Libido
In psychology, libido (/lɪˈbiːdoʊ/; from the Latin libīdō, 'desire') is psychic drive or energy, usually conceived as sexual in nature, but sometimes conceived as including other forms of desire.[1] The term libido was originally used by the neurologist and pioneering psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud who began by employing it simply to denote sexual desire. Over time it came to signify the psychic energy of the sexual drive, and became a vital concept in psychoanalytic theory. Freud's later conception was broadened to include the fundamental energy of all expressions of love, pleasure, and self-preservation.[2][3]
In common or
Psychological perspectives
Freud
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Freud pointed out that these libidinal drives can conflict with the conventions of civilised behavior, represented in the psyche by the
Freud viewed libido as passing through a series of developmental stages in the individual, in which the libido fixates on different erogenous zones: first the oral stage (exemplified by an infant's pleasure in nursing), then the anal stage (exemplified by a toddler's pleasure in controlling his or her bowels), then the phallic stage, through a latency stage in which the libido is dormant, to its reemergence at puberty in the genital stage[10] (Karl Abraham would later add subdivisions in both oral and anal stages.).[11] Failure to adequately adapt to the demands of these different stages could result in libidinal energy becoming 'dammed up' or fixated in these stages, producing certain pathological character traits in adulthood.
Jung
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung identified the libido with psychic energy in general. According to Jung, 'energy', in its subjective and psychological sense, is 'desire', of which sexual desire is just one aspect.[12][13] Libido thus denotes "a desire or impulse which is unchecked by any kind of authority, moral or otherwise. Libido is appetite in its natural state. From the genetic point of view it is bodily needs like hunger, thirst, sleep, and sex, and emotional states or affects, which constitute the essence of libido."[14] It is "the energy that manifests itself in the life process and is perceived subjectively as striving and desire."[15] Duality (opposition) creates the energy (or libido) of the psyche, which Jung asserts expresses itself only through symbols. These symbols may manifest as "fantasy-images" in the process of psychoanalysis, giving subjective expression to the contents of the libido, which otherwise lacks any definite form.[16] Desire, conceived generally as a psychic longing, movement, displacement and structuring, manifests itself in definable forms which are apprehended through analysis.
Other psychological and social perspectives
A person may have a desire for sex, but not have the opportunity to act on that desire, or may on personal, moral or religious reasons
Certain psychological or social factors can reduce the desire for sex. These factors can include lack of privacy or
Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may find themselves with reduced sexual desire. Struggling to find pleasure, as well as having trust issues, many with PTSD experience feelings of vulnerability, rage and anger, and emotional shutdowns, which have been shown to inhibit sexual desire in those with PTSD.[19] Reduced sex drive may also be present in trauma victims due to issues arising in sexual function. For women, it has been found that treatment can improve sexual function, thus helping restore sexual desire.[20] Depression and libido decline often coincide, with reduced sex drive being one of the symptoms of depression.[21] Those with depression often report the decline in libido to be far reaching and more noticeable than other symptoms.[21] In addition, those with depression often are reluctant to report their reduced sex drive, often normalizing it with cultural/social values, or by the failure of the physician to inquire about it.
Biological perspectives
Endogenous compounds
Libido is governed primarily by activity in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway (ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens).[4] Consequently, dopamine and related trace amines (primarily phenethylamine)[23] that modulate dopamine neurotransmission play a critical role in regulating libido.[4]
Other neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and sex hormones that affect sex drive by modulating activity in or acting upon this pathway include:
- Testosterone[4] (directly correlated) – and other androgens[24][25][26][27]
- Estrogen[4] (directly correlated) – and related female sex hormones[28][29][30][31][32]
- Progesterone[31] (inversely correlated)
- Oxytocin[33] (directly correlated)
- Serotonin[34][35][36] (inversely correlated)
- Norepinephrine[34] (directly correlated)
- Acetylcholine[37]
Sex hormone levels and the menstrual cycle
A woman's desire for sex is correlated to her
Also, during the week following ovulation,
Although some specialists disagree with this theory, menopause is still considered by the majority a factor that can cause decreased sexual desire in women. The levels of estrogen decrease at menopause and this usually causes a lower interest in sex and vaginal dryness which makes sex painful. However, the levels of testosterone increase at menopause and this may be why some women may experience a contrary effect of an increased libido.[41]
Physical factors
Physical factors that can affect libido include endocrine issues such as hypothyroidism, the effect of certain prescription medications (for example flutamide), and the attractiveness and biological fitness of one's partner, among various other lifestyle factors.[42]
Anemia is a cause of lack of libido in women due to the loss of iron during the period.[43]
Medications
Some people purposefully attempt to decrease their libido through the usage of
.Isotretinoin, finasteride and many SSRIs uncommonly can cause a long-term decrease in libido and overall sexual function, sometimes lasting for months or years after users of these drugs have stopped taking them. These long-lasting effects have been classified as iatrogenic medical disorders, respectively termed post-retinoid sexual dysfunction/post-Accutane syndrome (PRSD/PAS), post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD).[21][48] These three disorders share many overlapping symptoms in addition to reduced libido, and are thought to share a common etiology, but collectively remain poorly-understood and lack effective treatments.
