Is sex addiction real? Maybe not, therapists say

Young couple kissing.(Photo: fotografixx, Getty Images)

Claiming a sex addiction may be a go-to for misbehaving celebrities and politicians, but from a science perspective there isn't enough study to prove sex addiction is real, according to a professional organization of sex educators and therapists.

There is not enough empirical evidence to classify sex addiction or porn addiction as a mental disorder, the The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) said in a statement to members last week. The organization said that current sex addiction therapy and counseling is not adequately informed by human sexuality and thus not supported as a standard practice by the organization.

While the organization is in no way saying that people don’t experience real physical, psychological and health consequences from their sexual urges, sex addiction is an “oversimplification of a complex area of human sexual behavior,” Douglas Braun-Harvey, a sexual health author and psychotherapist, said in a statement Dec.9.

“I think the most important thing to remember is that there are people who are suffering from their sexual behavior being out of control, but what ends up happening is that the suffering, the fear and the consequences it brings to their careers and families get prematurely and very quickly labeled sex addiction,” said Braun-Harvey, who is one of the authors of the AASECT statement.

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USA TODAY

Q & A: Is Anthony Weiner a sex addict?

AASECT certification is needed in many states to become a sexual counselor, according to the organization’s website. So the organization’s stance on sex addiction sends an important message, especially at a time when sex addiction therapy is constantly in the headlines.

In early November, former politician Anthony Weiner was spotted riding a horse at a treatment facility that offers equine therapy for sex addiction, AP reported.  And a quick Google search shows sex addiction therapists and treatment facilities are plentiful.

Joseph Burgo, a clinical psychologist, and author of >The Narcissist You Know told USA TODAY in August that sex addiction is controversial for a number of reasons.

"When it's something like alcohol you are addicted to or drugs, that's one thing, but when it's food or sex, those are normal human needs, so it's more controversial," he said, adding that little research has been done on sex addiction.

"Addiction implies a biochemical basis, and there are not sufficient studies to demonstrate that," Burgo said.

Follow Mary Bowerman on Twitter: @MaryBowerman 

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2h55WIi

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X Factor's Matt Terry uses same sex couples for dance routine - is he up to something?

X Factor's Matt Terry made a lot of fans happy by using same sex dance couples this evening.

As he took to the stage to perform his take on Jess Glynne's Take Me Home, men were dancing with one another and so were women.

Those tuning in at home were delighted and quick to take to Twitter afterwards.

One wrote: "Love how they used same sex dancers on X factor."

X Factor's Matt Terry made a lot of fans happy by using same sex dance couples this evening (Photo: Splash)

Another then posted: "Same sex dancing couples. How delightful. #xfactor #mattterry.'

Moments later, a different viewer tweeted: "Big up to the same sex dance couples though #XFactor."

Shortly afterwards, another posted: "Living for these same sex dancers. #XFactor."

However, some viewers were suspicious as to why Matt decided to use same sex couples in his final perfomance.

Matt Terry's dancers on the X Factor (Photo: ITV)

One fan claimed: "NOPE! As if Matt just tried, so blatantly, to get the gay vote with same sex dancers! As if the gays won't all be voting for Saara #XFactor."

This year's X Factor king or queen will be crowned in tomorrow's live final.

Matt Terry's dancers on the X Factor (Photo: ITV)

Matt faces tough competition from Saara Alto and 5AM and one of the three remaining acts will be leaving the competition tonight.

*X factor returns to ITV tomorrow at 8pm

"

| Factors | Matt | Terry | uses | same | couples | dance | routine | something? | Terry< | made | fans | happy | using | this | evening | p> As | took | stage | perform | take | Jess | Glynnes | Take | Home | were | dancing | with | another | women | p> Those | tuning | home | delighted | quick | Twitter | afterwards | p> One | wrote: | Love | they | used | dancers | factor | p> < | div> < | div> X | evening< | span> | (Photo: | Splash)< | span> Another | then | posted: | Same | delightful | xfactor | mattterry | p> Moments | later | different | viewer | tweeted: | though | XFactor | p> Shortly | Living | these | p> However | some | viewers | suspicious | decided | final | perfomance | div> Matt | Terrys | Factor< | ITV)< | span> One | claimed: | NOPE! | just | tried | blatantly | vote | dancers! | gays | wont | voting | Saara | p> This | years | Factor | king | queen | will | crowned | tomorrows | live | span> Matt | faces | tough | competition | from | Alto | three | remaining | acts | leaving | tonight | p> *X | returns | tomorrow | 8pm< | strong>< | em>< | p> |

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LGBTQ Activists Take Fight for Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan Overseas

>

A young man waves a rainbow flag during a protest outside the Parliament, in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 November 2016. Reports state protesters gathered outside the parliament, both for and against a draft bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan. If Taiwan Parliament passes the same-sex marriage bill, it will become the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. DAVID CHANG / EPA

In Taiwan's LGBTQ community, many oppose a special partnership law since it would apply only to gays rather than open up marriage for all, Liu said.

