex addicts to escape from their bad moods
• Sex addiction & self-doubts: Sex addiction can also be caused by self-doubts. Some people try to make as many people fall in love with them as they can because they have self-doubts. Sex addiction is no different since having sex can be considered an indication that the person is valued. Some people become sex addicts and move from one affair to another to prove that they are worthy of being loved.

Sex addiction treatment

Of course, I am not saying that the four previous causes are the only ones that cause sex addiction because there are many other ones. However, the concept is always the same; the person tries to reach a specific goal through sex addiction other than the satisfaction that results from sex itself.

Based on the previous facts, it’s clear that treating sex addition requires a deep understanding of the psychological goals the person is trying to fulfill through sex.

Once the psychological goal behind sex addiction is understood, treating it will require no more effort than helping the person realize that he is using sex to reach a particular purpose than helping him achieve that purpose in a better way.

Sex is not a bad thing, but sex addiction is. As long as addiction affects your life in the wrong way, it’s undoubtedly considered a disorder that needs treatment.