Is Porn Addiction a Myth? Study

Many health officials have long debated whether porn "addiction" can be described with actual medical terminology. For instance, there is no strong scientific research to suggest that such a problem exists according to many scientists. 

David Ley, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in practice in Albuquerque, NM, and Executive Director of New Mexico Solutions, a large behavioral health program, and the author of a review article regarding the so-called "pornography addiction model," examines findings that were recently included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which he believes are lacking scientific data regarding the subject.

Ley notes that "pornography addiction" was not included in the recently revised version due to a lack of such findings, with fewer than two in every five research articles-or 37 percent-discussing high frequency sexual behavior and the detailings of sexual addiction. He adds that only 27 percent of the articles regarding the subject showed actual data to back up the information, with only one relating to a psychophysiological study from 2013.

His findings note the following, courtesy of a press release: "The research actually found very little evidence - if any at all - to support some of the purported negative side effects of porn "addiction." There was no sign that use of pornography is connected to erectile dysfunction, or that it causes any changes to the brains of users. Also, despite great furor over the effects of childhood exposure to pornography, the use of sexually explicit material explains very little of the variance in adolescents' behaviors. These are better explained and predicted by other individual and family variables."

Though Ley said that pornography's availability has been associated with a decrease in sexual offences, including child molestation, he and his team instead believe that viewing pornography for some could provide a legal outlet for illegal sexual behaviors. Those likely to be "addicted" to pornography are male, of non-heterosexual orientation and have a high libido. He notes that they also may be using visually stimulating images to cope with negative emotional stages of life.

 "We need better methods to help people who struggle with the high frequency use of visual sexual stimuli, without pathologizing them or their use thereof," writes Ley, who is critical about the pseudoscientific yet lucrative practices surrounding the treatment of so-called porn addiction, via the release. "Rather than helping patients who may struggle to control viewing images of a sexual nature, the 'porn addiction' concept instead seems to feed an industry with secondary gain from the acceptance of the idea."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Current Sexual Health Reports.