The Myth of Sex Addiction - Hardcover

Ley, David J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1442213043 ISBN 13: 9781442213043

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012

Synopsis

The media today is filled with powerful men in trouble for their sexual behaviors, and invariably, they are diagnosed as sexual addicts. Once, these behaviors were considered a moral failing, but now they are viewed as evidence of a fictitious disease, that of "sexual addiction." The concept of sexual addiction is a controversial one because it is based on poor research and subjective moral judgments. Despite claims to the contrary, sex addiction is not a medically or scientifically accepted diagnosis. Sex addiction is a belief system, supported by faith, conviction and religious principles, that represents an attack on sexuality. Labeling these behaviors as sex addiction asserts a false, dangerous myth that undermines personal responsibility. Not only does this supposed epidemic of sex addiction mislabel male sexuality as dangerous and unhealthy, but it destroys our ability to hold people accountable for their behaviors. By labeling males as weak and powerless before the onslaught of desire and the churning tide of lust, we take away those things that men should live up to: personal responsibility; integrity; self-control; independence; accountability; self-motivation; honor; respect for self and others.
 
In The Myth of Sex Addiction, Dr. David Ley presents the cultural history, moral judgments and junk science underlying this alleged disorder. He exposes the subjective values embedded in the concept, as well as the significant economic factors that drive the label of sex addiction in clinical practice and the popular media. Ley outlines how this label represents a social attack on many forms of sexuality--male sexuality in particular--as well as presenting the difficulty this label creates in holding people responsible for their sexual behaviors. Going against current assumptions and trends, Ley debunks the idea that sex addiction is real. Instead, he suggests that the high-sex behaviors of some men is something that has been tacitly condoned for countless years and is only now labeled as a disorder as men are being held accountable to the same rules that have been applied to women. He suggests we should expect men to take responsibility for sexual choices, rather than supporting an approach that labels male sexual desire as a "demonic force" that must be resisted, feared, treated, and exorcised.

About this title

From the Author

The public is inundated with the labels of sex addiction, inappropriately and unethically applied to public figures involved in sex scandals. The media and countless addiction professionals present this disorder as though it is real, supported by science and accepted by the medical community. But, the reality is that sex addiction is NOT a valid diagnosis, is not accepted by the American medical, psychiatric or psychological communities and associations. There are many treatment centers and sex addictionologists who will take your money to treat sex addiction, but there is NO scientific evidence that their treatment works, or is worth your money. There is a strong scientific and medical skepticism and disdain for the idea of sex addiction, a debate that is not represented by the media. Instead, the media uses black and white junk science concepts like sex addiction to grab the audience's attention, creating a moral panic and using fear of sex to command a share of audience attention.

Though there are countless popular books that will tell you that you, your husband, wife and political leaders are or might be addicted to sex, there are no books that carefully examine the reality of the claims made by the true believers in sex addiction. This book was written to present the other side of the argument. I believe that the realities of this debate need to be public and transparent, to allow people to see that sex is not a disease, and that sexuality is a healthy, integral and important part of people's lives. Treating sex as dangerous, unhealthy and destructive stigmatizes many people, including men, women and the LGBT community. The label of sex addiction gives false excuses for the selfish, narcissistic and destructive acts that some husbands, leaders and celebrities engage in, and distracts from the real issues involved in their choices.

We need to demand that instead of simply calling someone a sex addict, we start asking the real questions of why and how people make the choices they do, whether it involves sex or not. And we need to demand responsibility and ethics, from our husbands and wives, from addiction treatment providers, from the media, and from our political leaders. This starts by exposing sex addiction as a shell game, a game that is using smoke and mirrors to hide moral judgments and to deny personal responsibility.

About the Author

David J. Ley is a clinical psychologist in practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He provides clinical and consultative services in numerous other states. Dr. Ley currently serves as Executive Director of a large outpatient behavioral health agency in Albuquerque and maintains a current caseload of clients. He is the author of Insatiable Wives: Women Who Stray and the Men Who Love Them (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009).

Edition details

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1442213043
• ISBN 13: 9781442213043
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256