Manifestations of damaged development of the human affectional systems and developmentally based psychotherapies

Sexual compulsion is the end point of a series of developmental events that begin in early attachment difficulties with caretakers, subsequent overwhelming experiences the child is unable to assimilate, affect dysregulation, and impaired self-development and gender-related behavior, all which is then activated. This article will review the developmental psych op athology of sexual compulsive behavior, with suggestions for psychotherapeutic amelioration.