Hypersexuality
Hypersexuality (pronounced: hi-per-sek-shoo-al-i-tee) is a clinical diagnosis used by mental healthcare researchers and providers to describe extremely frequent or suddenly increased sexual urges or sexual activity.
Etymology
The term "Hypersexuality" is derived from the Greek word "hyper" meaning over or beyond, and the Latin word "sexualis" referring to sexual.
Definition
Hypersexuality is characterized by a person engaging in various forms of sexual activity at a level considered significantly higher than the norm. This behavior is often associated with a decreased ability to resist sexual urges, leading to potential personal distress and social or occupational impairment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hypersexuality can vary among individuals, but they often include:
- Excessive time consumed by sexual fantasies and urges, and by planning for and engaging in sexual behavior.
- Repetitive engagement in sexual fantasies in response to stress.
- Repetitive engagement in sexual fantasies as a coping mechanism.
- Inability to control or significantly reduce these sexual fantasies, urges, and behavior.
Related Terms
- Nymphomania: This term is often used to describe hypersexuality in women, although it is not widely used in professional settings due to its historical and derogatory connotations.
- Satyriasis: This term is often used to describe hypersexuality in men, although it is not widely used in professional settings due to its historical and derogatory connotations.
- Compulsive sexual behavior: This is a more clinical term often used to describe hypersexuality. It emphasizes the compulsive nature of the behavior, regardless of the individual's level of sexual desire.
See Also
References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Kafka, M. P. (2010). Hypersexual disorder: A proposed diagnosis for DSM-V. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(2), 377-400.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hypersexuality
- Wikipedia's article - Hypersexuality
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