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Damaged Sexual Self-Esteem: A Kind of Disability

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Abstract

Damage to sexual self-esteem can occur readily through interactions with others; name-calling, sexual insults, unsuccessful sexual interactions, sexual victimization, and one's own impulsivity and self-destructiveness in a sexual encounter can affect the individual's sexual self-esteem. In this paper, five cases are provided to clarify the ways in which individuals experience damage to their sexual self-esteem. Some of these cases came under court scrutiny; monetary compensation was ordered by the courts because of extreme damage in some of the cases. Damage to SSE can be extreme, disabling and can significantly detract from the individual's self-view, satisfaction with life, capability to experience pleasure, willingness to interact with others and ability to develop relationships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U. S. Army in the National Capitol Consortium Uniformed Services Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, USA

    Daniel K. Heller

  2. University of Southern California Center for Scholarly Technology, USA

    Jessica A. Heller

Authors
  1. Kathleen S. Mayers
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  2. Daniel K. Heller
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  3. Jessica A. Heller
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Mayers, K.S., Heller, D.K. & Heller, J.A. Damaged Sexual Self-Esteem: A Kind of Disability. Sexuality and Disability 21, 269–282 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SEDI.0000010069.08844.04

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SEDI.0000010069.08844.04

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