xssve
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Joined: 10/10/2009
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I would go further and suggest that all addictions basically mimic sexual addiction, or addiction to sexual stimulus rather, since not all sexual addiction are the same as a "sex addiction" which has a distinct definition, but yes, sexual response is basically chemistry just like any other physical emotional response, and it's addictive for good reason, we are basically evolved to be addicted to sex, which is a fairly compulsive activity in all sexually reproducing organisms.
In most mammals, the female goes into estrus, or "heat" when she is fertile, and is mounted by one or more males, it's not "addictive", but it is compulsive.
Human females, women, lost estrus at some point, possibly when we began to walk upright, and human sexual behavior became much more complex than it is for mammals that retained estrus.
Since neither sex knows for sure when the female is fertile, women basically adapted to more frequent sexual activity, as did males, and regular sex helps regulate our endocrine systems: it raises levels of oxytocin and vasopressin, serotonin, etc., a whole host of chemicals that have the effect of regulating behavior, from love and nurturing, to jealousy, that reinforce pair bonding and facilitate K strategy reproductive behaviors, elastin contained in semen (which also contains antidepressants!) increases the elasticity of tissues, and softens the cartilage in the pubic arch, facilitating childbirth, and likely played a critical role in allowing cranial expansion.
Pheromone exchange has a whole host of additional effects, increasing fertility, strengthening the immune system, reducing stress and delaying osteoporosis.
Since neurotransmitter levels, like Serotonin are affected, quite certainly these may result in cravings that may or may not rise to the level of "addiction" - basically, sex is good for you, and it's good for you because it results in reproduction, and nature rewards reproductive activity usually, for the simple reason that the costs are relatively high.
i.e., there are risks, they don't really have to do with doing it or liking it to much, they have to do with externalizes, STD's, pregnancy - which is associated with rather significant costs to women, and potential violence from jealous partners, etc. - the sex itself is just fine, it creates regulates social activity, usually for the better (although sometimes for he worse), our entire culture has evolved around sex and reproduction, building nests for women, women nurturing children, food sharing, co-operative activity - it's quite unusual in mammalian species, the level of co-operation in human societies, and sex is a large part of the glue that holds it together, think Bonobos who are more closely related to us than other species of Chimpanzees.
Throw in BDSM, and you have a whole bunch of interesting fetishes, and different forms of stimulus and sensation, a number of which are quite intense, endorphins, etc.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about it, it's really only an "addiction" if it's negatively affecting your life - at the same time, love is a battle field, etc, so for the most part, sex addiction is usually defined as compulsive and relentless sexually promiscuous behavior that interferes with forming lasting relationships or holding jobs, etc.
Most of the people yammering about BDSM addictions probably suffer from boredom addictions and can't stand the excitement, or have an agenda, or both - they're often found in conjunction.
< Message edited by xssve -- 4/9/2012 8:47:39 PM >
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