PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES OF ERECTION FAILURE
A more recent theory of psychological cause is that the failure to achieve an erection is as a result of the 'threat' of negative consequences of failure rather than anxiety per se. Newer theories suggest that men with psychogenic erectile failure have the capacity to function sexually. However, they have difficulties performing because while they are having sex, their focus is not directed at what they should be enjoying, but rather towards those thoughts that are not sexually arousing.
Many psychologists believe that 'sexual performance is essentially reflexive or "natural" and will occur without difficulty if performance anxiety and unconscious conflicts do not interfere'. In my personal experience, this problem has a purely psychological origin in only a small percentage of men that I see. These are usually younger men, but may be of any age, as long as the problem is fairly rapid and recent in onset. I also believe that in almost every man who develops erectile dysfunction, whether it be of physical origin or not, there is a psychological effect.
Psychological factors contributing to erection failure are:
• fear of failure
• avoidance of sexual interaction
• anxiety
• frustration
• relationship disharmony
• depression.
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