Literature Review: Attachment Style and Hypersexual Disorder

Abstract

Hypersexual Disorder (HD), currently known as ‘sexual addiction’, is characterized by an increase in both, frequency and intensity, of: sex-related fantasies, enhanced arousal, impulsivity and non-paraphilic sexual activities, that are associated to impulsivity and personal stress. These symptoms cause remarkable discomfort, as well as social and work maladjustment that remain over time. It has been found that numerous individuals suffering from HD recount early childhood experiences of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. These experiences are likely to compromise the development of a secure attachment bond. Attachment styles have an influence in the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships such as pair bonding, attraction, love and sexuality. Thereby, it is hypothesized that there might exist a link between attachment styles and the development of HD. A literature review was carried out at Pubmed, using the following key words: hypersexuality, attachment, sexual compulsion, sex addiction, hypersexual behaviour and hypersexual disorder. 47 articles were found, from which 39 were analysed. The 8 remaining articles were discarded, as they focused on the measurement of HD 's organic variables such as neurofunctional studies or HD’s symptoms produced by biological diseases.