Skip to main content

The Relationship Between Hypersexual Behavior, Sexual Excitation, Sexual Inhibition, and Personality Traits

Archives of Sexual Behavior volume 45, pages 219–233 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

The term hypersexuality was introduced to describe excessive sexual behavior associated with a person’s inability to control his or her sexual behavior. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of different personality traits on the degree of hypersexual behavior as measured by the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI). A further aim was to evaluate the association between sexual inhibition and excitation [as described in the Dual Control Model (DCM)] and hypersexual behavior. A sample of 1,749 participants completed an internet-based survey comprised the HBI, the short form of the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES-SF) as well as more general personality measures: the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System-scales (BIS/BAS-scales) and a short version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Using the recommended HBI cut-off, 6.0 % (n = 105) of the present sample could be categorized as hypersexual, which is comparable to the results of previous studies about the prevalence of hypersexual behavior in the general population. The results provided strong support for the components of the DCM—sexual excitation and inhibition—to explain hypersexual behavior, irrespective of gender and sexual orientation. Some of the general personality traits also showed significant relationships with hypersexual behavior. Taken together, the results of the present study provide further support for the relevance of research about the relationships between sexual problems and disorders, the DCM, and personality variables.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Notes

  1. Because there are only two items for each subscale, we additionally provided the correlation coefficients between these two items for each subscale.

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

  • Ball, S. A., & Zuckerman, M. (1990). Sensation seeking, Eysenck’s personality dimensions and reinforcement sensitivity in concept formation. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 343–353. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(90)90216-E.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J. (1999). Central inhibition of sexual response in the male: A theoretical perspective. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 23, 763–784. doi:10.1016/S0149-7634(99)00019-6.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., Carnes, L., Janssen, E., & Long, J. S. (2005). Erectile and ejaculatory problems in gay and heterosexual men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34, 285–297. doi:10.1007/s10508-005-3117-7.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., Graham, C. A., Janssen, E., & Sanders, S. A. (2009). The dual control model: Current status and future directions. Journal of Sexual Research, 46, 121–142. doi:10.1080/00224490902747222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., & Janssen, E. (2000). The dual control model of male sexual response: A theoretical approach to centrally mediated erectile dysfunction. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 24, 571–579. doi:10.1016/S0149-7634(00)00024-5.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., Janssen, E., Carnes, L., Strong, D. A., Goodrich, D., & Long, J. S. (2004). Sexual activity and risk taking in young heterosexual men: The relevance of personality factors. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 181–192. doi:10.1080/00224490409552226.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., Janssen, E., Strong, D., Carnes, L., & Long, J. S. (2003). Sexual risk taking in gay men: The relevance of sexual arousability, mood, and sensation seeking. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 555–572. doi:10.1023/A:1026041628364.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J., & Vukadinovic, Z. (2004). Sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity, sexual impulse disorder or what? Towards a theoretical model. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 225–234. doi:10.1080/00224490409552230.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Best, S. J., Krueger, B., Hubbard, C., & Smith, A. (2001). An assessment of the generalizability of internet surveys. Social Science Computer Review, 19, 131–145. doi:10.1177/089443930101900201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blank, G., Fielding, N. G., & Lee, R. M. (2008). The SAGE handbook of online research methods. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brenner, S. L., Beauchaine, T. P., & Sylvers, P. D. (2005). A comparison of psychopysiological and self-report measures of BAS and BIS activation. Psychophysiology, 42, 108–115. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2005.00261.x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briken, P., Habermann, N., Berner, W., & Hill, A. (2007). Diagnosis and treatment of sexual addictions: A survey among German sex therapists. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 14, 131–143. doi:10.1080/10720160701310450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briken, P., Hill, A., & Berner, W. (2005). Sexuelle Sucht: Diagnostik, Ätiologie, Behandlung [Sexual addiction: Diagnosis, etiology, treatment]. Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, 18, 185–197. doi:10.1055/s-2005-836639.

  • Carnes, P. (1983). Out of the shadows: Understanding sexual addiction. Center City, MN: Hazelton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, D., Janssen, E., Graham, C. A., Vorst, H., & Wicherts, J. (2008). Women’s scores on the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES): Gender similarities and differences. Journal of Sex Research, 45, 36–48. doi:10.1080/00224490701808076.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, D., Janssen, E., Graham, C. A., Vorst, H., & Wicherts, J. (2011). The Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. In T. D. Fisher, C. M. Davis, W. L. Yarber, & S. L. Davis (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures (pp. 236–239). Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C. S., & White, T. L. (1994). Behavioral inhibition, behavioral activation, and affective responses to impending reward and punishment: The BIS/BAS Scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 319–333. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.67.2.319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coëffec, A. (2011). Les apports du modèle des cinq grands facteurs dans le domaine de l’alcoolodépendance [Big five factor contributions to addiction to alcohol]. L’Encéphale, 37, 75–82. doi:10.1016/j.encep.2010.03.006.

  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.155.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, E. (1990). The obsessive-compulsive model for describing compulsive sexual behavior. American Journal of Preventive Psychiatry and Neurology, 2, 9–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., Shapiro, C. M., & Powers, A. M. (1998). Motivations for sex and risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults: A functional perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1528–1558. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.75.6.1528.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., Talley, A., Sheldon, M. S., Levitt, A., & Barber, L. (2008). A dyadic perspective on approach and avoidance motives for sexual behavior. In A. J. Elliot (Ed.), Handbook of approach and avoidance motivation (pp. 615–631). New York: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). NEO-PI-R professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, A. J. (2006). The hierarchical model of approach-avoidance motivation. Motivation and Emotion, 30, 111–116. doi:10.1007/s11031-006-9028-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, A. J., & Covington, M. V. (2001). Approach and avoidance motivation. Educational Psychology Review, 13, 73–92. doi:10.1023/A:1009057102306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, A. J., & Trash, T. M. (2002). Approach-avoidance motivation in personality: Approach and avoidance, temperaments and goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 804–818. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.82.5.804.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franken, I. H. A. (2002). Behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity predicts alcohol craving. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 349–355. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00030-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franken, I. H. A., Muris, P., & Georgieva, I. (2006). Gray’s model of personality and addiction. Addictive Behaviors, 31, 399–403. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.05.022.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fruyt, F., van de Wiele, L., & van Heeringen, C. (2000). Cloninger’s psychobiological model of temperament and character and the five factor model of personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 441–452. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00204-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, R., Cooper, A., & Gomez, A. (2000). Susceptibility to positive and negative mood states: Test of Eysenck’s, Gray’s, and Newman’s theories. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 351–365. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00198-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, C. A., Sanders, S. A., & Milhausen, R. R. (2006). The Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women: Psychometric properties. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 397–410. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9041-7.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. A. (1970). The psychophysiological basis of introversion-extraversion. Behavioral Research and Therapy, 8, 249–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. A. (1982). The neurophysiology of anxiety: An enquiry into the functions of the septo-hippocampal system. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfeld, M. (1921/2012). Sexualpathologie: Ein Lehrbuch für Ärzte und Studierende. Band 1 [Sexual pathology. A textbook for physicians and students]. Bonn: Marcus & Weber.

  • Impett, E. A., Peplau, L. A., & Gable, S. (2005). Approach and avoidance sexual motives: Implications for personal and interpersonal well-being. Personal Relationships, 12, 465–482. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2005.00126.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E. (2011). Sexual arousal in men: A review and conceptual analysis. Hormones and Behavior, 59, 708–716. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.03.004.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., & Bancroft, J. (1996, June). Dual control of sexual response: The relevance of central inhibition. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