Multiple studies have shown that with the exception of
Oral contraceptives lower androgen levels in users, and lowered androgen levels generally lead to a decrease in sexual desire. However, usage of oral contraceptives has shown to typically not have a connection with lowered libido in women.[51][52]
Effects of age
Males reach the peak of their sex drive in their teenage years[ Actual testosterone and estrogen levels that affect a person's sex drive vary considerably.
Some boys and girls will start expressing romantic or sexual interest by age 10–12. The romantic feelings are not necessarily sexual, but are more associated with attraction and desire for another. For boys and girls in their preteen years (ages 11–12), at least 25% report "thinking a lot about sex".[56] By the early teenage years (ages 13–14), however, boys are much more likely to have sexual fantasies than girls. In addition, boys are much more likely to report an interest in sexual intercourse at this age than girls.[56] Masturbation among youth is common, with prevalence among the population generally increasing until the late 20s and early 30s. Boys generally start masturbating earlier, with less than 10% boys masturbating around age 10, around half participating by age 11–12, and over a substantial majority by age 13–14.[56] This is in sharp contrast to girls where virtually none are engaging in masturbation before age 13, and only around 20% by age 13–14.[56]
People in their 60s and early 70s generally retain a healthy sex drive, but this may start to decline in the early to mid-70s.[57] Older adults generally develop a reduced libido due to declining health and environmental or social factors.[57] In contrast to common belief, postmenopausal women often report an increase in sexual desire and an increased willingness to satisfy their partner.[58] Women often report family responsibilities, health, relationship problems, and well-being as inhibitors to their sexual desires. Aging adults often have more positive attitudes towards sex in older age due to being more relaxed about it, freedom from other responsibilities, and increased self-confidence. Those exhibiting negative attitudes generally cite health as one of the main reasons. Stereotypes about aging adults and sexuality often regard seniors as asexual beings, doing them no favors when they try to talk about sexual interest with caregivers and medical professionals.[58] Non-western cultures often follow a narrative of older women having a much lower libido, thus not encouraging any sort of sexual behavior for women. Residence in retirement homes has affects on residents' libidos. In these homes, sex occurs, but it is not encouraged by the staff or other residents. Lack of privacy and resident gender imbalance are the main factors lowering desire.[58] Generally, for older adults, being excited about sex, good health, sexual self-esteem and having a sexually talented partner can be factors.[59]
Sexual desire disorders
Sexual desire disorders are more common in women than in men,
The
See also
- Desire
- Lust
- Sexual arousal
- Sexual attraction
- Sexual desire
- Sexual motivation and hormones
References
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- ^ Roy F. Baumeister, Kathleen R. Catanese, and Kathleen D. Vohs. "Is There a Gender Difference in Strength of Sex Drive? Theoretical Views, Conceptual Distinctions, and a Review of Relevant Evidence" (PDF). Department of Psychology Case Western Reserve University. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
All the evidence we have reviewed points toward the conclusion that men desire sex more than women. Although some of the findings were more methodologically rigorous than others, the unanimous convergence across all measures and findings increases confidence. We did not find a single study, on any of nearly a dozen different measures, that found women had a stronger sex drive than men. We think that the combined quantity, quality, diversity, and convergence of the evidence render the conclusion indisputable
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Further reading
- ISBN 0-465-01672-3.
- Froböse, Gabriele, and Froböse, Rolf. Lust and Love: Is It More than Chemistry? Michael Gross (trans. and ed.). Royal Society of Chemistry, ISBN 0-85404-867-7(2006).
- Giles, James, The Nature of Sexual Desire, Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 2008.