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The Effects Of Porn

The harmful effects of porn influence society at all levels. Porn weakens interpersonal relationships, undermines the value of women, reduces the aversion to controlling and violent behavior, increases the abuse of the innocent, and shrinks the family pocketbook.

Porn usage has changed the way society views human beings. As it has become more widespread and socially acceptable, it has moved us away from traditional values that strengthen individual and family relationships.

Society’s normalization of pornography

Author and journalist Pamela Paul explains that in the last twenty years, particularly the last few, our mainstream media is portraying pornography as “hip, sexy and fun.”

Our sexualized society, fueled by pornography, is generating voluminous misinformation about sexuality. The result is a generation of youth, young men in particular, that grossly misunderstands sexuality’s true role and importance in healthy human relationships.

A fundamental truth, for example, in understanding healthy sexuality, is knowing the physiological and psychological timing required for consummate intimacy. Regarding this fact, Paul quotes psychologist and sex therapist Aline Zoldbrod:

“In real life, sexually-speaking, women are crock pots and men are microwaves. But in pornography, all a man does is touch a woman and she’s howling in delight. Today, pornography is so widely used by young men, they learn these falsehoods. There’s good evidence that the more porn men watch, the less satisfied they are with their partner’s looks and sexual performance.”

Effects of porn on relationships

An increasing body of evidence, including clinical experiences and studies, is documenting how porn affects interpersonal relationships.

Dr. Ana J. Bridges, of the University of Arkansas Department of Psychology, has done significant work on porn's effects on relationships. The following summarizes her extensive research:

The Interpersonal Effects of Exposure to Pornography

Porn increases negative attitudes towards women
Porn decreases empathy for victims of sexual violence
Porn leads to blunted affect (i.e., reduces the effect that a person would otherwise feel regarding violence, degrading women, hostility, anxiety, depression, etc.)
Porn increases dominating behaviors
Porn increases sexually imposing behaviors

Pornography’s Effects within the Context of Romantic Relationships

Pornography use can be addictive
Women are reluctant to enter into relationships with frequent pornography users (discovery of a partner’s use of pornography can be a traumatic event)
Pornography leads to decreased satisfaction with a romantic partner
Pornography users may not see their use as problematic
Partners of pornography users are affected (such as significantly lower ratings of body esteem and relationship satisfaction, and feeling that their partners are less trustworthy)

Pornography use distorts a user’s thinking into believing that his or her behavior is normal. They fail to recognize how abnormal their behavior is becoming.

Effects of porn on women

One of the most damaging effects of pornography is how it is reducing the value of women. Porn tends to replace the traditional ideal of “equal partners“ with a notion of male dominance.

For example, porn’s typical theme is that satisfying a male’s sexual urges are more important that satisfying a woman’s, and that whatever it takes to satisfy the now-dominant male, is most important.

Dr. Jill Manning, clinician and author, noted this about the effect pornography is having on women…

“Pornography promotes and eroticizes power imbalances, discrimination, disrespect, abuse, voyeurism, objectification, and detachment – all of which represent antitheses of relational and marital ideals for Western women.”

Besides the intense emotional distress and turmoil inflicted on women, Manning’s work documents the following four “significant impacts on women (and society)”:

Increased risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease from one’s partner
Increased risk of marital distress, separation and divorce
Increased isolation
Increased risk for abuse

University and clinical research frequently examine the effects of pornography on women. In addiction to Dr. Manning’s list above, here are more documented results regarding these effects on women:

Reduced self-esteem
Reduced satisfaction with her body image
Increased sense of defenselessness
Increased trivialization of violence against women
Decreased relationship satisfaction
Mistrust in her partner that uses pornography
Feeling that her partner prefers porn over her

Effects of porn on families

Besides the effects enumerated above, the effects on families also include:

Increased risk of exposure to children
Increased sexual abuse of children
Increased sexual abuse of women
Increased tension between spouses
Decreased satisfaction in sexual intimacy
Decreased communication

The following effects may also impact families:

Loss of income
Increased debt
Divorce

Effects of porn on individuals

All of the above mentioned effects contribute, of course, to the effect on individuals. Effects not mentioned may include:

Loss of employment
Reduced self-esteem or self-respect
Loss of important relationships

To be sure, porn use directly and indirectly causes devastating effects on individuals and families. The resultant consequence on society is huge. Society must come to grips with this issue. Individuals need to exercise more self-control in satisfying their sexual urges.

Viewing pornography can become an addiction, but reversing it can be done.

Follow the links below to find more information on overcoming porn addiction and other sexual addictions.

Closely related to the effects of porn are the dangers of pornography. Click here for more on the Dangers of Pornography.

Here's a test to see if you or a loved one is addicted to porn.

Recent medical science is confirming that you cannot think or discipline yourself into changing a habit by focusing on the habit itself. That only reinforces the habit.

For an explanation of how the brain develops habits and how to overcome them, go to Stop Porn Addiction.

For more help on overcoming pornography addiction, see Overcoming Porn Addiction.

Habits are the result of repeated acts, and acts are preceded by thoughts. The principle that governs how to change your habits is known as the Law of Displacement.

As we’ve seen, the repeated viewing of pornography becomes an addiction. Engaging in other sexual behaviors intensifies it. Here's more information about sexual addiction.

For more information on addiction recovery, see Addiction Recovery.

Return to Porn Addiction: The Problems with the New International Pastime.

Return from Effects of Porn to Home: Overcoming Porn Addiction.

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