Porn in the USA part 2

Luke Gilkerson, is the internet community manager at Covenant Eyes accountability software, a company that helps people overcome their addiction to online Porn. Over the next few days, Luke is going to be sharing with us a ton of information about how deep this sin problem is.

PART 2: Porn Statistics

Do you have any statistics for us?

Good question. More and more research is being done today on the effects of pornography on the human brain and human psychology.

From the “Hearing on the Brain Science Behind Pornography Addiction and the Effects of Addiction on Families and Communities.”(1) Here are some quotes from the hearing:

• “. . . modern science allows us to understand that the underlying nature of an addiction to pornography is chemically nearly identical to a heroin addiction” (Satinover)
• “Pornography triggers a myriad of endogenous, internal, natural drugs that mimic the ‘high’ from a street drug. Addiction to pornography is addiction to what I dub erototoxins – mind altering drugs produced by the viewer’s own brain.” (Reisman)
• “Pornography, by its very nature, is an equal opportunity toxin. It damages the viewer, the performer, and the spouses and the children of the viewers and the performers. It is toxic mis-education about sex and relationships. It is more toxic the more you consume, the ‘harder’ the variety you consume and the younger and more vulnerable the consumer.” (Layden)
• “. . . the findings of numerous studies suggest that pornography consumption promotes sexual deviancy, sexual perpetration, and adverse sexual attitudes.” (Weaver)
• “Since the 50s, as pornography became mainstreamed and pushed the envelope of normal sexual conduct, law enforcement reported that sex crimes mimicking comparable acts were being inflicted on women and children. . . . Testimony from victims and police commonly finds pornography to be an on-site sex abuse manual.” (Reisman)
• “I have also seen in my clinical experience that pornography damages the sexual performance of the viewers. Pornography viewers tend to have problems with premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. Having spent so much time in unnatural sexual experiences with paper, celluloid and cyberspace, they seem to find it difficult to have sex with a real human being. Pornography is raising their expectation and demand for types and amounts of sexual experiences at the same time it is reducing their ability to experience sex.” (Layden)
• “In men, prolonged exposure to pornography creates and enhances sexual callousness toward women. . . . Prolonged exposure to pornography, it must be remembered, results in both a “loss-of-respect” for female sexual autonomy and the disinhibition of men in the expression of aggression against women.” (Weaver)
• “Once [the pornography actresses] are in the industry they have high rates of substance abuse, typically alcohol and cocaine, depression, borderline personality disorder. . . . The experience I find most common among the performers is that they have to be drunk, high or dissociated in order to go to work. Their work environment is particularly toxic. . . . The terrible work life of the pornography performer is often followed by an equally terrible home life. They have an increased risk of sexually transmitted disease including HIV, domestic violence and have about a 25% chance of making a marriage that lasts as long as 3 years.” (Layden)
• “It has always seemed self-evident that pornography is nothing more than a form of ‘expression.’ . . . I respectfully submit to this committee that modern science allows us to see that this is an illusion: Pornography is mere ‘expression’ only in the trivial sense that a fall from the Empire State building is a mere stumble—since it’s hitting the ground that’s fatal.” (Satinover)
• “There are no studies and no data that indicate a benefit from pornography use. . . . The society is awash in pornography and so in fact the data are in. If pornography made us healthy, we would be healthy by now.” (Layden)

And these researchers are by no means alone in their observations. Viewing pornography affects both neurochemistry and beliefs about sexuality.

Another excellent resource is Gary R. Brooks’ book, The Centerfold Syndrome. He describes what he observes as a “pervasive disorder” linked to the consumption of soft-core pornography like Playboy.

He mentions five main symptoms of this disorder.

1. Voyeurism – An obsession with looking at women rather than interacting with them. This, of course, can apply to far more than pornography, but any consumption of the “sexuality-on-tap” culture in which we live. Media glorifies and objectifies women’s bodies thus promoting unreal images of women, feeding male obsession with visual stimulation, and trivializing other mature features of a healthy sexual relationship.
2. Objectification – An attitude in which women are objects rated by size, shape and harmony of body parts. Sexual fantasy leads to emotional unavailability and dissatisfaction.
3. Validation – The need to validate masculinity through beautiful women. Women who meet centerfold standards only retain their power as along as they maintain “perfect” bodies and the lure of unavailability. It is very common for a man’s fantasy sexual encounter to include a feeling of manly validation. It is also common for men to feel invalidated by their wives if they have trained their minds and bodies to respond only to the fantasy advances of their dream girl.
4. Trophyism – The idea that beautiful women are collectibles who show the world who a man is. Pornography reinforces the women’s-bodies-as-trophies mentality.
5. Fear of True Intimacy – Inability to relate to women in an honest and intimate way despite deep loneliness. Pornography exalts a man’s sexual needs over his need for sensuality and intimacy. Some men develop a preoccupation with sexuality, which powerfully handicaps their capacity for emotionally intimate relationships.

Who is looking at porn?

In short, nearly everyone. 72% of the visitors to pornographic sites are male, 28% are female. 70% of 18 to 24 year old men visit pornographic sites in a typical month. The majority of both adults (18+) and teenagers regularly view pornographic material.

In the Internet age, pornography has become accessible in ways it never was before. There’s no longer the need to drive to the seedy shop at the end of our town and risk being seen. Now, hours of pornography can stream into our private homes and offices, free of charge, and with much less risk of being caught

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(1) I typically refer people to the researchers such as Dr. Judith Reisman, Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, Dr. MaryAnne Layden, and Dr. James B. Weaver. On Nov. 18, 2004, these very qualified men and women were called to be witnesses before a U.S. Senate subcommittee:

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