A major problem that the media and the federal government does is not curtailing the ease and availability of Pornography. Compounding the problem is the medias’ ability to embed sexual material (Kingston et al., 2009), and thereby conditioning the mind (Love et al., 2015), as to inoculate and desensitize from the harmful effects that it causes. Based on recent research in the neuroscience field it is now proven that pornography can become an addiction. As with all addiction(s) it brings a set a problem.
An addiction is classified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine “a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences. Prevention efforts and treatment approaches for addiction are as successful as those for other chronic diseases.” Based on Pavlov’s famous classical conditioning theory we now know that being exposed to pornography produces a similar stimulus in the brain that affects our brain not only psychologically but also biologically. Clearly indicating some changes in our brain neuroplasticity (Hilton, 2013).
This is remarkably like the responses that drug, and alcohol addiction produce. As such, my belief is that if pornography causes similar damage, then those companies producing and transmitting pornography, should be responsible for treatments interventions. So now what? A question that should be posed to all is, do we take a reactionary stand, or do we tackle this head on? If we tackle this head on, what shall we do about it? The key to assuming the right stance is understanding the problem and implementing the correct intervention strategy by addressing the issue head on. One solution is to compel the media companies to assume responsibility for the content that they produce. The second is to implement safeguards within the media to reduce the proliferation of sexual content.
Let me be clear that my argument is not for the restriction of free speech and that of the 1st amendment, but merely to address the social dilemma, medical, psychological, and social problems pornography causes. As well as to make a case for those companies that produce such material to contribute financially to the development of treatment plans for the problems that pornography causes. Much in the same way, cigarettes and alcohol get taxed based on the harm that is has proven to cause.
How harmful is pornography? The effects of watching pornography and its proliferation have been linked to medical and psychological conditions. In a recent study, pornography was shown to increase because of Erectile Disfunction (ED). ED among young men (Hilton, 2013). According to Gruman, et al. (2016), there is also “an association between the availability of pornography of any kind in various countries and the corresponding levels of sex-related crimes, such as rape, exhibitionism, and voyeurism.” Of concern is also how pornography changes our perception of women, men, and the world. Such as, “how rape can be perceived, judgments about a victim and perpetrator in a rape trial.” Gruman, et al., (2016). Of course, one cannot forget to mention the different martial problems that the chronic use of pornography has been correlated to. Pornography respects no gender, religion, creed, or sexual orientation. Although not all media companies perpetuate this type of mass means of communication, the ones that do are no doubt making Billions of dollars doing so, all while ignoring the effects of such programming (Anonymous, 2023).
The abolishment of pornography may be viewed as tyrannical or outright oppressive and a clear violation of our first amendment rights. This may be problematic at best and impossible at worst. We have tried many times before to tackle this social issue before, much the same way we tried to get rid of alcohol during prohibition. Without a doubt there is no clear and easy answer to this social systemic problem. As we strive as a society to figure out how to best address this, there are proactive measures that can be taken. We should strive to provide preventive medicine for the betterment of those afflicted by such illnesses. Who would not go to the doctor’s office when they are sick? One way in which we can address pornography addiction is by making those companies that produce, distribute, embed violent sexual material; or broadcast such material, pay for social recovery programs that aim at reducing such addiction. Another method by which to address this is by clearly displaying a message on the psychological and physiological effects, that explicitly sexual material causes or can cause, much in the same way alcohol and cigarettes currently display their messages.
Clearly there is no easy answer in trying to address this social problem. The proliferation of pornography by the different methods of media within our society has introduced a new social dilemma that is exacerbated by limited resources. Exactly how many individuals’ does pornography addiction affects might be difficult to determine but it may be safe to say that it may affect someone close to us. The psychological and physiological problems are many and the intervention strategy may not have the one shoe fits all approach, but based on recent research, it may be safe to say that we must do something before the bucket becomes full and begins to drip out. One thing is clear we must avoid, a flight or freeze type response from, only time will be able to tell how we approach this.
Drew A. Kingston, Neil M. Malamuth, Paul Fedoroff & William L. Marshall (2009) The Importance of Individual Differences in Pornography Use: Theoretical Perspectives and Implications for Treating Sexual Offenders, The Journal of Sex Research, 46:2-3, 216-232, DOI: 10.1080/00224490902747701
Love, T., Laier, C., Brand, M., Hatch, L., & Hajela, R. (2015). Neuroscience of internet pornography addiction: A review and update. Behavioral Sciences, 5(3), 388-433. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs5030388
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Public Policy Statement: Definition of Addiction. Available online: http://www.asam.org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction (accessed on 14 March 2023)
Hilton, D. L. (2013). Pornography addiction – a supranormal stimulus considered in the context of neuroplasticity. Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology, 3(1), 20767-20767. https://doi.org/10.3402/snp.v3i0.20767
Jacobs, T., Geysemans, B., Van Hal, G., Glazemakers, I., Fog-Poulsen, K., Vermandel, A., De Wachter, S., & De Win, G. (2021). Associations Between Online Pornography Consumption and Sexual Dysfunction in Young Men: Multivariate Analysis Based on an International Web-Based Survey. JMIR public health and surveillance, 7(10), e32542. https://doi.org/10.2196/32542
Applied Social Psychology : Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems, edited by Jamie A. Gruman, et al., SAGE Publications, Incorporated, 2016. ProQuest eBook Central,
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/pensu/detail.action?docID=5945490.
Anonymous, A. Enough is enough: The Porn Industry Archives. Enough Is Enough: The Porn Industry Archives. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://enough.org/stats_porn_industry_archives.