Is porn addiction real? It”s a controversial issue.
Seeking help from a sexologist or psychologist is perfectly normal. But it”s important to remember: officially, there”s no such thing as pornography addiction. During the development of the latest update to the classification of diseases, doctors in the US used the diagnosis “hypersexuality.” Pornography addiction was included in this classification as a subtype of hypersexuality.
Contents of the article:
Terminology Difficulties
Nevertheless, the debate about whether excessive consumption of erotic videos should be classified as a crime continues. There is also confusion in definitions. Half of the official studies on pornography addiction rely on self-reporting. In other words, respondents themselves determine whether their consumption of pornographic videos is excessive or normal.
In their work, some researchers use more lenient terms in defining pornography addiction. They have used terms such as “problematic” or “excessive consumption” of pornography. However, there is no specific cutoff point that would be considered extreme in this regard. For some, “a lot” is 10 videos in the last three months. For others, the same amount is perfectly acceptable for hourly viewing.
Pornography is not harmful
In 1999, American researcher Alvin Cooper and his co-authors found that nearly half of people who spend more than 11 hours on the Internet (including pornographic sites) over 10 days do not experience negative consequences for their family or sexual relationships.
In 2015, researchers Landrippet and Stuhlhoffer published a monograph in which they found that men who use pornography for more than 11 hours over a 10-day period are more likely to experience negative consequences in their family and sexual relationships. They argue that pornography use does not impair men”s sexual functioning. In their study, the scientists conducted an extensive social survey. They found virtually no evidence that pornography can in any way harm men”s sexual health. Landrippet and Stuhlhoffer concluded that social barriers to pornography consumption are completely unfounded. Far more dangerous factors in the development of male sexual health disorders are stress, depression, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Read also: A highly controversial issue: is masturbation possible with a regular partner?
Is masturbation safe for couples? This question interests many people, especially women. Sex therapists often deal with women who. Currently, the concept of whether there is any value attached to pornography addiction is very vague. As a result, there are no standardized methods for working with people whose cravings for pornography cause genuine discomfort.
Dmitry Kolodin: Is Porn Addiction Real? (Kuji Podcast 29)
Several Key Signs of Addiction
Several key signs of addiction
Feelings of guilt about watching erotic videos.
- Decreased desire for sex with a regular partner.
- Feelings of isolation from loved ones and family. Constantly promising oneself to “relive it all again.”
- Pornography interferes with daily activities and hobbies.
- Obsessive thoughts about pornography appear. For example, men begin counting the number of days they have managed to refrain from watching videos.
- It is entirely possible to contact a therapist if watching pornography becomes a problem. In any case, there are specific developments and approaches in therapy for treating pornography addiction. Often, the problem stems from completely different psychological difficulties. For example, self-flagellation, the desire to escape reality, difficulties establishing intimate relationships with loved ones, etc.
Pornography Addiction. How to Overcome Pornography Addiction? | Popular Psychology.
How Porn Affects Real-Life Sex. Pornography Addiction: Causes, Signs, and Consequences.
