Emotion dysregulation and hypersexuality: review and clinical implications

ABSTRACT

There is a long and varied history of research on hypersexuality, but no consensus on either etiology or therapeutic interventions. In an effort to advance understanding of hypersexuality, we review the largely separate literatures on hypersexuality and emotion dysregulation, which has recently been suggested to be a critical factor in the development and maintenance of mental health problems. Unfortunately, there is also a lack of consensus on the various primary and intervening factors involved in development of emotion regulation or emotion dysregulation. First, we review theories and empirical evidence to try to explain how emotion dysregulation could contribute to the onset of hypersexuality or other inappropriate sexual behavior. Next, an attachment-theory perspective is used to develop a common etiological model for both emotion dysregulation and hypersexuality. Finally, we address the issue of hypersexual behavior in the context of couple relationships, taking an interpersonal perspective on emotion and emotion regulation. We refer to different age categories, ranging from adolescence to elderly, as emotion regulation skills are likely to change throughout the lifespan.

Keywords:

• Hypersexuality
• emotion regulation
• lifespan
• attachment
• couples therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Although we refer to ER as a “competence”, it should be stressed that the use of this term is not intended to imply that all ER processes are subject to conscious control and cognitive intervention (see Siegel, 1999).

2. We are grateful to an anonymous reviewer for pointing this out.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carlo Garofalo

Carlo Garofalo is a clinical psychologist, doctoral candidate in dynamic and clinical psychology at Sapienza – University of Rome, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology. His main research interest includes the study of emotion regulation, personality functioning and violent behavior, particularly in the field of psychopathology. He is an author or a co-author of five publications in peer-review international journals, and one book chapter.

Patrizia Velotti

Patrizia Velotti, PhD, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and a psychotherapist. She is an associate professor in dynamic psychology at University of Genoa, Department of Educational Sciences, where she teaches “Adult Psychopathology” and “Adolescence Psychopathology.” Her work is grounded in attachment theory, motivational systems theory, self and interactive regulation, and dyadic systems theory. He is currently investigating the role of emotion dysregulation in different contexts, including violent behavior within the couple. She is a co-author of 14 publications in peer-review international journals, co-author or editor of four books in Italian, one of which has already been translated in English (What make us stay together. Attachment Theory and couple outcomes, Karnak, UK, 2014).

Giulio Cesare Zavattini

Giulio Cesare Zavattini is a clinical psychologist and a psychoanalyst (IPA), specialized in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with couples. He is a full professor in dynamic psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, where he teaches “Psychopathology of Couple and Parental Relationships”. His work concerns the study of the relationship between interactions and Internal Working Models, with particular regards to attachment theory with respect to family relationships and couples. He is an author or a co-author of 29 publications in peer-review international journals, author or editor of several books in Italian, one of which has been translated in English (What make us stay together. Attachment Theory and couple outcomes, Karnak, UK, 2014). He is a full member of the Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies (SEAS) the British Society of Couple Psychotherapists and Counsellors; the International Association of Couple and Family Psychoanalysis; and member of the International Advisory Board del Journal Couple and Family Psychoanalysis.