At the Threshold of Norms: Confronting Clinical Bias and Rethinking Compulsivity in Non-Normative Sexuality

Abstract Book of the 7th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality

Year: 2026

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At the Threshold of Norms: Confronting Clinical Bias and Rethinking Compulsivity in Non-Normative Sexuality

Shabana Wollin

ABSTRACT:

Human sexuality and intimate relationships exist along a broad continuum shaped by biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences. Non-normative expressions of intimacy are frequently misinterpreted as deviant due to culturally inherited assumptions rather than indicators of dysfunction. This paper presents a clinically grounded framework for understanding relational variation through an integrative lens that emphasizes function, context, and impact over form. Drawing on biopsychosocial, attachment-based, and contemporary relational theories, the paper examines diverse relational configurations and the challenges they pose within clinical settings. Particular attention is given to clinician responses, including discomfort and countertransference, which may influence judgment if left unexamined. In response to the complexity of differentiating adaptive variation from maladaptive patterns, the paper introduces the A.R.I.S.E. Clinical Assessment Model, a structured framework for evaluating relational dynamics across key domains of functioning. Additionally, a stance-based approach is proposed to support clinicians in maintaining neutrality, curiosity, and ethical alignment when engaging with unfamiliar disclosures. By reframing non-normative intimacy through a functional and ethically grounded perspective, this work contributes to interdisciplinary conversations in gender and sexuality studies while offering practical tools for clinical assessment and decision-making.

Keywords: Adult Intimacy; Clinical Assessment; Compulsivity; Non-Normative Sexuality; Relational Diversity