The Emperor Has No Clothes: A review of the “Pornography Addiction” model
The addiction model is rarely used to describe high-frequency use of visual sexual stimuli (VSS) in research, yet common in media and clinical practice. The theory and research behind ‘pornography addiction’ is hindered by poor experimental designs, limited methodological rigor, and lack of model specification. The history and limitations of addiction models are reviewed, including how VSS fails to meet standards of addiction. These include how VSS use can reduce health-risk behaviors. Proposed negative effects, including erectile problems, difficulty regulating sexual feelings, and neuroadaptations are discussed as non-pathological evidence of learning. Individuals reporting ‘addictive’ use of VSS could be better conceptualized by considering issues such as gender, sexual orientation, libido, desire for sensation, with internal and external conflicts influenced by religiosity and desire discrepancy. Since a large, lucrative industry has promised treatments for pornography addiction despite this poor evidence, scientific psychologists are called to declare the emperor (treatment industry) has no clothes (supporting evidence). When faced with such complaints, clinicians are encouraged to address behaviors without conjuring addiction labels.
Related Commentaries
Critique of “The Emperor Has No Clothes: A Review of the ‘Pornography Addiction’ Model”, David Ley, Nicole Prause & Peter Finn (2014)
I provide 2 updated “Reality Checks” before we get to the 2014 critique. Reality check#1: Neurological & epidemiological studies that refute nearly every claim in Ley et al., 2014: See Questionable & Misleading Studies for highly publicized papers that are not what they claim to be.): Porn/sex addiction? This page lists over 55 neuroscience-based studies […]