  • Janssen, E., & Bancroft, J. (2007). The dual-control model: The role of sexual inhibition and excitation in sexual arousal and behavior. In E. Janssen (Ed.), The psychophysiology of sex (pp. 197–222). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., Goodrich, D., Petrocelli, J. V., & Bancroft, J. (2009). Psychophysiological response patterns and risky sexual behavior in heterosexual and homosexual men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 538–550. doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9432-z.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., Vorst, H., Finn, P., & Bancroft, J. (2002a). The Sexual Inhibition (SIS) and Sexual Excitation (SES) Scales: I. Measuring sexual inhibition and excitation proneness in men. Journal of Sex Research, 39, 114–126. doi:10.1080/00224490209552130.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., Vorst, H., Finn, P., & Bancroft, J. (2002b). The Sexual Inhibition (SIS) and Sexual Excitation (SES) Scales: II. Predicting psychophysiological response patterns. Journal of Sex Research, 39, 127–132. doi:10.1080/00224490209552131.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafka, M. P. (1994). Paraphilia-related disorders—Common, neglected, misunderstood. Harvard Reviews in Psychiatry, 2, 39–40. doi:10.3109/10673229409017112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafka, M. P. (1997). Hypersexual desire in males: An operational definition and clinical implications for males with paraphilias and paraphilia-related disorders. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26, 505–526. doi:10.1023/A:1024507922470.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafka, M. P. (2000). The paraphilia-related disorders: Nonparaphilic hypersexuality and sexual compulsivity/addiction. In S. R. Leiblum & R. C. Rosen (Eds.), Principles and practice of sex therapy (pp. 471–503). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kafka, M. P. (2010). Hypersexual disorder: A proposed diagnosis for DSM-V. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 377–400. doi:10.1007/s10508-009-9574-7.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafka, M. P., & Hennen, J. (1999). The paraphilia-related disorders: An empirical investigation of nonparaphilic hypersexuality disorders in outpatient males. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 25, 305–319. doi:10.1080/00926239908404008.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., & Rompa, D. (1995). Sexual sensation seeking and compulsivity scales: Reliability, validity, and predicting HIV risk behavior. Journal of Personality Assessment, 76, 379–395. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa6503_16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, M. S., & Krueger, R. B. (2010). Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of hypersexuality. Journal of Sex Research, 47, 181–198. doi:10.1080/00224491003592863.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingston, D. A., & Firestone, P. (2008). Problematic hypersexuality: A review of conceptualization and diagnosis. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 15, 284–310. doi:10.1080/10720160802289249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia: Saunders.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, V., Rettenberger, M., Boom, K.-D., & Briken, P. (2013a). Eine Validierungsstudie der deutschen Version des Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI) [A validation study of the German version of the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI)]. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie, 64, 136–140. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1357133.

  • Klein, V., Rettenberger, M., & Briken, P. (2014). Self-reported indicators of hypersexuality and its correlates in a female online sample. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 11, 1974–1981. doi:10.1111/jsm.12602.

  • Klein, V., Rettenberger, M., Turner, D., & Briken, P. (2013b). HBI—Hypersexual Behavior Inventory. In B. Strauß, E. Brähler, & D. Richter (Eds.), Sexualwissenschaftliche Testverfahren [Sexological Questionnaires] (pp. 107–112). Göttingen: Hogrefe.

  • Lang, F. R., Lüdtke, O., & Asendorpf, J. B. (2001). Testgüte und psychometrische Äquivalenz der deutschen Version des Big Five Inventory (BFI) bei jungen, mittelalten und alten Erwachsenen. [Validity and psychometric equivalence of the German version of the Big Five Inventory in young, middle-aged and old adults]. Diagnostica, 47, 111–121. doi:10.1026//0012-1924.47.3.111.

