Intimacy & Desire: Awaken the Passion in Your Relationship [Paperback]

David Schnarch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2011

Many couples begin marital counseling with Dr. David Schnarch with their sex lives in shambles, wondering what's wrong with them, considering divorce. One partner will complain that the other doesn't desire him, the other complains that she's married to a sex maniac. During his 30 years in practice as a marriage and family therapist, Dr. Schnarch has discovered that sexual desire problems are normal and even healthy, in committed relationships.

In Intimacy and Desire: Awaken the Passion in Your Relationship, Dr. Schnarch explains why couples in long term relationships have sexual desire problems, regardless of how much they love each other or how well they communicate. Through case studies of couples he worked with, Dr. Schnarch shows why normal marital conflict can be the cause of desire problems and creates a roadmap for how couples can transform marital conflict into a stronger relationship and a font of new and powerful desire for each other. He takes it a step further, giving readers simple but effective exercises that will help them reconnect with each other.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Readers sick of typical glossy-magazine self-help patter about reigniting romance, or the droning pomposity of most author-experts, will be pleasantly surprised with psychologist and sex therapist Schnarch (Passionate Marriage). He immediately catches readers' attention by agreeing that the common "just do it" approach to solving sexual problems is not only ineffective, but often results in one partner responding with a decisive "Don't tell me what to do!" That kind of understanding produces a number of unexpected bombshells-including "Marriage does kill desire"-which produce an uncanny effect: getting couples to stop and reconsider their emotions, quit blaming each other, and start to think (and act) differently regarding sexual situations, behaviors and attitudes. The book's flaws are more aggravating than genuinely problematic-a tendency to lean on jargon and trademark key phrases ("Four Points of Balance(tm)")-but O'Neill breaks down complex issues with loosely-drawn real life examples, illustrating the dramatic and fundamental changes that occur when couples have a greater understanding of desire, monogamy and the brain. The process is neither easy nor quick, but Schnarch's confidence is contagious. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Readers sick of glossy-magazine self-help patter about reigniting romance, or the droning pomposity of most author-experts, will be pleasantly surprised with psychologist and sex therapist Schnarch (Passionate Marriage). He immediately catches readers' attention by agreeing that the common "just do it" approach to solving sexual problems is not only ineffective, but often results in one partner responding with a decisive 'Don't tell me what to do!' That kind of understanding produces a number of unexpected bombshells--including 'Marriage does kill desire'--which produce an uncanny effect: getting couples to stop and reconsider their emotions, quit blaming each other, and start to thing (and act) differently regarding sexual situations, behaviors and attitudes…breaks down complex issues with loosely-drawn real life examples, illustrating the dramatic and fundamental changes that occur when couples have a greater understanding of desire, monogamy and the brain. The process is neither easy nor quick, but Schnarch's confidence is contagious." -- Publisher's Weekly Starred Review (October 12, 2009) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Beaufort Books (May 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825305675
• ISBN-13: 978-0825305672
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Sexuality
  • #44 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Emotions
  • #74 in Books > Self-Help > Sex

More About the Author

David Schnarch, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and director of the Marriage and Family Health Center in Evergreen, Colorado. He is founder of the Sexual Crucible Approach(r) to integrated sexual and marital therapy, and the Passionate Marriage Approach(r) for couples. Dr. Schnarch's textbook Constructing the Sexual Crucible is used as a primary text in graduate training programs across the country. He was the first recipient of the Professional Standards of Excellence Award from the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT} and chair of professional education for eight years. Dr. Schnarch currently serves on the editorial board of AAMFT's Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy. He lives in Evergreen, Co1orado.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 118 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and Grace April 30, 2011

By Resmaa

Format:Hardcover

Because of the considerable attention Dr. Sandra Pertot's review has attracted, and the fact it is offered as a professional opinion, I feel it necessary to offer a different perspective on Intimacy and Desire (I&D) and her comments about it. I am a licensed therapist with 22 years of experience, and have not written any books (although I hope to). I have studied Dr. Schnarch's work for many years, including I&D, and consider myself knowledgeable about his approach. The one thing I have learned from studying Dr. Schnarch is he works tirelessly to pursue the truth in his work as well as his life. I am amazed at how much "The Old Man" continues to grow and evolve, and challenge himself to live within his principles of 4 points of balance. Dr. Schnarch as well as his wife Dr. Ruth Morehouse are serious clinicians as demonstrated in their articles and books. They are not carnival barkers with the newest way to make your relationship of 20 years "get that new car smell". On the contrary, they help you read your relationship's owner manual and learn to drive it better, so you can get more out of it and yourself. My opinion of Dr Sandra Perot's critique grows out of my love for my field and a quest for professional grace, and I hope it is received in the spirit in which it is delivered.

