Is Pornography Harmful to Our Brains and to Our Love Lives?
Dr. Justin J. Lehmiller Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 8:00AM "America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography. A wealth of research is now available demonstrating that pornography causes profound brain changes in both children and adults, resulting in widespread negative consequences…Pornography is toxic to marriages and relationships. It contributes to misogyny and violence against women."
The above quote comes from Presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s Campaign Website. He and a number of other prominent politicians have recently waged a war on porn, claiming that it is damaging to society on a number of levels. In fact, Cogresswoman Michele Bachmann has gone as far as to pledge her support for a constitutional ban on all forms of pornography in order to combat these supposed negative effects. But is there anything to all of these claims that exposure to porn is harmful? Is there really a “wealth of research” indicating that pornography causes a host of “widespread negative consequences?”
To put this as simply as I possibly can: no. Let’s examine the claims on Santorum’s website one by one and see what the scientific literature really says. First, does exposure to pornography cause “profound brain changes?” While some research has indeed documented brain atrophy among excessive porn watchers, it is far from conclusive that watching pornography caused these brain changes.1 Virtually all of the studies in this area utilized correlational methods, which makes it impossible for us to make any claims about cause-and-effect. For example, most of the compulsive porn watchers who were included in these studies had a history of pathological behavior, such as alcohol abuse. So did porn cause the observed changes in their brains, or was it the booze? Although we can’t say for sure, the case that porn causes brain damage would appear tenuous at best.
Second, is porn really “toxic” to relationships? Here we have the same issue. While there is indeed some research indicating that pornography is associated with more relationship problems, it is all correlational in nature. For example, a recent study made the rounds in the media suggesting that Playboy magazine “caused” up to 25% of all divorces in the 1960s and 70s.2 But there are a ton of other potential reasons Playboy’s readership could have increased at the same time as the divorce rate (e.g., maybe it had something to do with the fact that the 70’s was the “swinger’s” era, or perhaps it’s because divorced guys have a greater need for and/or opportunity to purchase porn). There is simply do definitive evidence that porn causes relationship problems all or even most of the time. Certainly, there are some relationships in which porn is an issue, and I do not wish to minimize that. But at the same time, it is important to recognize that there are many relationships in which watching porn is a positive and shared activity. Thus, it all depends upon the people involved and how they have negotiated their relationship.
And what about the effects of porn on violence against women? A recent review of the research in this area concluded that there is absolutely no evidence that exposure to pornography causes an increase in rape or sexual assault.3 In fact, while pornography consumption has skyrocketed in the past two decades in the United States and many other parts of the world, the frequency of rape has actually decreased!
In short, most of the recent claims you’ve been hearing from politicians about the dangers of porn simply have no basis in fact. We do not have any definitive evidence that pornography is causing harm to our brains or to our love lives.
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1Reid, R. C., Carpenter, B. N., & Fong, T. W. (2011). Neuroscience research fails to support claims that excessive pornography consumption causes brain damage. Surgical Neurology International, 2, 64. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.81427
2Daines, R. M., & Shumway, T. (2011). Pornography and divorce.
3Ferguson, C. J., & Hartley, R. D. (2009). The pleasure is momentary…the expense damnable? The influence of pornography on rape and sexual assault. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14, 323-329. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2009.04.008
Image Source: http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e245/arizonamarion/dog-pornography.jpg
Reader Comments (3)
worthy of noting, there have been studies that show men who watch porn tend to be less contented with sex with their girlfriend/wife/significant other, according to a study by Zillmann in 1989. I don't believe porn is without its risks, it can give false ideas of women's bodies (we're not all siliconed) and sexuality. It's a "use with caution" scenario.
LABIAPLASTY & BLEACHING TRENDS:
welcome to the new millenium. these procedures are surging in popularity, generating a huge revenue of plastic surgery profit.
Why are women snipping and burning their p*ssy? Because of porn.
1. "Pink, neat, and trim" is the standard.
Women who are darker, thicker, or longer ("tentacles" what a horrible thing to say!!) are especially suspect to insecurity. They don't feel beautiful, or "feminine", and they feel scared and ashamed to have sex with someone, and may receive pressure from their boyfriends/husbands to change.
2. RACIAL PRESSURE sadly, most asian and black women don't fit into that tight category. They receive far too much racial pressure already! Go ahead and investigate asian double eyelid surgery and the horror of pressure to assimiliate into white culture will dawn on you.
