Porn Addiction and Desensitisation to Victims

Since 2015, India has blocked over 800 pornographic sites (BBC News, 2015). However, the bigger question is whether this helped reduce traffic to adult sites. Not really a surprising answer but, no. India ranked as the third largest porn-consuming country in the world. However, India is not alone. Studies revealed that around 90% of men across the world consume explicit content. Women might consume less porn than men but are not that far behind (Rosser et al., 2012). With access to generative AI, now even creating porn is easier. Despite restrictions made by many countries, pornographic materials stand strong.

Did you know? 1 in 3 women across the globe have experienced some form of violence against them. Whereas, in the US, 1 out of 4 males have experienced some form of sexual violence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Sadly, every day we see countless victims suffering and fighting for injustice. We feel powerless when we watch the news, as our hearts ache for the victims. What drives people to commit such crimes? Excluding the perpetrator, we also observe people who act cruelly or apathetically towards the victims. Why do people exhibit such behaviour? While the answer is quite multi-faceted, one link was found to be porn addiction. Let’s explore together the intricate relationship between porn addiction and desensitization.

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What Is Porn Addiction?

While consuming explicit material from time to time is common for over 100 million people across the globe, some people end up watching pornographic material for an unhealthy amount of time every day. Pathological consumption of pornographic material for nearly most of the day every day is called porn addiction. This condition is yet to be recognized as an official diagnosis but is used to refer to problematic pornography use (Plumptre, 2024). A person who is addicted to pornographic material finds themself getting urges to watch it even at work or in public spaces.

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Signs Of Porn Addiction:

While the primary symptom of porn addiction is the constant urge to watch explicit content, it is not the only identifying factor. Some common but subtle signs of porn addiction include:

• Finding It Hard To Stop: People who are addicted to pornography find it hard to stop watching it. Even if they want to stop, they are held back by constant urges to keep watching, even if affects their lives.
• Craving For More: They keep craving for more and more of it. Even if they are aware, it is unhealthy. Even if they have a partner, they will try to sneak off to watch porn, and avoid their partner when confronted about it. They keep making constant excuses to justify their addiction.
• Lost Time: They end up watching pornography for most of their day. It is also followed by a loss of interest in other activities. Everything seems boring and exhausting, with their only relief being explicit material.
• Lost Interest In Sex: Ironically, people who are addicted to porn find themselves losing interest in actual sex. They prefer watching pornographic material instead of responding to their partner’s romantic advances.
• Unrealistic Fantasies: Like any other form of media, images depicted in pornography are extremely unrealistic. People who are addicted to porn develop unrealistic fantasies about sex. Naturally, they get frustrated and disappointed when they realize they can’t make their fantasies real.
• Feeling Distracted All The Time: Since they get constant urges to watch pornography, they find it hard to focus on the task at hand and struggle with concentration. Their minds constantly keep drifting back to porn, even when they are at work or with their loved ones.
• Easily Irritable: People addicted to pornography are easily irritable. The constant urge to watch porn mixed with their unrealistic fantasy of sex makes them extremely volatile. They get easily frustrated and angry at their partners or other loved ones impacting their relationships.

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Porn Addiction And Desensitization To Victims:

Every day we hear tragic news about victims being subjected to horrible torture and violence that is almost hard to imagine. However, we also see some people who don’t seem affected by it or even blame victims. This is caused due to the phenomena we call desensitization. Desensitization refers to the process of being regularly exposed to violence, which leads to less emotional and physiological response to violence and abuse. Researchers revealed a strong link between exposure to violent pornography and desensitization towards victims of sexual abuse.

People addicted to pornography may consider degrading and violent sexual content as normal, as they continue to consume violent media, which distorts their view towards sexual violence. They might feel apathetic towards the suffering of the victim and may even blame them for being abused. This unhealthy perception towards the victim affects both the victim and the perpetrator as the never-ending vicious cycle of abuse continues.

While it is not considered an official diagnosis it affects an individual’s life in every domain. They find themselves unable to focus on their day-to-day activities leading to severe consequences. Porn addiction does not only affect the individual but also people around them. Their loved ones suddenly find themselves alienated as they choose pornographic material over their relationships. Seeking therapy for problematic pornographic use can help p people become more sensitive towards victims and eventually end the cycle of violence and abuse.

FAQs

1. What is considered Porn Addiction?

Porn addiction is defined as excessive use of pornography that feels out of the control of the individual. It involves unsuccessful attempts towards limiting use or stopping. The use is often followed by intense shame, guilt and depression.

2. How Common is Porn Addiction?

Surveys find that around four per cent of men and one per cent of women believe they might be addicted to porn. If you feel that your consumption of pornographic material is out of control then please contact a therapist or seek professional help.

3. What is Desensitization to Victims in the context of Pornography?

Desensitization to victims refers to reduced emotional response and empathy towards victims of violence or abuse. This often happens due to the regular exposure to explicit material that is violent in nature which leads to the normalization of violence or degrading sexual abuse.

4. Does Porn Addiction impact Relationships?

Yes, porn addiction can negatively affect relationships as individuals start finding their partner unattractive which leads to the rejecting their romantic advances. Such individuals also find it hard to concentrate on what they are doing impacting their relationships with loved ones. Due to their lethargic attitude and irritability loved ones may feel alienated.