"Having more liberal LGBTQ rights will be a good way not only to benefit the LGBTQ population in Taiwan, but also to just let the world know that Taiwan is a country for social democracy and [has] a lot of the liberal values that progressives in the U.S. also hold," she said.

Follow NBC Asian America on

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| LGBTQ | Activists | Take | Fight | Same-Sex | Marriage | Taiwan | Overseas | young | waves | rainbow | flag | during | protest | outside | Parliament | Taipei | November | 2016 | Reports | state | protesters | gathered | parliament | both | against | draft | bill | that | would | legalize | same | marriage | passes | will | become | first | Asian | country | span> | DAVID | CHANG | EPA< | p> In | Taiwans | community | many | oppose | special | partnership | since | apply | only | gays | rather | than | open | said | p> Having | more | liberal | rights | good | benefit | population | also | just | world | know | social | democracy | [has] | values | progressives | hold | p> Follow | America | strong>< | p> Facebook< | Twitter< | Instagram< | Tumblr< |

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Japan's sex problem means people are quitting dating, marrying friends

REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

The Japanese sex problem has become so desperate that its young population has given up on dating and is just marrying friends.

A government survey found 69% of Japanese men and 59% of Japanese women do not have a romantic partner.

One Japanese aggregator website has since been awash with stories of how people have simply married lifelong friends.

The country has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, with just 8.4 children being born per 1,000 inhabitants over the past five years.

Its population of 127 million people is predicted to decrease to 87 million by 2060.

The survey, carried out by the country's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, also reported that about 80% of unmarried Japanese want to get married.

In recent weeks, people have posted stories to the aggregator website Matome Naver, telling how in one case a colleague married a friend of 10 years.

The trend has been coined "Kousai zero Nichikon": roughly translated as "marrying without dating."

Japanese actress Maki Horikita married costar Koji Yamamoto in 2015 after just a month of dating.

A column in the Joshi Spa magazine last month compared hunting for a marriage partner with suicide.

There is no real evidence that the kousai zero nichikon trend is taking the far-eastern islands by storm.

But it draws parallels with Japan's now mostly defunct omiai arranged-marriage tradition, in which parents suggested partners for their adult children.

After the sexual-partners survey was released earlier this year, columnist and sociologist Maki Fukasawa criticized the media's use of his own term to describe the sex problem: "Herbivore men."

Read the original article on The Independent. Copyright 2016. Follow The Independent on Twitter.

"

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Yorktown pastor accused of sex with teen

Terry Dobbs(Photo: Photo provided)

MUNCIE, Ind. â€" The pastor of a Yorktown church was being held in the Delaware County jail on Friday, accused of having sex with a 15-year-old member of his congregation.

Terry Wayne Dobbs, 53 â€" pastor at Old Fashion United Baptist Church, 9211 W. Arch St. â€" was arrested Thursday evening, preliminarily charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, vicarious sexual gratification, child exploitation and child solicitation.

The pastor’s bond was set at $35,000.

According to an affidavit, Yorktown police learned from authorities in Allen County on Dec. 2 that a 15-year-old girl had disclosed she was involved in a sexual relationship with her minister.

A Yorktown officer interviewed the girl Thursday. She said she began counseling with Dobbs about personal problems in July.

According to the report, the pastor “started out very slowly with talking about kissing her.”

Authorities allege Dobbs and the girl eventually began fondling each other at the church, and later had sex there three times.

The alleged victim also said she and the minister had exchanged nude photos via cellphones and computers.

Dobbs, of the 6900 block of West Bethel Avenue, was also interviewed on Thursday, and gave a “full confession,” police reported.

Courts records reflect no prior charges against Dobbs.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. Follow him on Twitter: @DouglasWalkerSP.

