The Impact of Pornography on Children

ABSTRACT:  The availability and use of pornography has become almost ubiquitous among adults and adolescents.  Consumption of pornography is associated with many negative emotional, psychological, and physical health outcomes.  These include increased rates of depression, anxiety, acting out and violent behavior, younger age of sexual debut, sexual promiscuity, increased risk of teen pregnancy, and a distorted view of relationships between men and women.  For adults, pornography results in an increased likelihood of divorce which is also harmful to children.  The American College of Pediatricians urges healthcare professionals to communicate the risks of pornography use to patients and their families and to offer resources both to protect children from viewing pornography and to treat individuals suffering from its negative effects. Read more

Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction

Many recognize that several behaviors potentially affecting the reward circuitry in human brains lead to a loss of control and other symptoms of addiction in at least some individuals. Regarding Internet addiction, neuroscientific research supports the assumption that underlying neural processes are similar to substance addiction. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has recognized one such Internet related behavior, Internet gaming, as a potential addictive disorder warranting further study, in the 2013 revision of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Other Internet related behaviors, e.g., Internet pornography use, were not covered. Read more

PORN for the PRIVILEGED

Years ago, when I was a young radical feminist, I recall marching in the annual Take Back the Night Rally in my hometown. We marched through the streets, occasionally stopping to shout slogans in front of various institutions which were considered bastions of male privilege. One of the stops on the route was always a local porn shop where we would chant, “Porn is the theory, rape is the practice.” Read more

Recovering Porn Addicts Are Raising Awareness About the Harms of Pornography

Contrary to popular belief, pornography addiction is real and it is affecting the youth everywhere. Today’s society is very much based upon instant gratification—information is available instantaneously at the click of a button. Pornography works the same way. An individual feels sexually aroused, watches an explicit video, and receives pleasure. The mechanics of porn viewing are as simple as that, but is it all really just a matter of fun and games? 3News of New Zealand recently released a video examining the biology behind pornography addiction to further explain the answer. Read more