By Angelina Repka
Many people are under the impression that addiction can only occur with an ingestible substance, such as heroin or food. However, the truth is that anything that changes the brain and affects its reward center, meaning dopamine is released, can become addictive—this includes addictive behaviors such as shopping and gambling. Perhaps the most powerful example of this is pornography addiction. It should be noted that it is never good to be addicted to anything no matter what it is, and pornography has never had anything healthy to offer anyone.
Porn is inherently unhealthy because it promotes a relationship with a screen rather than with another person. It also leads those who view pornographic content to start seeing others differently, which hurts their current relationships and their chances of forming a healthy relationship in the future. The porn industry also exploits and objectifies young girls and women while promoting harmful ideals about sex and relationships, such as objectifying women and portraying men as aggressive and domineering. It can even lead to people downplaying the seriousness of sexual abuse and assault due to pornographic content becoming more violent, which is discussed in the article “Watching pornography rewires the brain to a more juvenile state.”
Some people may also think that abstaining from porn is simply a religious movement, but the truth is that eliminating porn has been proven to improve marriages and sexual relationships for both men and women, as discussed in “Perspective: The atheist who warned the world about porn addiction.” Gary Wilson was an atheist, and yet he made great contributions on the subject of the dangers of porn which can be found here. Some individuals have seen positive results after only days of abstaining from porn.
It is also important to note that while sex addiction is also not a good thing, it is different from porn addiction. Having a sex addiction means to be consumed with feeling the frequent need for the actual act of having sex with someone, and potentially more extreme and risky sex. Those who are addicted to porn are addicted to what they see on the screen, and most likely to sexual self-pleasure while viewing it. Having a porn addiction can become a bridge to having a sex addiction. So, regardless of what “kind” of porn is being viewed, even if it is “soft porn,” it changes how one views others and takes away from real-life relationships. Recovering addicts have said that while they were knee-deep in the dark abyss of pornography, all they could think about when interacting with others was whether they viewed other people as being sexually attractive or not, rather than their value as people.
How Does Addiction Work?
The neurotransmitter called dopamine is what makes people want to go back to something for more, and is also tied to the anticipation of what the person’s brain finds reward in (Your Brain on Porn, n.d.). It is in our genes to seek reward. The more dopamine is released with a particular behavior, the more likely one will get addicted to said behavior—and pornography certainly causes a big dopamine release. This dopamine release may also vary depending on the individual, but it certainly does not mean that some people can safely view porn (Your Brain on Porn, n.d.).
Once an addiction is formed, there is a permanent “rut” in the brain that is always seeking to be filled (Your Brain on Porn, n.d.). Those who are recovering from an addiction do not simply eliminate what they have become addicted to; rather, they are taught to seek healthier habits to fill that “rut” and not slide into the dark “abyss” again. It is not wise or healthy to think that one may just “dabble” in something addictive here and there, and not have it become a problem that consumes their everyday lives and eventually affects every aspect of their existence (Your Brain on Porn, n.d.).
Is There Hope For Those Who Wish to Avoid Porn?
There absolutely is! Here are some suggestions for parents:
- There is a term called “rebooting” that parents can do research on in case they or their children are struggling with addiction. Many people have successfully recovered with this method.
- It is best to start talking about pornography with your children as early on as possible. Make sure they also know that it is equally harmful for girls and boys.
- It is also important for parents to tell their children that while exposure to porn does not mean that one is addicted to porn, all it takes is one exposure, even an accidental one, to become addicted to porn.
- In this day and age, parents must start teaching children about internet safety as soon as possible. This includes putting safety features on electronic devices to block unsafe content from their view if possible (and fully informing children about why that is necessary), and parents telling their children to talk to them as soon as possible if they accidentally see something questionable or inappropriate.
For more about teaching your kids about healthy relationships and other vital topics of the digital age, check out our books Conversations with My Kids: 30 Essential Family Discussions for the Digital Age, How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography, and Kids and Pornography: A Public Health Crisis. Print and digital versions are available for purchase on our website and Amazon.
Angelina Repka is studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Marriage and Family Studies through the online degree program by Brigham Young University–Idaho. She is an intern through Educate Empower Kids and is anticipating graduation in July 2023. She hopes to go to graduate school for social work in the near future. Angelina also hopes to make positive changes in the community as she continues her career and education.
Citations:
Barr, R. A. (2019, December 29). Watching pornography rewires the brain to a more juvenile state. Neuroscience News. https://neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-pornography-brain-15354/
Brower, N. (2023, April). Effects of Pornography on Relationships. Utah State University. https://extension.usu.edu/relationships/research/effects-of-pornography-on-relationships
Hess, J. (2022, August 2). Perspective: The atheist who warned the world about porn addiction. Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/2022/8/2/23268655/perspective-the-atheist-who-warned-the-world-about-porn-addiction-gary-wilson-your-brain-on-porn
Your Brain on Porn. (n.d.) Start here: Evolution has not prepared your brain for today’s porn. https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/miscellaneous-resources/start-here-evolution-has-not-prepared-your-brain-for-todays-porn/
