Resistance in the behavioral treatment of sexual dysfunctions

Although there has been a rapid burgeoning of interest in the treatment of sexual problems in recent years, particularly in treatments that include or rely heavily upon learning-based behavioral intervention strategies, little has been written about the patient "resistances" during this form of treatment. This report describes five categories of resistance: Type I resistance results from the patient not understanding what he is supposed to do, Type II resistance from a deficit in the patient's skills, Type III resistance from lack of motivation or expectation of success, Type IV resistance from anxiety or gulit elicited or mobilized by the treatment situation, and Type V resistance from positive reinforcement (secondary gain). Treatment strategies differ depending on the type of resistance.