Read or Share this story: http://tspne.ws/2htHldg

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| Yorktown | pastor | accused | with | teen | div> Terry | Dobbs< | span>(Photo: | Photo | provided)< | span>< | p> < | div> MUNCIE | church | being | held | Delaware | County | jail | Friday | having | sex with | year | member | congregation | p> Terry | Wayne | Dobbs | Fashion | United | Baptist | Church | 9211 | Arch | arrested | Thursday | evening | preliminarily | charged | sexual | misconduct | minor | vicarious | gratification | child | exploitation | solicitation | p> The | pastor’s | bond | p> According | affidavit | police | learned | from | authorities | Allen | that | girl | disclosed | involved | relationship | minister | p> A | officer | interviewed | said | began | counseling | about | personal | problems | July | report | “started | very | slowly | talking | kissing | ”< | p> Authorities | allege | eventually | fondling | each | other | later | there | three | times | alleged | victim | also | exchanged | nude | photos | cellphones | computers | p> Dobbs | 6900 | block | West | Bethel | Avenue | gave | “full | confession | reported | p> Courts | records | reflect | prior | charges | against | p> Contact | news | reporter | Douglas | Walker | (765) | 5851 | Follow | Twitter: | @DouglasWalkerSP | em>< | p> Read | Share | this | story: | http: | tspne | 2htHldg< | div> |

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LGBTQ Activists Take Fight for Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan Overseas

>

A young man waves a rainbow flag during a protest outside the Parliament, in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 November 2016. Reports state protesters gathered outside the parliament, both for and against a draft bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan. If Taiwan Parliament passes the same-sex marriage bill, it will become the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. DAVID CHANG / EPA

In Taiwan's LGBTQ community, many oppose a special partnership law since it would apply only to gays rather than open up marriage for all, Liu said.

"Having more liberal LGBTQ rights will be a good way not only to benefit the LGBTQ population in Taiwan, but also to just let the world know that Taiwan is a country for social democracy and [has] a lot of the liberal values that progressives in the U.S. also hold," she said.

Follow NBC Asian America on

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. "

| LGBTQ | Activists | Take | Fight | Same-Sex | Marriage | Taiwan | Overseas | young | waves | rainbow | flag | during | protest | outside | Parliament | Taipei | November | 2016 | Reports | state | protesters | gathered | parliament | both | against | draft | bill | that | would | legalize | same | marriage | passes | will | become | first | Asian | country | span> | DAVID | CHANG | EPA< | p> In | Taiwans | community | many | oppose | special | partnership | since | apply | only | gays | rather | than | open | said | p> Having | more | liberal | rights | good | benefit | population | also | just | world | know | social | democracy | [has] | values | progressives | hold | p> Follow | America | strong>< | p> Facebook< | Twitter< | Instagram< | Tumblr< |

Thank U Very Much for Reading this Article

LGBTQ Activists Take Fight for Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan Overseas

>

A young man waves a rainbow flag during a protest outside the Parliament, in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 November 2016. Reports state protesters gathered outside the parliament, both for and against a draft bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan. If Taiwan Parliament passes the same-sex marriage bill, it will become the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. DAVID CHANG / EPA

In Taiwan's LGBTQ community, many oppose a special partnership law since it would apply only to gays rather than open up marriage for all, Liu said.

"Having more liberal LGBTQ rights will be a good way not only to benefit the LGBTQ population in Taiwan, but also to just let the world know that Taiwan is a country for social democracy and [has] a lot of the liberal values that progressives in the U.S. also hold," she said.

Follow NBC Asian America on

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. "

| LGBTQ | Activists | Take | Fight | Same-Sex | Marriage | Taiwan | Overseas | young | waves | rainbow | flag | during | protest | outside | Parliament | Taipei | November | 2016 | Reports | state | protesters | gathered | parliament | both | against | draft | bill | that | would | legalize | same | marriage | passes | will | become | first | Asian | country | span> | DAVID | CHANG | EPA< | p> In | Taiwans | community | many | oppose | special | partnership | since | apply | only | gays | rather | than | open | said | p> Having | more | liberal | rights | good | benefit | population | also | just | world | know | social | democracy | [has] | values | progressives | hold | p> Follow | America | strong>< | p> Facebook< | Twitter< | Instagram< | Tumblr< |

Thank You So Much for Reading this Blog

A Sex-Assault Case Pits Privacy Against Transparency

As colleges across the nation grapple with the problem of sexual assault, a case unfolding at the University of Kentucky stands out as particularly complex and troublesome.

A series of articles published in recent months by the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper, revealed that a Kentucky professor had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault before resigning this past August in a quiet settlement with the university.

