So you’re a porn connoisseur, eh?
Today we’re going to talk about why we are so drawn to novelty and the challenges we might face when it’s in the context of consuming pornography.
Why is the human brain always seeking novelty, and what’s novel about all the different genres of porn that is out there?
Novelty is hard wired to be interesting to the human brain. Novelty is important to survival, the feeling that something is novel signals to the brain that this “thing” here is new to the environment and we must assess it. This can be a threat or an opportunity, and our brains are wired to find novelty important and or drives us to seek it.
Novelty underlies new learning and adaptation to an environment, and therefore you’ll always attend or even search for novel experiences (like a new movie or restaurant). You also quickly adapt to existing and familiar circumstances.
When it comes to sexual stimulus, there is a type of hidden program that amplifies sexual novelty. This is called the coolidge effect, that is, sexual novelty (different partners) can renew sexual interest when the same sexual partner can no longer elicit a response.
What is the brain’s “reward pathway” and how does novelty play into that system?
Recent studies suggest that novelty activates the dopamine system and enhances learning.A common misconception is that dopamine is the reward hormone that rewards behavior, but more accurately it signals the anticipation of pleasure and drives goal-oriented behaviour.
In short, dopamine is the driving force, the “get after it” signal. In fact, dopamine spikes when the reward is uncertain (like gambling). Think about your browsing before deciding on that “perfect” clip, it might take a while to find it, you may be checking out a few clips across multiple tabs.
Why is this important for pornography addiction? it’s because pornography is considered to be a super-normal stimulus - a stimulus that is beyond what you would have evolutionary been adapted to - and so creates an exaggerated response. Modern pornography has endless novelty and variety so that search for that “perfect” clip is the ideal setup for maximum dopaminergic response. This pathway is what is observed in other behavioural addictions such as gambling.
Source: Jack B, Unsplash
What is the effect of digital consumerism / ease of access on this need for novelty?
Before high speed internet, pornography was difficult, expensive and inconvenient to access.
It’s worth mentioning the triple A engine of pornography consumption. Alvin Cooper’s affordability, accessibility and anonymity.
Your parents and grandparents would have likely consumed pornography less frequently due to practical constraints like waiting for a magazine to publish an issue, being age restricted at a physical store as well as as the porn having less variety and actually costing money. If we compare it to modern pornography, it is simply worlds apart.
In addition, it is easier to access novel categories and we can access or pay for pornography without too much risk of others discovering. In fact pornography is becoming more interactive and immersive via VR and webcam.
Source: Julien-Pier Belanger, Unsplash
What is happening in the brain when an individual can no longer be aroused by the usual basic genres of porn that they usually watch?
In a simplest terms, frequent and problematic pornography users adapt to the visual stimulus they consume. They are driven to use pornography but don’t find the same category as unexciting and unsatisfying, this is your standard tolerance / recalibration mechanisms. The same way you can’t watch the same film 100x or how that brand new car isn’t as exciting anymore.
So for problematic porn users, the drive to use pornography is elevated but when they use their current categories, the payoff isn’t there. For those addicted to pornography, it is theorised that there are some related brain changes involving the reduction of dopamine receptors associated with decreased sensitivity to rewards and increased tolerance.
In practical terms, because the pornography you are currently consuming is not satisfying, you’re likely to explore other categories. Some of these other categories may elicit other emotions such as fear, shock or disgust, and you may find yourself in taboo categories.
Alternatively, you may find yourself using more interactive types of pornography (for example web-camming) with other emotional experiences such as being wanted, attractive, sense of belonging or community to achieve your usual level of arousal.
At what point does acceptance and open mindedness from preference exploration become harmful? Where is the line between “eccentric taste” and a “problem”?
There are 2 lines between eccentric tastes and problematic.
The first is legality, if the porn you are consuming is illegal then red flag it’s a straight up issue. Your porn use is putting you at significant risk of a dramatic and sudden decrease in your quality of life via discovery by your social circle, being charged and tried.
The second one is evaluating the pornography with your own moral and ethical code.
Ask yourself,
Do you feel negative emotions after using that type of pornography?
Do you feel a loss of control about that particular type of pornography?
Has it affected your thoughts, beliefs and behaviors in a negative way?
Would I choose that type of pornography if I wasn’t in an aroused state?
Pornography is a way to safely explore sexual desires and fantasy and enhance sexual communication but it needs to enhance your quality of life (relationships and functioning) not impair it.
Is having an extreme (but legal) taste in porn objectively bad?
I think the term extreme is subjective and for some porn users, pornography is the only way they can explore or express their sexual desires that otherwise would not be suitable to engage with in real life. Pornography can reflect your values or it can distort your preference so that it doesnt match your values. In the latter case, that when I think the category of pornography can be unhealthy.
Source: Lama Roscu, Unsplash
What should I do if I am aroused by a genre of porn that I do not want to be aroused by? What are steps that I can take to no longer want to consume it? (once a door is open can it be closed?)
First clarify to yourself if this type of pornography is reflects your desires or was this something that you practiced towards. Pornography preferences are malleable and as you regulate your use by sticking to categories you enjoy and feel good about, you’ll likely find that your preferences will reflect your patterns.
It is possible that you might not forget about that particular genre but you definitely can choose how you engage or disengage with it. Novelty can also work in your favor, as you find more “green light” categories that are more aligned with your values and ethical code.
What are some signs that I should seek professional help?
Some signs that you should consider help is:
Sense of a loss of control
Repeated failed attempts to stop
Significant negative effects on quality of life and relationships
Negative emotions, thoughts and beliefs related to your porn use
The presence or escalation of mood or anxiety symptoms related to your porn use
If you relate to some of these signs and it has affected your quality of life - then maybe it’s worth scheduling an appointment with a mental health care professional near you. I hope this helped you better understand how we view novelty and the repercussions it may carry when applied to porn use.