Is Sex Addiction Grounds for Divorce in Tennessee?

Sex addiction is not a new phenomenon, nor is it exclusively a Tennessee concern. But to answer the question, “Is sex addiction grounds for Tennessee divorce?”  Yes it can be, but indirectly so.

What Is Sex Addiction?

Cover “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer (1986)

As the late Robert Palmer put it, “Might as well face it you’re addicted to love…” But sex addiction, also known as hypersexual disorder, is more than mere affinity or the desire to have sex with extraordinary frequency.

Similar to other addictions, the person lacks self-control and will continue sex-related activities, may even escalate such activities, despite the realization that there are negative consequences. Consequences which could be harmful to one’s self and to others, including a spouse. Yet the person is unable to stop the behavior without intervention of some kind, hence the term addiction.

According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), which is an association of mental health professionals, compulsively or uncontrollably engaging in the following behaviors could indicate the person is a sex addict:

“Compulsive masturbation; Simultaneous or repeated sequential affairs; Pornography; Cybersex, phone sex; Multiple anonymous partners; Unsafe sexual activity; Partner objectification/demand for sex; Strip clubs and adult bookstores; Use of prostitution/escorts; Sexual aversion/anorexia; Frequenting massage parlors; Sexual paraphilias (a need for unusual sexual stimulation) and/or sexually offensive behaviors.”

Not all mental health professionals believe that sex addiction is a mental disorder. Compare the AAMFT above with the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) position on the debate. The APA once again rejected sex addiction as a diagnostic category of mental health disorder. Consequently, hypersexual disorder (for example, nymphomania) is not included in the new DSM-5.

Sex Addiction in Tennessee Divorce

Without getting into the merits of each activity, clearly there is a pattern of behavior that can undermine trust in a marriage. Furthermore, certain activities may be grounds for divorce. But don’t look to file a complaint for divorce on grounds of “sex addiction.”

For example, look instead to filing on grounds of adultery (as with sequential extra-marital affairs); inappropriate marital conduct (as with pornography addiction); and indignities (as with sexually offensive behaviors that inflict pain or attempt to inflict pain).

To learn more, visit our website for a concise description of the 15 Grounds for Divorce in Tennessee. Also, watch a two-minute video by Memphis divorce lawyer Miles Mason, Sr., on the grounds for divorce.

What Every Divorcing Spouse Needs to Know

Memphis divorce attorney, Miles Mason, Sr., practices family law exclusively and is founder of the Miles Mason Family Law Group, PLC. Check out The Tennessee Divorce Client’s Handbook: What Every Divorcing Spouse Needs to Know, available on Amazon and Kindle. To schedule your confidential consultation, call us today at (901) 683-1850.