About This Series

The Chronicle’s On Leadership video series explores various aspects of campus leadership with movers and shakers across academe. The series is hosted by Chronicle editors and reporters. Visit our complete collection of interviews. 

In a tug-of-war with the newspaper, the university released the details of its settlement with James D. Harwood, a former associate professor of entomology, but declined to provide all of the documents associated with its investigation.

The Kernel, which obtained the documents from another source, has written about the investigation but has not revealed the names of the professor’s alleged victims. Mr. Harwood has denied wrongdoing.

The state’s attorney general ordered the university to release its investigative files, but the university appealed that decision. In order to appeal the ruling, a quirk of Kentucky law requires the university to sue the student newspaper.

Although Kentucky’s case is unique, it highlights a host of challenges colleges face as federal authorities and students demand more accountability on the handling of sexual-assault allegations. Eli Capilouto, Kentucky’s president, stopped by The Chronicle's offices this week to talk about the case and the university’s broader efforts to create an environment where victims feel they can safely and confidentially report those crimes.

Transcript coming soon.

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.

"

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‘Lady Problems’ Podcast: Hubba Hubba, A Chat About Sex-Centric Movies

This week on “Lady Problems,” the MTV News podcast dedicated to pop culture’s treatment of women, the OG trio â€" Rachel Handler, Hazel Cills, and Teo Bugbee â€" returns to co-host. We kick things off by unpacking the strange cultural response to two sex-centric movies in theaters now, Elle and The Handmaiden â€" specifically, the idea that all on-screen sex should be “realistic,” or representative of all sex, and the notion that female performers have zero agency when it comes to filming their own sex scenes. We also delve into this week’s controversial story about Bernardo Bertolucci and Maria Schneider and the rape scene in Last Tango in Paris. Later, Hazel shares how we can fuck with the Trump administration this week, and we all answer a Lady Problem for Jackie, who’s horrified by her co-workers’ politics.

Listen to “Lady Problems” on Spotify or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. Find Rachel, Hazel, and Teo on Twitter and say hi, and call us up with your Lady Problems at 205-677-5239 â€" yes, that is 205-677-LADY, and if you think we’re not going to remind people of that every single week, then you must not know Lady Problems.

"

| ‘Lady | Problems’ | Podcast: | Hubba | Hubba, | Chat | About | Sex-Centric | Movies | This | week | “Lady | Problems | News | podcast | dedicated | culture’s | treatment | women | trio | Rachel | Handler | Hazel | Cills | Bugbee | returns | host | kick | things | unpacking | strange | cultural | response | centric | movies | theaters | Elle< | Handmaiden< | specifically | idea | that | screen | should | “realistic | representative | notion | female | performers | have | zero | agency | when | comes | filming | their | scenes | also | delve | into | this | week’s | controversial | story | about | Bernardo | Bertolucci | Maria | Schneider | rape | scene | Last | Tango | Paris< | Later | shares | fuck | with | Trump | administration | answer | Lady | Problem | Jackie | who’s | horrified | workers’ | politics | p>Listen | Problems” | Spotify< | subscribe | iTunes< | Stitcher< | Find | Rachel< | Hazel< | Teo< | Twitter | call | your | 5239 | LADY | think | we’re | going | remind | people | every | single | then | must | know | p> |

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A Sex-Assault Case Pits Privacy Against Transparency

As colleges across the nation grapple with the problem of sexual assault, a case unfolding at the University of Kentucky stands out as particularly complex and troublesome.

A series of articles published in recent months by the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper, revealed that a Kentucky professor had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault before resigning this past August in a quiet settlement with the university.

About This Series

The Chronicle’s On Leadership video series explores various aspects of campus leadership with movers and shakers across academe. The series is hosted by Chronicle editors and reporters. Visit our complete collection of interviews. 

In a tug-of-war with the newspaper, the university released the details of its settlement with James D. Harwood, a former associate professor of entomology, but declined to provide all of the documents associated with its investigation.

The Kernel, which obtained the documents from another source, has written about the investigation but has not revealed the names of the professor’s alleged victims. Mr. Harwood has denied wrongdoing.

The state’s attorney general ordered the university to release its investigative files, but the university appealed that decision. In order to appeal the ruling, a quirk of Kentucky law requires the university to sue the student newspaper.

Although Kentucky’s case is unique, it highlights a host of challenges colleges face as federal authorities and students demand more accountability on the handling of sexual-assault allegations. Eli Capilouto, Kentucky’s president, stopped by The Chronicle's offices this week to talk about the case and the university’s broader efforts to create an environment where victims feel they can safely and confidentially report those crimes.

