| Summary: | The studies described in this dissertation examined the relationships among
dysregulated sexuality, heightened sexual desire and sexual arousal regulation. Study one
addressed the association between dysregulated sexuality, commonly referred to as
sexual compulsivity, sexual addiction or sexual impulsivity, and sexual desire. A sample
of 14,396 men and women, some of who had sought treatment for sexual compulsivity,
addiction or impulsivity, completed an online survey comprised of various sexuality
measures. Male and female treatment groups scored significantly higher on dysregulated
sexuality and sexual desire, and for all groups, dysregulated sexuality was associated
with increased sexual desire. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that in both male and
female participants, regardless of treatment status, dysregulated sexuality and sexual
desire variables loaded onto a single underlying factor. The final stage of analyses
showed that sexual desire can account for the relationship between dysregulated
sexuality and risky sexual behavior. The results suggest that dysregulated sexuality, as
currently conceptualized, may simply be an indicator of heightened sexual desire and the
distress associated with managing a high degree of sexual thoughts, feelings and needs.
The objectives of study two were to examine the effectiveness of emotional
reappraisal in regulating male sexual arousal, and to evaluate the relationships between
sexual arousal regulation, and sexual desire and dysregulated sexuality. Participants
completed a series of online sexuality questionnaires, and were subsequently assessed for
their success at regulating sexual arousal in the laboratory. Results showed that the
ability to regulate emotion crosses emotional domains; those men best able to regulate
sexual arousal were also the most skilled at regulating their level amusement to
humourous stimuli. Participants, on average, were somewhat able to regulate their
physiological and cognitive sexual arousal, although there was a wide range of regulation
success. While some were very adept at regulating their sexual arousal, others became
more sexually aroused while trying to regulate. Age, sexual experience and sexual
compulsivity were unrelated to sexual arousal regulation. Conversely, sexual excitation,
inhibition and desire correlated with sexual arousal regulation success. Increased sexual
excitation and desire were associated with poorer regulatory performance while
propensity for sexual inhibition was related to regulatory success.
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