Is Porn Poison for the Brain?

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Is Porn Poison for the Brain?

Nathan Harden · September 3, 2012 at 8:50pm

Does porn actually damage the brain? Might sound far-fetched, but there is some very interesting research on this topic that might convince you that it does. This week, I plan to post each day on a different topic related to my new book, Sex & God at Yale. Chapter 2, entitled "The Great Porn Debate," details a rip-roaring Oxford-style porn debate starring porn performer Ron Jeremy, which was held in New Haven during my junior year.

Just this morning, a current Yale student sent me this fascinating TEDx video, featuring a talk by physiologist Gary Wilson, host of www.yourbrainonporn.com. According to the video description, Wilson's research "arose in response to a growing demand for solid scientific information by heavy Internet erotica users experiencing perplexing, unexpected effects: escalation to more extreme material, concentration difficulties, sexual performance problems, radical changes in sexual tastes, social anxiety, irritability, inability to stop, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms."

The video lasts about 15 min, but you can catch the main drift by watching only the first 5. Do so and I promise you'll learn something:

Fascinating stuff, huh? Especially considering how extreme and how universal porn has become among youth in the internet age. It has shaped an entire generation already.

So what do you think? Is porn harmless, or is it poison for the brain?

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show Chris Deleon's comment (#361) ←

Joined
May '10

Re: Is Porn Poison for the Brain?

Chris Deleon

dittoheadadt: Whatwas on trial, so to speak, was the contention that heavy internet porn use actually physically damages the human brain.

A basic understanding of addiction, neurology, etc. reveal that a) actual physical and chemical brain changes occur from addictions in general, and b) addiction to Internet porn is more likely than with many other behavioral addictions and things that people prefer to call "compulsions" (what is an addiction if not that?).

Don't take this personally, but most of your critiques of the video seemed more like nitpicking on the details of a brief presentation than anything that casts doubt on the basic science. I agree that certain rhetorical devices he uses are not "scientific," but they are used to convey an understanding or make a point. Remember, it's a presentation giving a summary of the topic, not an exhaustive deep dive into the science behind it. For that, there is the site yourbrainonporn.com and the other links to studies that have been posted in the thread.

If you challenge the idea that Internet porn can be highly addictive, or think our understanding of its mechanisms is suspect, address where you think it is weak.