Nowadays, pornography consumption is increasingly common. The use of electronic devices provides unlimited access to pornographic content, allowing it to be viewed anywhere, anytime.
This ease of access reduces the barriers to consuming such content and lessens the need for self-regulation. There’s no longer a need to wait until you’re home, find a moment of complete privacy, wait for a webpage to load, or wait for a new image or video to be published.
According to the DSM-5, while it does not explicitly include pornography addiction, the criteria for impulse control disorders or non-substance-related addictions are as follows:
- Loss of control: Consuming for extended periods or more than planned, with difficulty reducing or stopping consumption when attempting to do so.
- Negative impact on life: This may include absenteeism from work, social isolation, reduced performance, financial or legal issues linked to consumption, consuming in inappropriate contexts, etc.
- Persistence of use despite awareness of consequences.
- Use as emotional regulation: Consumption is tied to dealing with emotions like stress, loneliness, boredom, anxiety, or even as a “reward” during moments of euphoria or happiness.
- Tolerance and escalation: Diminished “excitability” from previously consumed content, leading to more time spent searching for exciting material, which tends to become more extreme.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Anxiety, depression, restlessness, or irritability upon reducing consumption.
Abuse or Addiction?
Many individuals, while not addicted, struggle with issues of overuse. The line between abuse and addiction is thin, making it relatively easy to transition from one to the other. As with any addiction, it doesn’t develop overnight but follows a progression that deepens dependency over time.
Abuse refers to problematic use (where the individual exposes themselves to risks and causes harm in their life). Some of the criteria described earlier may be present, but there is still a certain level of control. Addiction, on the other hand, involves a loss of control. Thus, the main comparison criterion is severity.
- In addiction: There is total or partial loss of control, withdrawal symptoms, severe consequences (e.g., job loss or social isolation), and compulsive use.
- In cases of abuse: Excessive or irresponsible use occurs without withdrawal symptoms, with moderate consequences (e.g., significant time loss or diminished enjoyment in real-life sex) and usage in specific moments.
You can learn more about sex and its addictive aspects in this blog: https://www.psicologiasexologiamallorca.com/sexo-placer-o-necesidad/
What Could Happen If I Abuse Pornography?
Abusive consumption of pornography negatively impacts how we experience and relate to sexuality. Here are some of the most common consequences:
It perpetuates myths and stigmas about sexuality that not only fail to promote gratifying encounters but encourage abusive behaviors and practices that deprioritize female pleasure. Examples include:
- A large penis is required to provide pleasure.
- Women are immediately aroused and well-lubricated (constant availability).
- Penetration is the norm in sexual encounters.
- Women always enjoy anal sex.
- Automatic pleasure (any practice or contact immediately satisfies everyone equally).
- “The harder, the better.”
- “No” means “yes” (normalizing aggression).
- Unrealistic physical appearances (e.g., flawless bodies, expectations around grooming, makeup, sweat-free performances).
- Women achieve orgasms quickly and universally.
- Sex without protection (absence of consequences).
- Minimal foreplay or affection.
- Male dominance.
- No communication or consent.
Always super passionate.
You can find more about debunking myths in our blog on penis myths.
Pornography is fiction. However, most consumers fail to perceive it as such, fostering a fictional and fantastical image of what sex is or should be. This creates frustration when real-life sexual experiences don’t meet these expectations.
Additionally, pornography fosters comparison, which can negatively affect self-image.
Another consequence is separating pleasure from emotional connection. While purely physical relationships are valid, many people find intimacy and connection essential to their sexual experiences.
Constant visual exposure leads to habituation, making content less satisfying over time. This results in longer viewing sessions, sometimes hours, or consuming increasingly extreme practices. In other words, there’s a loss in the ability to be aroused. During real-life sexual encounters, this may lead to issues such as difficulty achieving orgasm or staying aroused (e.g., erectile problems, vaginal dryness).
Due to diminished arousal and lack of fulfillment in sexual relationships, interest in real-life intimacy declines, potentially avoiding all types of sexual interaction.
If abusive consumption continues, it can evolve into an addiction, leading to a loss of interest in other areas of life, a sense of losing control, social isolation, and emotional or mental health problems.
How to Stop Watching Pornography
The complexity of stopping depends on the severity of the issue. Severe cases always require psychological support.
Keep in mind that this is not a substance addiction, so the goal isn’t total abstinence but rather learning controlled use.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and changing dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns contributing to the problem.
Establishing a healthy model of sexuality and correcting erroneous beliefs will be key to recovery, as well as learning to use pornography in an appropriate and moderate way.
If you have questions, contact a professional. We’ll guide you in creating an individualized plan tailored to your needs.
Júlia Tarancón Estades
License No.: B-03232