Is it Normal to Watch Porn? When is Porn an addiction?
Porn, as a notional concept, is not wrong. Technically, it’s also not illegal for teens to view it. However, it is illegal for anyone to show a minor porn, and any form of distributing child porn is also illegal, as it well should be. Even though porn is lawful and easily available nowadays, it is highly recommended to exercise vigilance while consuming it. Porn can be a wonderful way to understand your fantasies and cause arousal, and many people watch porn with no negative effect on their lives. But porn does include some ethical and emotional obstacles that you should avoid whenever possible. Is Watching Porn Normal? Porn is something that most of us, at some point in life, must have watched. However, there are numerous people, particularly male youth, across the entire globe who are addicted to watching Pornographic content on the WWW (World Wide Web). There are several views regarding the consumption of Pornography. Is watching porn ok? Some believe that it is quite normal to watch it while some argue that watching excessive porn is addictive and can lead to serious health-related consequences. In general, people may turn towards porn as a means to fulfill the different types of fantasies that might be lacking in their lives. Sometimes it might feel safer to watch the content to explore a particular fantasy than it would to attempt something related in real life. Many people who view pornography on a regular basis tend to do so because there is some sort of positive result they associate with it. One large-scale study found that many participants felt that pornography had helped their lives in some way, which suggests that at least a fraction of the population may view pornographic content as a means to meet their needs. Why Do People Watch Porn? According to a team of researchers, only 5.94% of porn consumers in their study said that they watch porn because of a lack of sexual satisfaction. What are the reasons why people watch porn? Let’s take a look. 1. Arousal This comes as no surprise, but the top reason why people watch porn is for sexual pleasure, according to a study. Plus, out of all the explanations, this is the one porn is produced explicitly for. 2. Education For young people, understanding how sex works is a typical reason to turn to porn. In fact, one study shows that approximately 45% of teens who consumed porn did so in part to learn about sex. Similarly, survey results also show one in four 18 to 24-year-olds (24.5%) listed pornography as the most helpful source to learn how to have sex. 3. Coping with negative emotions Some researchers specifically identify “stress reduction” and “emotional distraction or suppression” as motivations for consuming porn. To escape these feelings, a person may turn to porn. It seems like a quick fix for temporary loneliness, but at best, it’s a cheap distraction, and at worse, porn only fuels those feelings 4. Boredom Our digital world has done a pretty good job of providing endless amounts of entertainment and distractions for those who can’t stand a moment of idleness. And of course, porn is included in this bundle. 5. Porn can be difficult to quit When considering why some people consume porn, it’s important to recognize their struggles. Many don’t want to rely on porn but can’t break the habit. Even people who are actively trying to quit porn still find themselves falling back into the habit from time to time. What Happens if You Watch Porn Regularly? Now that you know the answer to “Is watching porn normal?” here is what could happen if you watch porn regularly. Here are three somewhat unexpected and surprising effects of consuming porn, and porn addiction. 1. Pornography Removes You from Reality and Your Physical Sensations One of pornography’s largest influences on men is desensitization. It’s a similar process that occurs when watching or playing a glut of violent movies and video games over time. The brain begins to change its perceptions of what it considers normal and acceptable, leading to a skewed concept of reality. 2. Pornography Addiction Is Similar to Other Harmful Addictions Like hard drugs or gambling, pornography consumption can represent an escape from reality, a way to deal with stress or even just a quick hit of dopamine at inopportune times. As such, each of these vices can easily lead to full-blown addiction. 3. Pornography Consumption Brings Both Physical and Emotional Effects Perhaps most concerning for many men is the effect pornography can have on erectile dysfunction and other sexual dysfunctions like delayed ejaculation or impotence. A recent study links increased pornography use to increased cases of erectile dysfunction and the probability that men would have trouble getting and maintaining an erection. When Does Watching Porn Become A Problem? While pornography is used by both men and women, there is little doubt that it is primarily men who become hooked on it. Men’s brains are wired in such a way that pornography hijacks the proper functioning of their brains and has a long-lasting effect on their thoughts and lives. Regularly using porn interferes with a person’s ability to maintain good self-esteem and have a mutually rewarding sexual intimacy with his partner. It is very easy to deceive yourself into minimizing the extent of the problem. Many porn addicts think they can keep their porn use separate from their relationship, but it is almost impossible to be a porn user without it having serious repercussions on their partner and on their relationship. Unfortunately, rather than creating eroticism in their relationship, porn winds up creating an object that competes with their partner for erotic value. Symptoms Of Porn Addiction Porn addicts use pornography to cope with life stressors. They repeatedly and compulsively rely on sexualized imagery to escape (to avoid feeling) emotional discomfort—stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression, shame, boredom, and the like. 1. Porn Use Becomes a Compulsion – The simple truth is that Individuals who