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christian counseling today
VOL. 22 NO. 1
17
R
L I NDA MI NTLE
What Does the Neuroscience Tell Us?
Ross is a healthy 26-year-old male who recently married and
is struggling in his sex life. Although he and his wife attend
church, Ross is one of the 64-68% of young adult men who
uses pornography at least once a week (based on the research
of Covenant Eyes). During college, Ross used pornography as
one way to address his sexual needs. Pornographic material was
readily available and utilized by most of the men in his fraternity.
His use of pornography has continued into married life.
Ross was referred by his physician because he was having sexual difficulty in his
current relationship. He was diagnosed with Delayed Ejaculation, a
DSM-5
male
sexual dysfunctional disorder. His physician believed that Ross’s high rate of
masturbation while viewing pornography was a psychological factor contributing
to the diagnosis. When questioned, Ross admitted to high speed and frequent
masturbation with a fantasized partner while viewing pornography. According to
Ross, one of the consequences of this regular behavior is that he has not been able to
duplicate the experience in real life and is frustrated. In fact, Ross tells his physician
that while he craves pornography, he does not particularly like it. Yet the cravings
are intense and he can feel them just by thinking about his computer. Furthermore,
thinking about sex with his wife, he feels less attracted and realizes he has developed
an appetite for new sexual tastes.
Ross and others who regularly use pornography may be told that behaviors
regularly reinforced in the reward, memory, and motivation circuitry of the
brain can become addictive. With pornography use, specific pathways in the
brain are triggered that prompt the neurological response of pleasure and reward.
These pathways are the same as those seen in drug addiction. Yet, there remains
controversy as to whether or not pornography use is truly an addictive behavior. The
data has yet to establish sexual addiction as a
DSM-5
diagnosis.
PORNOGRAPHY
AND THE BRAIN