Is "hyper-sexuality" hype?

Tuesday morning we heard contrasting opinions from a pair of eminent psychiatrists over whether sexual addiction should be considered a psychiatric classification, or a misguided effort at pathologizing relationally-damaging behavior. I was impressed with both of our guests, but am still unclear on how you classify something that's such a part of human nature as a psychiatric condition. Isn't part of our nature to do battle between our short term impulses and longer term benefit? If we consistently fall short of our longer term interests by indulging a particular pleasure, is that really evidence of an addiction?

I'm particularly skeptical of labeling as a sex addict a high profile athlete who travels the world taking advantage of sexual opportunities along the way. It's clearly a violation of the pact he has with his wife and, once public, a tremendously unfair burden on his kids. However, it's hard for me to see that as an addiction. The athlete engaged in short term gratification, ultimately at the expense of those he loves. There are, however, many examples of such behavior from non-sexual areas of life, and they wouldn't be looked at as stemming from an addiction.

What do you think? Perhaps you've struggled with sexual obsessions or addiction and would like to share your experience and what it's led you to conclude.

Wednesday on "AirTalk," we'll talk with members of the UC community about race relations on Southern California campuses. You've probably heard about the incidents at UC San Diego. If you're part of a UC community, what have you observed?