“Pornography” by definition is a combination of the Greek words meaning ‘to fornicate’ (and also ‘to practice idolatry”) and to ‘graph’, write, or to depict.

Pornography has been constantly evolving since it early existence, along with how is depicted and when it’s used.

It may not surprise you to know that ever since human beings discovered the ability to draw on surfaces, they began depicting sexual stories in graph. Some of the very first images found were images of sexual acts. A rock etching, whether for celebratory, instructional, spiritual or for other reasons, was once the standard for erotic imagery” (Sacrastan, 2012).

Digital pornography use has been increasing due to the widespread use of the internet and has indeed become very common practice among many people. Studies have shown that in 2019 – 46–74% of men and 16–41% of women were active pornography users. This data is supported by one of the most popular porn websites, Pornhub; who reported over 39 billion searches and 42 billion visits during 2019 (suggesting 115 million visits per day (Tate, 2021)).

So .. why is porn so popular you ask?

Aside from the sexual arousal and enhancement; fear, anxiety and boredom are linked with greater use of pornography as well. Studies in 2020 showed that “higher levels of psychological distress often end up with greater levels of pornography consumption” (Zattoni, et al, 2020). Meaning, that when people have negative feelings like stress or anxiety, viewing pornography could offer temporary relief from these feelings (Valkenburg, 2011). So, if we buy into the theory that increased anxiety and boredom cause a need to find relief from discomfort; imagine how pornography numbers could have spiked in 2019- 2022 due to a Global pandemic.

Without a doubt; the coronavirus pandemic has affected almost all aspects of our daily life.

To limit the spread of COVID-19; lockdowns were mandated in cities and countries around the world. Boredom, fear, loneliness, and depressive symptoms are all reasons for using porn as a maladaptive coping mechanism during this stressful time.

According to studies, it was shown that people were finding creative ways to spend their time in isolation and manage their emotions. For many (sadly), that was watching porn. Most countries also saw a spike in the increase of Coronavirus themed pornography (increased numbers from 18.50%- 61.8%) (Zattoni et al 2020).

Additionally, and as a cunning way to grab new and existing users’ attention, Pornhub offered a deal “To keep you company at home during these weeks.” Users were able to access Pornhub Premium for free for the whole month”. Marketing strategies were successful into hooking into people maladaptive coping mechanisms and Pornhub users increased by 11.6% during the lockdown phase of the Pandemic What Happens When the World Mixes COVID-19, Anxiety, and Porn? (fightthenewdrug.org).

A study by Zatonni et al (2020) showed a marked increase in pornography searches; and in particular search words such as Pornhub and Porn. These two search words alone showed the highest increase of interest worldwide – with an average weekend percentage change (AWPC) of 4.9% and 3.8%.

The effects of pornography addiction can be devastating over time. As with any disease it is progressive over time if untreated. Symptoms of compulsive pornography use can include severe psychological and emotional disturbances. Pornography can damage a person’s relationships, their personal life and their mental health (Zatonni et al, 2020).

Some people do not consider compulsive pornography use as an addiction and believe that the minds of those who view pornographic material obsessively do not behave the same way as the mind of drug user. Pornography addiction is classified as when the brain becomes dependent on sexualized digital images to provide dopamine surges. Thus; the obsessive consumption of pornography is the brain demanding stimulus provided by viewing pornographic material. The constant need for these dopamine surges can reduce the brain’s response to ordinary stimuli (such as sex with your partner or a good meal).

The progressive nature of pornography addiction means that over time, your body stops providing as much dopamine when you experience sexualized digital images – and as such – a person has to watch it more frequently or view more extreme pornographic scenes to receive the same pleasure.

So, the question we pose here at Newlife Psychology is “what can we do about this”? Our hope is that if you or anyone you know thinks they might be suffering from pornography addiction, reach out and get help.

Find a qualified therapist that can assess and develop a plan to help you reset your arousal template and your brain’s reward centre. A great place to start assessing whether you or a loved one meets diagnostic criteria is available at: www.sexhelp.com/am-i-a-sex-addict/

Article by Elizabeth Loudon, MA, RCC, CSAT