Pornography: Addiction of the Mind

Dr. William Struthers, professor of psychology at Wheaton College, recently spoke in a Suter Science Center lecture on addiction to pornography, comparing it to reliance on drugs. He is researching a neural passageway connected to the phenomenon, specifically in men.

The neural pathway he described is extensive. Tying together mirror neurons in charge of learning by imitation, the ocular neurons, and the obsessive-compulsive pathway of masturbation, viewing pornography becomes a compulsive form of stress relief. The extent and strength of this pathway is male-specific, due mostly to several characteristics inherent in the male brain.

The first of these differences is a greater concentration of a type of dopamine receptor that governs "want and desire" rather than liking. Not only are certain types of receptors in the male and female brains different, but the ocular areas stimulated by viewing a pornographic video are much more active in men than in women.

Added to these neural differences are the natural mechanisms of addiction. All addictive substances create a surge in dopamine immediately after consumption, which drops off over time. Masturbation not only does this, but it also shuts down the amygdala, a significant part of the brain mechanisms that control emotions, granting a temporary release from depression and stress. All of this leads to an addiction equal in magnitude to the primary textbook examples of substance abuse, with pornography at its center. It is a compulsive behavior, which reinforces itself with its release of stress. These traits, however, are coupled with a lack of control that many may not associate with the viewing of pornography.

Dr. Struthers also pointed to certain societal factors as pathways leading men towards addiction to pornography. Men are viewed as and believe them selves to have natural evolutionary reasons to have sexual desire for multiple partners, a need to get rid of excess sperm, and a typically early exposure to pornography.

This does not mean, according to Struthers, that men must or should bow to the pornographic industry. "God never conceived that men would have sexual relations with pictures. normal, moral sexual activity utilizes the same pathways," he explained. He also believes that pornography addiction should be treated in much the same way as drug addictions. Healing is a lengthy process, requiring time to both destroy the harmful psychological patterns and build healthy ones. This must also be done in the right setting; small groups in which it is impossible or difficult to conceal one's actions are the most effective.

Dr. Struthers became interested in this area as the result of several experiences. His family has a long history of addictions, specifically on the male side. This created an interest in the issue, which led him to teach a class on addictions in general. In this class, Struthers was approached by a large percentage of his male students after the lecture on pornography, all of whom confessed to struggling with the issue. This focused his interest, which finally developed, with the aid of a call from God, into the desire to write a book on the subject and research it further.