Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places: The Science and Psychology of Porn Addiction

1. Looking For Love
in All the Wrong Places
Andrea Kuszewski
@AndreaKuszewski
April 5th, 2014
The Science and Psychology of Porn ‘Addiction’

2. Porn and Addiction
• Porn on the brain
• Drugs on the brain
• Are they both addictions?
• What are the negative consequences of porn over-use?
• Other interesting stuff!
We will discuss:

3. Porn and Addiction

4. Porn and Addiction

5. Porn and Addiction
Porn GIFS lowers the barrier to entry…. Into watching porn

6. Porn and Addiction
Neuroscience
Psychology
Behaviorism

7. Porn and Addiction
Your brain on porn

8. Porn and Addiction

9. Porn and Addiction

10. Porn and Addiction

13. Porn and Addiction

14. Porn and Addiction

15. Porn and Addiction
A"er
novelty
wears
off,
lower
arousal,
no
longer
elicits
same
response

16. Porn and Addiction
To
combat
tolerance:
*Increase
novelty
*Increase
intensity
*Gets
dopamine
back
up

17. Porn and Addiction

18. Porn and Addiction
Addiction:
The drug effect which happens inside the brain

19. Porn and Addiction
Addiction:
The drug effect which happens inside the brain
Brain is more permanently altered
Drug addicts are addicts for life

20. Porn and Addiction
Addiction:
The drug effect which happens inside the brain
Behavioral obsession/Fetish?: Not chemically altering the brain; WE
determine the effects
Brain is more permanently altered
Drug addicts are addicts for life

21. Porn and Addiction
Addiction:
The drug effect which happens inside the brain
Behavioral obsession/Fetish?: Not chemically altering the brain; WE
determine the effects
Effects are conditioned responses to cues that are associated with
achieving orgasm
Brain is more permanently altered
Drug addicts are addicts for life

22. Porn and Addiction
Addiction:
The drug effect which happens inside the brain
Behavioral obsession/Fetish?: Not chemically altering the brain; WE
determine the effects
Effects are conditioned responses to cues that are associated with
achieving orgasm
Brain is more permanently altered
Drug addicts are addicts for life
We can reset our dopamine sensitivity to erotic stimuli

23. Porn and Addiction
Personality Types are also a factor
• ‘Genetic predisposition’
• Sensation-seeking, high novelty needs
• Sometimes porn can be a
positive thing!
• The key is moderation, and
communication with your
partner

24. Porn and Addiction
The biggest difference that separates the two:
To sum up the addiction debate…

25. Porn and Addiction
The biggest difference that separates the two:
• We determine the strength of porn as a stimulus

26. Porn and Addiction
The biggest difference that separates the two:
• We determine the strength of porn as a stimulus
• No matter much we don’t want it to, cocaine, if injected, will act on our
brain very powerfully—no thinking our way out of it

27. Porn and Addiction
Interesting bits on arousal, dopamine, and desire
Why is erotica so… erotic? Also, how is this similar to animated GIFS?
You always want the ones you can’t have

28. Porn and Addiction
Interesting bits on arousal, dopamine, and desire
Why is erotica so… erotic? Also, how is this similar to animated GIFS?
You always want the ones you can’t have
Sex is more than just orgasm!!
Sex = Orgasm (maybe) + psychosocial elements

29. Porn and Addiction
Is overdosing on porn unhealthy and potentially harmful?
YES.
• Relationship problems

30. Porn and Addiction
Is overdosing on porn unhealthy and potentially harmful?
YES.
• Relationship problems
• Sexual dysfunction

31. Porn and Addiction
Is overdosing on porn unhealthy and potentially harmful?
YES.
• Relationship problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Skewed expectations

32. Porn and Addiction
Is overdosing on porn unhealthy and potentially harmful?
YES.
But so are lots of things (in excess)!
And still not addictions.
• Relationship problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Skewed expectations

33. Porn and Addiction
Thank you!
Any questions?
@AndreaKuszewski
AndreaKuszewski.com