HLTHAGE 2L03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Alcoholism, Consumerism, Heterosexuality
17 Dec 2018
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Lecture 13
Theoretical Irregularities
• Keane sex addiction field differs because, unlike other addictions, doesn’t preach
abstinence, but “healthy sex.” How do we draw the line between addicted sex and
healthy sex?
• Monogamy, heterosexuality, “vanilla”
• Sex that deviates from “natural and loving” monogamous sex framed as
pathological
• “Addictive sex” defined by relationship between partners: addicts objectify and
exploit partner, rather than cherish and love them as part of the sex
• Reasons for sex dichotomized:
• “Good sex” about the creation and maintenance of a loving relationship
• “Addictive sex” about pleasure, boosting self esteem, escaping loneliness
Theoretical Irregularities II
• Sex addiction differs from substance addiction in concept of predictability
• Alcoholism: someone who is an alcoholic will increasingly start to drink the same
substance over and over, in the same ways.
• Many believe re”substances a kind of monotony develops as person becomes
addicted. Use same substance every day, at same times, sample place
• By contrast, increasing variety of sexual activity a “symptom” of sex addiction
• Recovery for sex addicts about monotony: one partner, one reason, few
variations in activity
• Both alcoholism and sex addiction involve violation of the “correct norms” for how
to consume these pleasures
How can we explain sex addictions arrival?
• Irvine: a product of that late 20th century cultural anxieties:
• 1960-70s sexual revolution
• Threats created backlash against “hypersexualized society” by “moral majority.”
Then HIV-AIDS crisis hit
• Division with feminism: are porn and sex used to oppress women or signs of
emancipated sexuality? One camp found common cause with “moral majority”
• The sex addict as symbolic of society’s moral decline. SEx addiction as form of social
control to guide behaviours
The Sex Addiction Industry
• Late 20th century “Addiction” as concept growing in importance and power
• Industry of experts arose to deal with “new disease” - Journal of Sexual Addiction and
Compulsivity, Anonymous groups, screening tools (e.g. Sexual addiction screening test)
• Reay et al: in consumerism, “realness” of sex addiction immaterial. If it exists to
consumers, with belief in a cure, feedback loop established between consumers and
producers of treatment
• Voros: professionalization of sex addiction experts deatches concern over sexual and
porn consumption from “subjective concerns” (i.e morality) to “objective” criteria
Cultural Proliferation
• Despite scientific reticence, sex addiction popularly entrenched
• Duchovny, weiner, woods, brand, etc celebrity serves to popularize concept
• Public apology set piece?
• Cultural influence: Choke, Shame, Memoirs
• Media picks up stories because we love thinking and discussing sex
• Status as a “pop addiction” has also prompted much self-diagnosis: “if you’re wondering
if you have an addiction to sex, you probably do.”
Document Summary
Addictive sex defined by relationship between partners: addicts objectify and exploit partner, rather than cherish and love them as part of the sex: reasons for sex dichotomized: Good sex about the creation and maintenance of a loving relationship. Addictive sex about pleasure, boosting self esteem, escaping loneliness. Irvine: a product of that late 20th century cultural anxieties: 1960-70s sexual revolution, threats created backlash against hypersexualized society by moral majority. One camp found common cause with moral majority : the sex addict as symbolic of society"s moral decline. Sex addiction as form of social control to guide behaviours. The sex addiction industry: late 20th century addiction as concept growing in importance and power. Industry of experts arose to deal with new disease - journal of sexual addiction and. Compulsivity, anonymous groups, screening tools (e. g. sexual addiction screening test: reay et al: in consumerism, realness of sex addiction immaterial.
