The Relation of Intra-Psychic and Relational Aspects of the Self to Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Background and Aims: Research has indicated that addictions include not only the consumption of psychoactive substances but also behavioral addictions such as compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). In the current study we examine differences in the “addictive personality” of people with CSB as well as drug addicts.

Methods: The sample sized included 160 Israeli men, of whom 67 were members of Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) support groups, 48 were members of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support groups, and 45 were from the general community. Self-report measures of intra-psychic (narcissism, self-compassion, self-efficacy) and relational-related (sense of entitlement, pathological concern) measures were administrated.

Results: Results indicate that SA groups had higher narcissism, lacked self-compassion and efficacy, and had greater pathological senses of entitlement and concern than drug addicts and control individuals.

Conclusion: A theoretical conceptualization of these results is presented as a basis for future research directions and clinical intervention.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Yishai Greenbaum and Evi Ziv for their assistance in conducting the study on the NA group members at the Kiryat Shlomo clinic.