Initiation and Maintenance of Online Sexual Compulsivity: Implications for Assessment and Treatment

Abstract

Sexually compulsive behavior on the Internet is now a widely recognized problem. Factors unique to the Internet environment that initiate online compulsive sexual behavior include accessibility, affordability, and anonymity, also known as the Triple A Engine. Factors that serve to maintain compulsive online sexual behavior include classical conditioning and operant conditioning. This article elucidates these factors and explores how they can be countered and harnessed in treatment. Future directions for research are suggested.