Problematic compulsion or just habit? The science behind porn's addictive appeal
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
“It is giving them ideas about what sex should look like that are not healthy. Receiving reliably pleasurable touch is a crucial aspect of creating sexual desire for many people. Porn sex has nothing to do with experiencing whole-body touch.” — Aline Zoldbrod, PhD, psychologist and sex therapist
Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.
Here’s a potential public health crisis you didn’t see coming: pornography addiction. Why? Some experts point to, at least in part, the prevalence of smartphones.
“I do think it is becoming more prevalent because there is easy access to porn... It is unbelievably convenient,” Aline Zoldbrod, PhD, a psychologist and sex therapist, tells MDLinx.
This rise in porn consumption may have accelerated due to the social isolation induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, although evidence on this connection is mixed. Nonetheless, problematic porn use is prevalent across the world. Analysis of data from the International Sex Survey, covering 42 countries and 5 continents, showed the estimated rate of problematic porn use ranged from 3.2% to 16.6%.[]
Want more like this? Read all of our coverage on this growing epidemic:
Early exposure is a top concern
Children growing up in an increasingly online world may be particularly susceptible to developing a problem, with studies showing that, on average, the first exposure to pornography occurs before the teenage years.
The nonprofit Culture Reframed says 1 billion young people are exposed to porn around the world, with about one-third of children seeing “hardcore” material by age 12.[]
Pornography distorts children’s understanding of healthy sexual relationships. Particularly for men, Dr. Zoldbrod says, “it is giving them ideas about what sex should look like that are not healthy. Receiving reliably pleasurable touch is a crucial aspect of creating sexual desire for many people. Porn sex has nothing to do with experiencing whole-body touch.”
The seductive nature of porn
Pornography is alluring because it provides a wide range of imaginary partners, according to Dr. Zolbrod. “This makes arousal a breeze.” Porn also simplifies the sexual experience and eliminates concerns among men about the need to maintain an erection during an in-person encounter. “[With porn] there is no need to talk about what you want, no need to adjust to the rhythm of another person. The connection between one’s brain and body and hand is seamless.”
Moreover, porn is especially seductive for certain types of people, according to Dr. Zoldbrod. Among these are people who work long hours at stressful jobs, those who are on the autism spectrum and find interpersonal interactions stressful, and individuals with ADHD how may like the efficiency of masturbating, she says.
The digital age has undoubtedly made pornography a pervasive force in many people’s lives, and its addictive potential presents a significant challenge to public health. The rise in porn addiction, therefore, is not only a personal issue—but one that requires a societal response.
Read Next: This new sexual health trend has your patients seeking unverified health benefits