  • Långström, N., & Hanson, R. K. (2006). High rates of sexual behavior in the general population: Correlates and predictors. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 37–52. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-8993-y.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, R. J., & Augustine, A. A. (2008). Basic personality dispositions related to approach and avoidance: Extraversion/neuroticism, BAS/BIS, and positive/negative affectivity. In A. J. Elliot (Ed.), Handbook of approach and avoidance motivation (pp. 151–164). New York: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, R. J., & Ketelaar, T. (1991). Personality and susceptibility to positive and negative emotional states. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 132–140. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.61.1.132.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, S. B. (2010). What is sexual addiction? Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 36, 261–275. doi:10.1080/00926231003719681.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, L. E., & Briken, P. (2010). Assessment, diagnosis, and management of hypersexual disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 23, 570–573. doi:10.1097/YCO.0b013e32833d15d1.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T. (1987). Validation of the five-factor model of personality across instruments and observers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 81–90. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.52.1.81.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milhausen, R. R., Graham, C. A., Sanders, S. A., Yarber, W. L., & Maitland, S. D. (2008). Validation of the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 1091–1104. doi:10.1007/s10508-009-9554-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muise, A., Milhausen, R. R., Cole, S. L., & Graham, C. (2013). Sexual compulsivity in heterosexual married adults: The role of sexual excitation and sexual inhibition in individuals not considered “high-risk”. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 20, 192–209. doi:10.1080/10720162.2013.786661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, H. V., Koo, K. H., Davis, K. C., Otto, J. M., Hendershot, C. S., Schacht, R. L., … Norris, J. (2012). Risky sex: Interactions among ethnicity, sexual sensation seeking, sexual inhibition, and sexual excitation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 1231–1239. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-9904-z.

  • Pardo, Y., Aguilar, R., Molinuevo, B., & Torrubia, R. (2007). Alcohol use as a behavioural sign of disinhibition: Evidence from J. A. Gray’s model of personality. Addictive Behaviors, 32, 2398–2403. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2007.02.010.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, S. M., Park, Y. A., Lee, H. W., Jung, H. Y., Lee, J.-Y., & Choi, J.-S. (2013). The effects of behavioral inhibition/approach system as predictors of Internet addiction in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 7–11. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2012.07.033.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, J., Carvalho, J., & Nobre, P. J. (2013). The relationship between the FFM personality traits, state psychopathology, and sexual compulsivity in a sample of male college students. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10, 1773–1782. doi:10.1111/jsm.12185.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rammstedt, B., & John, O. P. (2007). Measuring personality in one minute or less: A 10-item short version of the Big Five Inventory in English and German. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 203–212. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2006.02.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, R. C., Carpenter, B. N., Hook, J. N., Garos, S., Manning, J. C., Gilliland, R., et al. (2012). Report of findings in a DSM-5 field trial for hypersexual disorder. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9, 2868–2877. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02936.x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, R. C., Carpenter, B. N., & Lloyd, T. (2009a). Assessing psychological symptom patterns of patients seeking help for hypersexual behavior. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 24, 47–63. doi:10.1080/14681990802702141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, R. C., Garos, S., & Carpenter, B. N. (2011a). Reliability, validity, and psychometric development of the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory in an outpatient sample of men. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 18, 30–51. doi:10.1080/10720162.2011.555709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, R. C., Garos, S., Carpenter, B. N., & Coleman, E. (2011b). A surprising finding related to executive control in a patient sample of hypersexual men. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8, 2227–2236. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02314.x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, R. C., Harper, J. M., & Anderson, E. H. (2009b). Coping strategies used by hypersexual patients to defend against the painful effects of shame. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 16, 125–138. doi:10.1002/cpp.609.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, R. C., Karim, R., McCrory, E., & Carpenter, B. N. (2010). Self-reported differences on measures of executive function and hypersexual behavior in a patient and community sample of men. International Journal of Neuroscience, 120, 120–127. doi:10.3109/00207450903165577.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rettenberger, M., & Briken, P. (2013). Das Duale Kontrollmodell von John Bancroft und Erick Janssen: Eine Theorie sexuellen Erlebens und Verhaltens [The dual control model by John Bancroft and Erick Janssen: A theory about sexual experience and behavior]. Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, 26, 211–231. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1350477.

