As the brain’s limbic system becomes dependent on the neurological rewards[59] of viewing pornography, many consumers need to employ cognitive defence strategies to deal with the resulting dissonance and identity confusion. Over time, defence mechanisms mutate to justify more extreme sexual interests and behaviours. According to Dr Struthers, pornography consumers start with denial (avoiding disclosure due to cultural stigma), and progress to minimisation (asserting control over viewing habits and playing down its impact), to normalisation (arguing everyone is doing it so it must be acceptable), to rationalisation and justification (endeavouring to use logical arguments to excuse viewing, or acting out after viewing, pornography), and ultimately end up in celebration (embracing sexual exploitation and revelling in one’s habitual behaviour). Emeritus Professor in Psychology, Dr Victor Cline, reports a similar progression from pornography consumption to sexually deviant interests and delinquency.[60] Based on observations over the course of treating hundreds of clients with sexual behaviour problems, Dr Cline has identified 4 progressive phases in the aetiology of sexually abhorrent interests and behaviours (2001, pp. 3–4):
1. Compulsive pornography viewing accompanied by masturbation and subsequent sexual release;
2. Escalation of explicit content (more violent, extreme or deviant) to achieve the same sexual high through masturbation and sexual release;
3. Desensitisation to material that initially may have been repulsive, shocking or even illegal (despite being contrary to previously held moral beliefs and personal standards), coming to see it not only as common place, but also justifying, rationalising, and defending it; and
4. An intense desire or propensity to sexually act out a range of abhorrent behaviours viewed in pornography (e.g. compulsive promiscuity, exhibitionism, voyeurism, violence, child molestation, rape). As sexually deviant behaviours take hold, clients find themselves locked into a neurotic addiction cycle that is pursued at all costs – irrespective of potential negative consequences.
The state of being neurotic or engaging neurotic behaviour stems from a psychiatric condition known as neurosis. Characteristics of neurosis typically manifest as obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviours. To varying degrees, neurotic thoughts dominate one’s personality and result in interpersonal maladjustment. Interestingly, such patterns of neurotic thoughts and behaviours are widely reported in explorative research on the role pornography consumption plays in the development of sexual dysfunction. Is there a connection between pornography and neurosis?
The empirical literature refers to sexually neurotic thoughts and behaviours as paraphilia. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) “…paraphilia is characterised by recurrent, intense sexual urges, fantasies, or behaviours that involve unusual objects, activities, or situations.” More specifically, paraphilia generally involves “1) nonhuman objects, 2) the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner, or 3) children or other nonconsenting persons…” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, pp. 535, 566).
Given that many of these paraphilia are also criminal activities, research parameters make it difficult to conclusively ascertain how such sexual dysfunction and deviancy develop. Nevertheless, it should be noted that there are strong parallels between sexual dysfunction and published pornographic materials. Most pathological conditions are also common pornographic sub-genres.[61] Table 1 provides a breakdown of some of the most common online pornographic sub-genres, their descriptions and their popularity both in the number of available Webpages (generated through a Google Web search) and the average number of searches performed globally each month (calculated by Google AdWords). These sub-themes almost perfectly match the clinical forms of sexual paraphilia acknowledged in forensic psychiatry.
Table 1: Online pornographic sub-genres (listed in order of predominance)
| Online search terms | Description | Total Web pagesa | Total monthly searchesb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teen sex | Involving actual post-pubescent adolescents | 81,700,000 | N/Ac |
| Animal sex | Involving the sexual engagement of animals (Bestiality) | 50,300,000 | 6,120,000 |
| Bondage | Involving sadism & masochism | 29,400,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Spankwire | Involving the violent mutilation of reproductive organs | 16,600,000 | 7,480,000 |
| Bukkake | Involving numerous men (10+) having sex with one wo(man) | 17,900,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Voyeur sex | Involves filming & spying on people while dressing/showering | 15,900,000 | 135,000 |
| Twink porn | Involving younger/slender looking boys | 8,210,000 | 135,000 |
| Crush sex | Involving the killing of small animals (also called Hard Crush) | 7,740,000 | 5400 |
| Vomit sex | Involving vomiting & gagging (Emetophilia pornography) | 3,790,000 | 9900 |
| Rough sex | Involving humiliation, choking, hair-pulling | 3,250,000 | 368,000 |
| Scat porn | Involving defecation, manipulation / consumption of feces | 3,050,000 | 165,000 |
| Lolita sex | Involving underage-looking performers (appearing 15-18 years) | 2,200,000 | N/Ac |
| Rape sex | Involving real or portrayed forced unconsensual sex | 2,770,000 | 550,000 |
| Diaper porn | Involving performers pretending to be infants | 1,730,000 | 27,100 |
| Wired porn | Involving electrical shocks & use of electrocution devices | 1,690,000 | 2400 |
| Pre-teen sex | Involving actual pre-pubescent children | 1,560,000 | N/Ac |
| Exhibitionist sex | Involves public genital exposure (from flashing to intercourse) | 1,360,000 | 2900 |
| Snuff sex | Involving actual death of participants, consenting or otherwise | 1,280,000 | 6600 |
| Menstrual porn | Involving menstruating women (with focus on menstrual blood) | 531,000 | 9900 |
| Felching sex | Involving the suction of recently-ejaculated semen from the anus | 480,000 | 170 |
| Guro sex | Involving blood, gore, disfiguration, mutilation, urine or feces | 278,000 | 480 |
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1 A complex neurochemical interplay (incorporating Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Oxytocin and Vasopressin) with Dopamine (the primary neurotransmitter that most addictive drugs release) ultimately terminating in the Nucleus Accumbens (the brain’s pleasure centre).
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2 A list of reports and articles highlighting the progression from pornography to delinquent interests can be found in Peters, 2009, pp. 11–13.
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3 A comprehensive outline of sexual paraphilia as recognised in forensic psychiatry is reported in Hucker (2010); a parallel outline of pornographic sub-genres is published by Wikipedia.