Is porn addiction a real addiction?

I recently was a guest on a current affairs program called ‘Insight’ on SBS here in Australia on the topic of sex and porn addiction. Much of the discussion on the program revolved around whether pornography and sex addiction can actually be classified as an addiction as they are not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

I have used the term addiction in relation to my own struggle partly for lack of another word to use, but also because the professionals who worked with me used that terminology. For me, framing my struggle as an addiction, helped me to see how it was similar to other addictions and how a similar recovery process can work.

From an academic point of view, more research is needed. Recently, a study out of Cambridge University in the UK looked at the similarities in brain activity between compulsive porn users, alcoholics and drug addicts. Dr Valerie Voon who is conducting the research said: ‘When an alcoholic sees an ad for a drink, their brain will light up in a certain way and they will be stimulated in a certain way. We are seeing this same kind of activity in users of pornography.’

Neuroscientist and author of the book “Wired for intimacy: how pornography hijacks the male brain” had this to say:

“There is no consensus about the use of the term ‘addiction’. Some researchers favor the use of the term, others prefer compulsivity, others hypersexuality. It seems to be fairly obvious from the research, that it is still being sorted out. There can be little doubt though that this is not manufacturing a problem. However academics choose to label it and however the society responds to it, ignoring the issues or refusing to name it will not make it go away.”

Whether you conclude that it is porn addiction or something else, it is an issue that affects a lot of people. If this is something you would like help with, please visit our help page.

Blessings,

Luke.