Pornosexuality - What Is It?
Pornosexuality occurs because relationships between human beings are increasingly digitalized. That is, we seldom connect with other people through a direct encounter. Instead, we do so through intermediaries. In other words, through a device between one human being and another. The Internet era enhanced this phenomenon that has now reached dramatic proportions. Shaping other types of phenomena, such as porn.
There’s been pornography and people who seek it for a long time, but new technologies have considerably facilitated access to it. To an extreme degree, in fact. This is what’s given rise to what’s now referred to as pornosexuality. That is, to a commitment to pornography as the axis of one’s individual sexuality.
There are no fully reliable statistics in this regard because this condition is still a problem issue that not everyone recognizes. However, a study called “Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption”, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association says otherwise. According to it, 66% of men and 41% of women watch pornography at least once a month. However, it isn’t clear how many of them truly fit into the “pornosexual” category.
“Pornography is to sex what McDonald’s is to food; a plasticized, generic version of the real thing.”
-Gail Dines-
Pornosexuality and postmodernity
One of the most relevant features of postmodernity is the explosion of diversity in the field of sexuality. Clear manifestations in this regard now cover a wide range. It’s increasingly clear to everyone that there are multiple ways of experiencing one’s own sexuality and that all of them are perfectly respectable.
What’s not very clear is whether pornosexuality is another preference, a trend, or an actual problem. Strictly speaking, pornosexuals are people who only and exclusively achieve sexual satisfaction when they look at porn. There’s no other way to experience sexual pleasure for them. They’re not occasional users of x-rated movies. Instead, porn is essential to the enjoyment of their sexuality.
In progressive and postmodern terms, this is only an expression of the wide sexual diversity that exists today. However, from a psychological point of view, the question is whether this behavior isn’t a way of avoiding a real relationship. If so, then this isn’t a form of free expression as such, but a mechanism that hides a problem.
The problems associated with pornography
Everything seems to indicate there’s an upward spiral in the consumption of porn. People begin as occasional spectators and, progressively, the behavior becomes repetitive. Then, they come to a point in which they can only enjoy sexuality through pornography. This is because, apparently, porn numbs the desire for a real partnership and its enjoyment.
Pornography creates superficial sexual situations. And, this superficiality isn’t harmless because it conditions expectations, which are important and mediating elements. In addition, they strip one’s sexuality of all the contradictions of an authentic loving relationship. Thus, porn ends up becoming a substitute for sexual intercourse for those who have difficulties coping with the ups and downs of privacy.
Pornosexuality stagnates psychosexual development. In order to have a partner and achieve satisfactory intimacy, it’s necessary to cultivate and develop social skills and psycho-affective dimensions. In many cases, the obsessive relationship with porn prevents that evolution.
A serious topic
Some studies suggest that pornography has enough potential to modify the structure and functioning of the brain. This is because strong dopamine shocks occur when you watch an x-rated movie. When a stimulus provokes such responses, there’s an increased risk of developing an addiction.
Likewise, frequent exposure to pornography changes the brain’s reward center. It incites a person to watch more porn but produces less pleasure. The effect is exactly the same as that of addictions. That is, a person needs to consume more of a substance to obtain a level of pleasure similar to the one they previously obtained.
The most worrying thing about pornosexuality is that it deprives people of direct intimate contact with other human beings. They replace it with a screen that most likely hides a fear of building genuine relationships while still inciting such a fear. And, as with most addictive behavior, it ends up digging a hole from which it won’t be easy to get out of in the long term.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
Tena Aguiar, Y. M. (2016). La Post-pornografía: una respuesta crítica a la Pornografía. Castrante.