Transcript coming soon.

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.

"

| Sex-Assault | Case | Pits | Privacy | Against | Transparency | span>s | colleges | across | nation | grapple | with | problem | sexual | assault | case | unfolding | University | Kentucky | stands | particularly | complex | troublesome | p> A | series | articles | published | recent | months | Kernel | independent | student | newspaper | revealed | that | professor | been | accused | harassment | before | resigning | this | past | August | quiet | settlement | university | p> < | p>About | This | Series< | h4> The | Chronicle< | em>’s | Leadership | video | explores | various | aspects | campus | leadership | movers | shakers | academe | hosted | editors | reporters | Visit | complete | collection< | strong> | interviews | p> < | div> In | released | details | settlement< | James | Harwood | former | associate | entomology | declined | provide | documents | associated | investigation | p> The | which | obtained | from | another | source | written | about | investigation< | names | professor’s | alleged | victims | denied | wrongdoing | state’s | attorney | general | ordered | release | investigative | files | appealed | decision | order | appeal | ruling | quirk | requires | p> Although | Kentucky’s | unique | highlights | host | challenges | face | federal | authorities | students | demand | more | accountability | handling | allegations | Capilouto | president | stopped | em>s | offices | week | talk | university’s | broader | efforts | create | environment | where | feel | they | safely | confidentially | report | those | crimes | p> Transcript | coming | soon | p> Jack | Stripling | covers | college | presidents | governing | boards | Follow | Twitter | @jackstripling | email | jack | stripling@chronicle | em>< | p> |

Thank Very Much for Visit this Article

A Sex-Assault Case Pits Privacy Against Transparency

As colleges across the nation grapple with the problem of sexual assault, a case unfolding at the University of Kentucky stands out as particularly complex and troublesome.

A series of articles published in recent months by the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper, revealed that a Kentucky professor had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault before resigning this past August in a quiet settlement with the university.

About This Series

The Chronicle’s On Leadership video series explores various aspects of campus leadership with movers and shakers across academe. The series is hosted by Chronicle editors and reporters. Visit our complete collection of interviews. 

In a tug-of-war with the newspaper, the university released the details of its settlement with James D. Harwood, a former associate professor of entomology, but declined to provide all of the documents associated with its investigation.

The Kernel, which obtained the documents from another source, has written about the investigation but has not revealed the names of the professor’s alleged victims. Mr. Harwood has denied wrongdoing.

The state’s attorney general ordered the university to release its investigative files, but the university appealed that decision. In order to appeal the ruling, a quirk of Kentucky law requires the university to sue the student newspaper.

Although Kentucky’s case is unique, it highlights a host of challenges colleges face as federal authorities and students demand more accountability on the handling of sexual-assault allegations. Eli Capilouto, Kentucky’s president, stopped by The Chronicle's offices this week to talk about the case and the university’s broader efforts to create an environment where victims feel they can safely and confidentially report those crimes.

Transcript coming soon.

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.

"

| Sex-Assault | Case | Pits | Privacy | Against | Transparency | span>s | colleges | across | nation | grapple | with | problem | sexual | assault | case | unfolding | University | Kentucky | stands | particularly | complex | troublesome | p> A | series | articles | published | recent | months | Kernel | independent | student | newspaper | revealed | that | professor | been | accused | harassment | before | resigning | this | past | August | quiet | settlement | university | p> < | p>About | This | Series< | h4> The | Chronicle< | em>’s | Leadership | video | explores | various | aspects | campus | leadership | movers | shakers | academe | hosted | editors | reporters | Visit | complete | collection< | strong> | interviews | p> < | div> In | released | details | settlement< | James | Harwood | former | associate | entomology | declined | provide | documents | associated | investigation | p> The | which | obtained | from | another | source | written | about | investigation< | names | professor’s | alleged | victims | denied | wrongdoing | state’s | attorney | general | ordered | release | investigative | files | appealed | decision | order | appeal | ruling | quirk | requires | p> Although | Kentucky’s | unique | highlights | host | challenges | face | federal | authorities | students | demand | more | accountability | handling | allegations | Capilouto | president | stopped | em>s | offices | week | talk | university’s | broader | efforts | create | environment | where | feel | they | safely | confidentially | report | those | crimes | p> Transcript | coming | soon | p> Jack | Stripling | covers | college | presidents | governing | boards | Follow | Twitter | @jackstripling | email | jack | stripling@chronicle | em>< | p> |

Thank Very Much for Reading this News