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Pornography addiction is defined as a condition resulting from the overuse or abuse of pornography. As measures of "overuse" and "abuse" of pornography as well as research on the topic are disputed scientifically, 'pornography addiction' is not classifed by medical doctors as a disease.

There is considerable dispute about whether "pornography addiction" actually exists, and if so, whether it has harmful effects. One popular argument against this form of addiction is that many people regularly watch pornography and still lead productive lives. Critics of this form of addiction argue that people who regularly view pornography are able to have normal relationships and are not desensitized to less stimulating materials.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not presently provide a formal definition for pornography addiction. Many informal "self-tests" have been written (for example, here), but do not appear to have been normed or statistically validated.

General definition

The concept of pornography addiction is defined by its proponents as a psychological addiction to, or dependence upon, pornography, characterized by obsessive viewing, reading, and thinking about pornography and sexual themes to the general detriment of the rest of one's life.

It has been suggested by some proponents of the pornography addiction hypothesis that pornography addicts should experience similar patterns of symptoms to those involved in physiological addiction to substances such as drugs or alcohol; for example, euphoria while taking the drugs, and physical and/or psychological problems when they attempt to quit, desensitization to the addictive subtance, and the need to increase their dosage in order to maintain their euphoria.

Etiology

Numerous physiological rationales have been suggested for pornography addiction.

Some research into the brain's function appears to show that pornography can affect the brain in a manner similar to that of heroin. However, other research has also shown that compulsive gamblers and thieves also have irregular brain structures. The Skinner Box Effect : Sexual Addiction and Online Pornography. Thomas M. Grunder. ISBN 0595093248

Some people have higher sex drives because of medical conditions such as bipolar disorder or medications.

Pornography addiction according to James Dobson

According to Dr. James Dobson, a psychologist and a noted conservative, pornography addiction causes a person to:

  • Become desensitized to the material, no longer getting a thrill from what was once exciting
  • Fantasize about acting out various pornographic scenes
  • Become callous towards ordinary sexual relationships
  • Become reclusive and attempt to hide the habit from family and friends
  • View the opposite sex as sex objects
  • View sex as being solely for the pleasure of himself or herselfDobson, James. "Life on the Edge." 2000. ISBN 0849909279

Dr. Dobson also believes that pornography leads to premarital sex, unprotected sex, prostitution, affairs and problems during marriage. Once married, Dobson believes that men who were or are addicted to pornography will be unable to be satisfied with their sexual partner, causing marital problems and even divorce. Dobson believes that pornography should be illegal because of its addictive effects. Dobson, James. "Love Must Be Tough : New Hope for Families in Crisis." 2004. ISBN 1590523555

Pornography addiction according to Irons and Schneider

Formal criteria have been suggested along lines strictly analogous to the criteria for alcohol and other substance addictions. See http://www.jenniferschneider.com/articles/diagnos.html this article (online copy of Richard Irons, M. D. and Jennifer P. Schneider, M.D., Ph.D "Differential Diagnosis of Addictive Sexual Disorders Using the DSM-IV." In Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 1996, Volume 3, pp 7-21, 1996). This article cites Goodman (1990), who compared the DSM criteria lists for various addictive disorders and derived these general characteristics:

  • Recurrent failure to resist impulses to engage in a specified behavior.
  • Increasing sense of tension immediately prior to initiating the behavior.
  • Pleasure or relief at the time of engaging in the behavior.
  • At least five of the following:
    • Frequent preoccupation with the behavior or with activity that is preparatory to the behavior.
    • Frequent engaging in the behavior to a greater extent or over a longer period than intended.
    • Repeated efforts to reduce, control, or stop the behavior.
    • A great deal of time spent in activities necessary for the behavior, engaging in the behavior, or recovering from its effects.
    • Frequent engaging in the behavior when expected to fulfill occupational, academic, domestic or social obligations.
    • Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of the behavior.
    • Continuation of the behavior despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent social, financial, psychological, or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the behavior.
    • Tolerance: need to increase the intensity or frequency of the behavior in order to achieve the desired effect, or diminished effect with continued behavior of the same intensity.
    • Restlessness or irritability if unable to engage in the behavior.
  • Some symptoms of the disturbance have persisted for at least one month, or have occurred repeatedly over a longer period of time.

These criteria can be applied to almost any behavior, and would seem to characterize an excessive and uncontrollable involvement regardless of the particular behavior. They thus provide one possible definition of what a pornography addiction would be.

Online treatment for pornography addiction

Numerous websites have been founded to provide support to those who believe that they are pornography addicts. Convenant Eyes Internet Accountability, for instance, has created software that allows addicts to link up with an accountability partner, who will automatically receive an emailed report of his internet activity (www.no-porn.com/ce.html). E-cards are also available to help addicts' significant others say, "Please get help for your pornography addiction" *.

www.treating-pornography-addiction.com offers tools for addicts and spouse/parents.

One good way to keep yourself away from porn is to use a web filtering software, like the free K9 Web Protection. You can password protect it and keep your password in a place with difficult access, or you can use a program that will 'compute' your password in a large amount of time, the time necessary for you to try to get rid of the craving.

Online pornography addiction

Online pornography addiction is another alleged type of pornography addiction in which the user obtains the pornography through the Internet.

Those who believe in the concept of online pornography addiction argue that it is stronger, and more addictive, than ordinary pornography addiction because of the wide availability, increasingly hardcore nature of the content available, and the privacy that viewing online offers.

Allegations of connections between pornography and violence

Pornography use has been linked to the enactments of serious crimes, notably in the cases of Ted Bundy and David Berkowitz. However, these links are disputed by some, since they come primarily from the criminals themselves, who have a vested interest in shifting the blame for their actions. No reputable study has uncovered a link between pornography and violence, including some which hypothesized and expected to prove such a connection,such as those of the Meese Commission.

See also

References

External links

For online pornography addiction:

Pornography

Pornografiesucht | Dépendance à la pornographie | Dipendenza sessuale

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Pornography addiction".

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