  • Rettenberger, M., Dekker, A., Klein, V., & Briken, P. (2013). Klinische und forensische Aspekte hypersexuellen Verhaltens [Clinical and forensic aspects of hypersexual behavior]. Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie, 7, 3–11. doi:10.1007/s11757-012-0194-z.

  • Schmitt, D. P. (2004). The Big Five related to risky sexual behaviour across 10 world regions: Differential personality associations of sexual promiscuity and relationship infidelity. European Journal of Personality, 18, 301–319. doi:10.1002/per.520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, K., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., Penberthy, J. K., & Reid, R. C. (2014). Non-paraphilic hypersexual behavior and depressive symptoms: A meta-analytic review of the literature. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 40, 477–487. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2013.772551.

  • Smillie, L. D. (2008). What is reinforcement sensitivity? Neuroscience paradigms for approach-avoidance process theories of personality. European Journal of Personality, 22, 359–384. doi:10.1002/per.674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, I. P., Carey, M. P., & Steinberg, L. (1996). The Sexual Desire Inventory: Development, factor structure, and evidence of reliability. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 22, 175–190. doi:10.1080/00926239608414655.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, V. R., Staley, C., Fong, T., & Prause, N. (2013). Sexual desire, not hypersexuality, is related to neurophysiological responses elicited by sexual images. Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology, 3, 20770. doi:10.3402/snp.v3i0.20770.

  • Strobel, A., Beauducel, A., Debener, S., & Brocke, B. (2001). Eine deutschsprachige Version des BIS/BAS-Fragebogens von Carver und White [A German Version of Carver and White’s BIS/BAS Scales]. Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie, 22, 216–227. doi:10.1024//0170-1789.22.3.216.

  • Terracciano, A., & Costa, P. T. (2004). Smoking and the five-factor model of personality. Addiction, 99, 472–481. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00687.x.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, D., Briken, P., Klein, V., & Rettenberger, M. (2013). SIS/SES-SF—Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. In B. Strauß, E. Brähler, & D. Richter (Eds.), Sexualwissenschaftliche Testverfahren [Sexological Questionnaires] (pp. 168–172). Göttingen: Hogrefe.

  • von Krafft-Ebing, R. (1893/2005). Psychopathia sexualis. Stuttgart: Enke.

  • Walters, G. D., Knight, R. A., & Långström, N. (2011). Is hypersexuality dimensional? Evidence for the DSM-5 from general population and clinical samples. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 1309–1321. doi:10.1007/s10508-010-9719-8.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weis, D. L. (1998). The use of theory in sexuality research. Journal of Sex Research, 35, 1–9. doi:10.1080/00224499809551912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winters, J., Christoff, K., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2009). Conscious regulation of sexual arousal in men. Journal of Sex Research, 46, 330–343. doi:10.1080/00224490902754103.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winters, J., Christoff, K., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2010). Dysregulated sexuality and high sexual desire: Distinct constructs? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 1029–1043. doi:10.1007/s10508-009-9591-6.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zargar, Y., & Ghaffari, M. (2009). Simple and multiple relationships between Big-Five personality dimensions and addiction in university students. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 38, 113–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (2007). Sensation seeking and risky behavior. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz (JGU), Binger Straße 14-16, 55122, Mainz, Germany

    Martin Rettenberger

  2. Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Martin Rettenberger, Verena Klein & Peer Briken

Authors
  1. Martin Rettenberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Verena Klein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peer Briken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Rettenberger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rettenberger, M., Klein, V. & Briken, P. The Relationship Between Hypersexual Behavior, Sexual Excitation, Sexual Inhibition, and Personality Traits. Arch Sex Behav 45, 219–233 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0399-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0399-7

Keywords

  • Hypersexuality
  • Dual Control Model
  • Sexual Excitation
  • Sexual Inhibition
  • Big Five
  • Hypersexual Behavior Inventory