3. Porn Addiction does Damage Marriages
There are a lot of testimonials out there...many men are happier with their favorite porn women than the real one that sleeps beside them. When a woman tries very hard to satisfy her man, even pushing herself farther than she wants, to only find him jerking to porn in the bathroom secretly the same day its a major hit to self esteem. Not to mention seeing their men prefer women with "better" bodies than theirs....
unfortunately many of these women feel trapped in their relationship because of children. take it as a note! be cautious and careful before you settle down with a baby....
First, let me say my attitude towards porn has come a long way!
Don't classify me as a strict hater, ok...? : )
This is definitely an extreme situation, but nonetheless is a real event that I don't think would have happened without the mass of porn available.
HOW PORN F*CKED MY LIFE OVER...AND OVER...
Dreams Come True...this is the principle of my argument. If you spend a lot of time and energy entertaining a fantasy, a dream, then eventually the desire becomes a part of yourself. You cultivate longing.
and that cultivated desire can become a force of it's own. It can grow and push to become real, seeded deeper into the psyche with each jerk session.
#1- Porn & Teen Obsession
It's dangerous to have so much teen underage focus porn.
#2- Power Tripping via Porn
When in human history could any man have access to 1000's of women? Men grow too powerful with their ability to "f*ck" all these girls. And it's kind of sad but for the most part porn girls are disposable...There are many men who cannot handle this power. Especially insecure types.
#3- Warping the conception of what is normal
porn addiction can lead to a rising consumption of thrills, and set very unrealistic standards for what is actually acceptable in real life!
On a less sinister note...
#4- Porn does not teach a man how to satisfy a woman!
Especially teens. They all come in under 2 minutes after wards and have difficulty adjusting to a real hole instead of a hand!!!!
# & PERSONALLY I KNOW THIS BECAUSE....
I was made into a 'personal porn slave' as a 'young desirable teen'. I was molested way too much in highschool by my sister's insecure 300 lbs athsmatic pimple-faced engineer gamer husband.
He heavily abuse the power of porn. He would jerk off at work, or sometimes while we watched a movie, he would jerk off behind us secretly in the same room. He would watch the porn and then come to me and make me do the things in the porns, which is usually not a very nice way.
(I can't tell you whats worse...forced sucking and anger for not swallowing or forced kissing and having someones disgusting tounge down your mouth and anger for not affection!)
He said it was because he was raised christian and they said he couldn't watch porn, and so he backlashed hard when he got out alone. A man who feels above god is a wicked god of the household.
I didn't watch porn, I was a virgin and like a lot of teenage girls felt pretty uncomfortable about my body. Which is totally fine and normal.
The first time he touched me in a really wrong way he asked me to stay behind when my sister went to bed. Then he started asking me questions about what my p**** look like, and of course... I didn't know!!! I don't really look!!! Then he started bringing up pictures of porn on a big 8 foot projector screen. Anyways, don't debate me on this one. I know deeply and personally and porn is the way he got to that power, and a personal porn star is what I was made into because of it. Though I am sure not as professional because they can't cry on set.
PORN LEGISLATION?
I don't think it will happen.
Truthfully though, many men don't deserve to have access to view any woman, let alone thousands. The variety of sex work....voluntary stripping, porn, all the way to forced brothel work and chicago sex slave...most these ugly spirited men are so filthy they don't deserve to even look at any girls. I don't care if you have an erection every day go fuck your self!!!!! I wish they were all the girls were diana and one look transformed the foul hunter into the prey of his own dogs eating him alive.
#Women don't feel beautiful : (
Studies show very few women in the world find themselves beautiful. It's hard not to cry everyday if you think about how many women are used and feel ugly. Even in a country like united states, many women are married and feel so inadequate. So many women here are not free still. I have stripper friend and men are so rude to them when they work hard for a dollar when they deserve a lot better.
#always: Having a d*ck is awesome!!!!!!
More men take joy and self esteem in themselves just having a d*ck, regardless of their worry of the size. The physical toy starts getting used at a really early age. It's easy to see and handle. Your best friend
#Women's bodies are hidden and less accessible.
Contemporary global culture generally limits their sexual pleasure (even to extreme of circumsicion!). And again porn does not reflect women's needs usually, or have much respect for the variety of women's bodies there are!
HENCE: Labiaplasty. plastic surgery, endless body modification and dieting and never feeling beautiful anyways. Heres my prayer you find it and someone(s) who appreciate you....especially yourself!
ps: I'm now 22 with a really wonderful partner and we love each other so i know what good sex is actually like! And its so weird! LOL : P I am in a monogamous relationship and I like the trust to share anything and not compete with anyone!! I think polygamy and open relationships are fine too, as long as your happy! : )