Professional standards require disclosure of commercial and other considerations that might bias statements made by psychologists regarding products and services. Dr. Pertot is the author of what might be considered a competing book in which she clearly aligns with the lower desire partner. (Read reviews of her book "Perfectly Normal: Living and Loving with Low Libido.") Her review of I&D glaringly fails to alert readers of her own biases, and postures as a professional opinion hesitantly given, motivated out of concern for public welfare. Had she clarified her wish to debate Schnarch (see replies to her review), the public would be better served.
Pertot is flat wrong on many points in her critique. Her review criticizes Schnarch's assertion "if you love each other and stay together you can count on sexual problems," and she states "no, research tells us that a great many couples are content with their sex lives even if they meet the criteria for a sexual dysfunction." Pertot mentions research to give her position credibility, but Schnarch's statement about frequency of sexual desire problems has nothing to do with sexual satisfaction research. Moreover his hopeful positive stance in I&D (noted in the Publisher's Weekly review) is completely consistent with this research. Whereas Pertot characterizes I&D as scientifically inaccurate, the reverse is actually true. While this book is written for the general public, it backed up with more than 150 scientific publications referenced in the back of the book.

Pertot takes issue with Schnarch's thesis that "there is always a low desire partner", stating "no, many couples are well matched." I&D makes clear "low desire partner" and "high desire partner" are relative positions in a relationship, on many issues besides sex. Even couples who are initially sexually well-matched usually polarize into one partner having lower or higher desire than the other due to sexual and non-sexual dynamics (which Schnarch describes). Partners often switch desire positions over the course of their relationship, and men are frequently the lower desire partner.
Partot most strongly disagrees with Schnarch's thesis that "the low desire partner always controls sex." She writes "This, in my view, reveals a rather limited understanding of the many different dynamics that can lead to differences in sexual desire." But Schnarch's statement does not concern the dynamics that lead to sexual desire differences, it states a basic fact of human sexual relationships (where rape is not tolerated). I&D offers one of the most complete, and possibly the most advanced, discussion of sexual desire dynamics you'll find anywhere.

Pertot mounts the argument, "It is just as valid to say that the partner who controls what happens during sex is often the cause of the other partner's loss of libido." This does not negate what Schnarch says. I&D considers situations where the higher desire partner dictates styles of sex the other partner finds aversive, noting this may cause the other to be the lower desire partner. However, Schnarch's thesis still holds true that the lower desire partner's agreement or refusal to have sex still controls when sex happens. I&D also notes that the lower desire partner frequently controls how sex happens as well as when it happens.

Pertot's reference to "higher libido partner" and "lower drive partner," underscores her own limited understanding of Schnarch's book and/or desire problems in general. I&D explicitly rejects conventional views of sexual desire as libido or biological desire, and focuses on uniquely human aspects of sexual desire: Our capacity for (1) bringing meaning to sex, (2) consciously chosen freely undertaken desire, and (3) desire for the partner and not just desire for sex. Libido and sex drive are antithetical to all of these.

Pertot offers three examples to bolster her critique of Schnarch's book. The first two involve one partner pressuring the other for styles of sex the other does not like. Pertot says less pressure might increase the lower desire partner's desire (Schnarch says this too). But Partot's examples actually illustrate Schnarch's thesis that the lower desire partner always controls sex--she's just suggesting how the higher desire partner might influence the lower desire partner to exercise control in ways the higher desire partner prefers.

Pertot's ultimate indictment is her example in which "the higher drive partner wants/expects sex at least daily; the lower drive partner's preferred sexual frequency is once a week but is willing to have sex 3-4 times a week. Who is driving the sexual pace here?" Pertot's example again doesn't address what Schnarch is saying but proves his point. Both partners in her example attempt to influence the other's preferred sexual frequency, but ultimately this couple will have sex 3-4 times a week because this is what the lower desire partner decides. The lower desire partner having more sex (or the higher desire partner having less sex) than he or she might want doesn't change the fact that the lower desire partner ultimately decides the couple's sexual frequency.

