ABSTRACT
This chapter helps readers to analyse the steps involved in their own sexual acting out and to bring them into conscious awareness. The sequence of events involved in acting out is described as a 'cycle of addiction'. The chapter focuses on each of the components that make up this cycle. Men in treatment programme describe the cycle of addiction as the most important intervention to help them leave behind unwanted sexual behaviour. There are three prior components to acting out: the negative feeling states, seemingly unimportant decisions and the triggers that set in motion the addictive cycle. The cycle begins with experiencing negative feelings. These internal feeling states are referred as 'precursors' to the sexual acting out. The primary feeling states that give rise to sexual acting out are depression, loneliness, anxiety, boredom and shame. These feelings are experienced as intolerable, and sexual behaviour is used as a way to escape from the feelings and create a temporary relief.
