Mistral wrote:
The question then that this leads me to ask ... is this: since we do know that visual stimuli can affect the brain (as strobe lights an epileptic), and since we do know that sexual arousal has a definite effect on (or really occurs in) the brain, do we actually know that viewing titillating material _doesn't_ cause these addictive-type changes in brain chemistry? There is such a thing as sex addiction, after all. I'm certain someone must have done some studies on the subject of the effects on the brain of viewing sexually explicit material; is anyone aware of such?
Point taken, and no, I'm not aware of any research on this subject.
However, traditionally physically-addictive substances (eg nicotine) exert their effects, as far as I know, on a very high proportion of those individuals who sample them. The point I was originally trying to make (and clearly failing dismally) is that visual pornography only exerts an addictive effect (which I would claim is akin to emotional addiction or habituation, rather than physical addiction, but admit I don't have any evidence to back this point up) on those who *respond positively* to it. Those who have no response or who respond negatively are not going to become habituated to such material. I guess it would be pretty hard to do a study to find out what proportion of people fall into each of the three categories.
Tavia
Mistral asked:
do we actually
know that viewing titillating material _doesn't_ cause these addictive-type changes in brain chemistry?
However, self-generated sexual fantasies are extremely common-- I would describe pornography as merely a source of supplemental outside-generated sexual fantasies. Lots of people are interested in pictures of human beings in lingerie, whereas an equally explicit photo of wart hogs in lingerie would not be much of a market proposition. In my view, people who choose to consume pornography consume types of pornography that already reflect their fantasies and predilections.
There is such a
thing as sex addiction, after all.
I think the term sex addiction is used to refer to activities with one or (generally more) partners.
I'm certain someone must
have done some studies on the subject of the effects on the brain of viewing sexually explicit material; is anyone aware of such?
Far be it from me to impugn their motives, but the U.S. Congress invested lots of taxpayer money in studies of pornography, the reports of which are among the best-selling government publications.
I guess it would be pretty hard to do a study to find out what proportion of people fall into each of the three categories.
You'd have little trouble recruiting volunteers.
Speaking as both a producer and consumer of B7 porn (as well as one of the few exponents of the Slash With Absolutely No Explicit Sex sub-genre)* all I can say is that I'm not trying to induce anyone to read anything or view any image that they find repugnant or morally offensive. But I don't see any necessary connection between the statements "I don't want to read/write/publish sexually explicit fiction" and "Nobody else should either."
-(Y)
*As distinct from, e.g., an A-B story about non-sexual emotions or an A&B romantic but not sexual story
Dana (replying to me) wrote:
There is such a
thing as sex addiction, after all.
I think the term sex addiction is used to refer to activities with one or (generally more) partners.
It does; my point was that one doesn't have to introduce a foreign chemical like drugs or alcohol to fuel an addiction. The brain itself will manufacture the chemicals, given its stimulus of choice.
Speaking as both a producer and consumer of B7 porn (as well as one of the few exponents of the Slash With Absolutely No Explicit Sex sub-genre)* all I can say is that I'm not trying to induce anyone to read anything or view any image that they find repugnant or morally offensive. But I don't see any necessary connection between the statements "I don't want to read/write/publish sexually explicit fiction" and "Nobody else should either."
Agreed; I hope you don't think I was trying to make such a connection. I was merely wondering aloud about unproven assertions that pornography is/is not addictive. Even if it were proven addictive, I still wouldn't make that connection; I believe in the right of smokers to smoke, drinkers to drink, dreamheads to use Shadow....
Mistral
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Dana Shilling -
Mistral -
Tavia