Pornography addiction: Difference between revisions

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Pornography addiction is a conjectured condition resulting from the overuse or abuse of pornography. As "overuse" and "abuse" in terms of pornography have never been quantified by any medical association, nor have any studies been performed on a potential link between consumption and illness, the condition is not classified as a disease.

There is considerable dispute about the the term "pornography addiction", and the validity of the claim that pornography addiction actually exists, and if so whether the harm ascribed to it is real. While some believe that it does exist, it can be argued that the majority of people who view and enjoy pornography, like the majority who enjoy any activity, will probably never encounter the harmful effects attributed to it when it is viewed habitually. Many people, both men and women, regularly watch pornography and still lead productive lives. They are able to have normal relationships and do not become desensitized to less stimulating materials

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. ^{[citation needed]}

Generally, addiction is a compulsion to repeat a behaviour regardless of its consequences. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol experience euphoria while taking the drugs and physical and/or psychological problems when they attempt to quit. Also, addicted persons usually experience desensitization and must increase their dosage in order to maintain their euphoria.

Pornography addiction according to James Dobson

According to Dr. James Dobson, a psychologist and a noted conservative, has said that 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 herself^[1]

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. ^[2]

Diagnosis

Recent research into the brain's function has shown that pornography can affect the brain in a manner similar to that of heroin. ^{[citation needed]} However, other research has also shown that compulsive gamblers and thieves also have irregular brain structures. ^{[citation needed]} ^[3]

Some people have higher sex drives because of medical conditions such as bipolar disorder or medications.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Pornography addiction according to Irons and Schneider

Formal criteria have been suggested along lines strictly analogous to the [DSM] 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). They cite 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 reasonable definition of what a pornography addiction would be.

Overcoming 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" [4].

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.

References

^ Dobson, James. "Life on the Edge." 2000. ISBN 0849909279
^ Dobson, James. "Love Must Be Tough : New Hope for Families in Crisis." 2004. ISBN 1590523555
^ The Skinner Box Effect : Sexual Addiction and Online Pornography. Thomas M. Grunder. ISBN 0595093248

External links

Higher-Calling.com - Christ-centered help for sexual addiction
Teens Against Pornography - Teens Fighting Porn Addiction. Religious
Breaking Pornography Addiction. Religious.
Free e-cards for pornography addicts and the people who love them, Fires of Darkness.
Treatment and Healing of Sexual and Pornographic Addictions - Dr. Victor B. Cline
Can Intimacy be Found Online? - from pornography recovery website PureIntimacy.org
Differential Diagnosis of Addictive Sexual Disorders Using the DSM-IV by Richard Irons, M.D. and Jennifer Schneider, M.D., Ph.D.
The Harmful Effects of Pornography by Paul J. McGeady describes Dr. Victor B. Cline's stages of porn addiction in more detail.
The Science Behind Porn Addiction: Senate Counter-Arguments, Lawrence G. Walters, Adult Video News Online, Dec. 2, 2004.
Overcoming Pornography Addiction, University of Texas at Dallas Student Counseling Center.

For online pornography addiction:

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 Some people have higher sex drives because of medical conditions such as [[bipolar disorder]] or medications.{{fact}}
 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, [http://www.no-porn.com/test.html here]), but do not appear to have been normed or statistically validated.
+== Pornography addiction according to Irons and Schneider ==
 Formal criteria have been suggested along lines strictly analogous to the [DSM] 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). They cite Goodman (1990), who compared the DSM criteria lists for various addictive disorders and derived these general characteristics: