Horror and slasher films of the Vietnam era and Cold War-related fears were both represented in cinematic form through horror movie franchises and horror-inspired slasher flicks; now torture porn has made its debut in multiplexes across America – but is this harmless entertainment or more?
Some video stores report that only about one third of their titles contain material with explicit language; however, rentals make up an even higher percentage. Researchers caution that porn can perpetuate harmful myths about women owing men sex.
Why do we watch porn?
Porn can be an enjoyable way to unwind, but it’s important to recognize when watching it is taking over your life and neglecting real responsibilities. If this describes someone in your life or you, seek professional assistance immediately.
Porn is addictive because it floods the brain with chemicals such as dopamine – similar to the rush you get when using drugs and other substances. Over time, however, more porn must be watched to achieve the same effects; leading to further binges until viewing becomes an obsession.
People who turn to porn are often unable to satisfy their sexual urges in real life and resort to it as an outlet. This could include issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulty communicating effectively with partners or meeting intimacy needs in relationships – leading them to develop negative self-images and lack confidence about having fulfilling sexual lives.
Unfortunately, porn is no substitute for real sexual encounters; rather it promotes violence and exploits both women and men alike to promote an inaccurate concept of what sex should look like – something one study revealed; men who watched porn rated their partners less attractive than those who hadn’t.
Porn can lead to depression and anxiety. Instead of turning to destructive behaviors as a means to cope with sad feelings, try engaging in activities that bring joy – spending time with friends, going for walks or reading are great ways to enhance our mental wellbeing and boost moods.
At its core, reducing your porn viewing involves learning to recognize when urges arise and to accept them without acting upon them. Through practicing mindfulness techniques you can recognize when thoughts or sensations come up without acting upon them – this will help detach yourself from sexual experiences while finding joy elsewhere, such as playing with toys or painting pictures.
How do we know we’re watching porn?
Researchers have discovered that watching erotic movies can temporarily suppress the area of the brain responsible for visual processing, diverting blood and energy away from that part to areas more likely to produce sexual arousal – creating the trance-like state often associated with viewing explicit material online. But are we really viewing porn? The truth may surprise you!
The internet can be an inherently sexual space, with up to 30% of its content classified as adult-rated.
Is porn actually harming us?
Pornography can be an extremely addictive source, leading to serious consequences in terms of sexual life, relationships and overall health. While its prevalence may not be widely acknowledged by society at large, those close to those experiencing it are usually the first ones to notice its symptoms – often it’s friends and family that identify it first in someone else. Porn addiction falls under behavioural addiction (also called process addictions), meaning it doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol but instead specific behaviors such as watching pornography that trigger its triggers;
People with behavioral addictions watch pornography because it makes them feel necessary, much like how sugar or chocolate might do so for someone. With regards to pornography though, the urge is typically driven by sexual triggers rather than any direct need.
Porn is often full of violence against both women and men, reinforcing dangerous ideas about sexual consent in ways that can lead to unhealthy attitudes or even abuse. Furthermore, violent porn often contains depictions of sexual assault or rape which makes viewing it harmful for health.
Porn is also proven to harm relationships by creating an absence of communication and trust between partners, while research shows that watching porn can actually lessen the quality of relationships as it takes up valuable time and energy that would have otherwise been spent doing something constructive like studying a hobby or socialising more widely.
Religious individuals who watch porn may feel guilt and shame about doing so if their religious community disapproves, leading to feelings of depression and low self-esteem.
If your porn viewing habits have you worried, professional help such as psychotherapy may be in order. Specialised addiction services provide invaluable support and guidance in breaking free of compulsion to watch porn. Furthermore, our e-book Your Brain on Pornography: 5 Ways Pornography Warps Your Mind and 3 Biblical Solutions is full of scientific studies detailing five distinct harmful effects as well as ways God provides to break away from them.
Is the porn industry changing?
Pornography was once an elite industry. Thanks to advances in technology and an increasing appetite for adult content, however, democratization has happened rapidly within this field. Now anyone can film and sell sex scenes online at a fraction of the costs associated with studio productions – this provides performers with greater control over their brand and content while bypassing agents or gatekeepers to speak freely and produce more diverse material – something missing in mainstream porn.
One notable change since the pandemic has been the surge of adult fan sites like OnlyFans. These niche sites have taken advantage of viewers’ desire for „authenticity and intimacy”, according to Freixes, and driven sales. These niche websites allow direct communication with stars as well as providing self-shot and raw content, drawing in viewers who might otherwise bypass traditional porn.
Though this change may be beneficial to performers, it does come with some drawbacks. For instance, it may not bode well for crews that produce studio content at high quality levels and it may create problems in genres requiring special equipment or labor-intensive prop building, like sci-fi porn.
At the same time, traditional studios have adopted hybrid business models which provide sanitized versions of their films for mainstream clients while taking advantage of the porn industry’s immense audience to hone and develop technology before selling back into the mainstream market.
As major studios expand, smaller producers may find it harder to compete. One approach may be gonzo porn, which features only performers and their reactions without an elaborate plotline or set design. This trend has been steadily developing over time but has really gained steam during this pandemic.
Searches for gonzo porn have increased by 87% since spring, as have medical, pandemic, and quarantine-themed porn. Perhaps people need reminding that sexuality and love can still be normal?