Pertot disingenuously asks, "so to not be controlling her/himself, should she or he say yes every time?" I&D answers this complex question from many different viewpoints--some of which include the lower desire partner saying "No." Moreover, her question unfairly positions Schnarch as aligning with the higher desire partner against the lower desire partner, and positions herself as being neutral. Actually, Schnarch's position is scientific and sympathetic to both partners, while Pertot adopts a lopsided alliance with the lower desire partner. Many lower desire partners like I&D because it says the lower desire partner controls sex whether he or she knows it, likes it, wants it or not. Schnarch says low desire partners are often dismayed and burdened by the powerful control they have. Often they don't want to be controlling sex or their partner, they just want to have control of themselves. Pertot's question confusingly states the issues backwards. One of this book's great strengths is Schnarch's unique idea that "the urge to develop and maintain a sense of self" is a primary determinant of sexual desire, and issues of self hood and self-determination outweigh horniness, hormones and libido.

Pertot fails to note that I&D offers the first explanation why normal healthy couples have sexual desire problems, and removes the stigma of being the low desire partner. If I&D's thesis is as misguided as Pertot contends, would the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy have selected Dr. Schnarch to receive the 2011 Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy? I suggest you read Intimacy & Desire and decide for yourself.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book For Personal & Relationship Growth - but don't think "Easy" February 17, 2011

By Fine Games for Players & Collectors

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book whose greatest gift is that it makes the vast ground plowed 13 years earlier in the author's 2nd book, Passionate Marriage, readily accessbile. The latter was a great book but a dense, difficult read that gave its greatest gifts only after repeated readings. This book, in contrast, makes the author's approach to self and relationship development easily understood. It brings his theory down to earth and gives guidence in applying it to one's life. I highly recommend it.

The book is, indeed, fun to read. Schnarch can deftly shift between transcribing the words & thoughts of a counseling session to his principles of human interaction & growth, and on to sometimes salacious stories of couples getting it on -- not only sexually but mentally & emotionally, and in a more open, enlightened way. He breaks into a mercifully short few pages of techno-babble at the beginning of one chapter to show his inclusion or understanding of brain science, but that is the only lapse in the smoothly flowing writing in this book.

Schnarch presents a number of "moving parts" within our relationships that work to grow us personally & as a partner. And his approach is generally at odds with the common approach within our culture of accomodation or withdrawal from conflict. Instead, he suggests that confronting one's issues -- from one's family of origin or from one's current partner (and commonly they are one & the same) -- is the real path to growth. The process involves these key variable:

* All key dimensions of activity, including sex, have a high & a low desire partner.
* Our sense of self can be based on others' opinion (other validated) or on our own heart (self validated). Both are valid, but if one is predominantly other-validated, then one becomes reluctant to say or do things that will endanger our partner's good opinion of us. And that creates major problems often to the extent of losing our self in the process.
* The tension between autonomy & connectedness provides the opportunity for personal growth: the authors Crucible Approach (which he's trademarked).
* Mind mapping is the core process of understanding the thoughts & intentions of another. Only where you allow another to honestly & fully know you can you have that deep connection most of us seek.
* Mind mapping as well as personal integrity is intimately involved in maintaining collaborative alliances with your partner. Being able to maintain such a collaborative alliance most of the time over a prolonged time is what makes for a "good relationship."
* Being psychologically prepared to sustain an alliance, and the integrity necessary for it, requires individual skills that were collectively called "differentiation" in Passionate Marriage and are here more usefully detailed as his Four Points of Balance on page 72.
* Marriage is a people growing system. One of its key mechanisms is to give you 2 Choice Dilemmas, forcing choice between alternatives that are both desirable. It forces growth where we might otherwise be tempted to complacently stay within our comfort zone -- and thus stagnate within relationship.
* Desiring your partner is one such Choice. And positively choosing your partner is a key part of fully participating in relationship.

Reading this book or any book won't cure a troubled relationship. But it will give you guidence on how to face your own part in your troubles and, very importantly, give meaning to the fact of your relationship struggle. Yes its hard, but yes it is the felling of growth. Find that meaning and the hardship becomes very tolerable.

I highly recommend this book (and Passionate Marriage).

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars saved my marriage December 5, 2009

By F. Heart

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found my relationship falling apart after 8 years together with my husband. After reading Intamcy and Desire, I found that many of the problems that I thought were my partners were things that both of us needed more insight into and that they were problems set up to reoccur throughout our lifetime if not addressed.This book is a lifesaver for the intelligent mind.