Fight The New Drug (00:11):
Today’s Consider Before Consuming podcast is a combination of a few different interviews Fight The New Drug has conducted with mental health professionals. This episode focuses on how pornography consumption has been shown to rewire the brain and negatively impact those who are consuming porn. Please enjoy this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming.

(00:37):
Ever since pornography appeared on the internet, it has become more accessible than ever before. This is reflected in pornography consumption, which is on the rise globally. But what effect does the frequent consumption of pornography have on the human brain? A joint study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the Psychiatric University Hospital Charate St. Hedwick Hospital answered that question. Dr. Simone Kühn, who is a neuroscientist and psychologist and helped to facilitate the study, explains some of what she found.

Dr. Simone Kühn (01:10):
So we put people in the scanner and looked at their brain activity, who were interested in what effects do potentially long-term usage of, of pornographic material have on, on brain structure. So basically, we found in our study that the gray matter in the reward center is generally smaller in those people who watch more porn. What we also did is look at how the brain region that is smaller in structure, namely the reward region, is connected to other parts in the brain. We found that the more porn people watch, the less well the, the reward region is connected to prefrontal cortex, that their prefrontal cortex was less well able to control activity in the reward region. So the, the connection between prefrontal cortex, that is the breaking mechanism onto the reward system, was less strong.

Fight The New Drug (02:06):
Dr. Kühn found a link which showed how the human brain changes through continued consumption of porn, specifically to the part of the brain which intelligently regulates her thoughts, actions, and emotions. Dr. Don Hilton, who is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio explains the potential impact of these changes to the prefrontal cortex might affect someone who regularly consumes pornography.

Dr. Don Hilton (02:35):
Our brains are designed for so much more. We’re designed to love, to think, to bond, to live pornography is is not real. It’s not real in a natural way. We’re not designed to consume pornography. We’re designed to have sexuality in a, in a format that helps us survive. Where it’s enjoyable for both parties and pornography is a rewiring toxic form of human sexuality. For instance, a young man that’s grown up having sex, so to speak with a screen, it’s unlikely that a, a real woman is going to fit the bill for him. He’s been scripted, sexually scripted, sexually wired, sexually imprinted to believe that that is sex, not real sex, but porn sex.

Fight The New Drug (03:28):
Here is Dr. Andrew Doan, who’s a recognized expert in digital media addictions and has a doctorate degree in neuroscience. Expounding upon Dr. Hilton’s explanation on how porn might affect someone who regularly consumes it.

Dr. Andrew Doan (03:41):
The problem is content matters. So we know from research, for example, if people are watching porn, it can actually adversely affect the way they treat other people. Particularly porn has gotten more violent over the years, so therefore there has been more violent tendency towards women during rape and dating mishaps. There’s also subjectification of women because of pornography, and also we know that people who watch porn are less likely to act on sexual assault and sexual violence when they see it, because they’ve been programmed to accept that. That’s okay. Let’s look at the pathways in which porn stimulates the body. Because of a negative feedback loop, we developed something called tolerance. If you look at the research literature, there are people who admit to and also discussion forums who admit to exhausting one genre of porn, and then they switched to a higher genre, more deviant genre, more violent genre of porn.

Fight The New Drug (04:43):
Dr. Doan shared some stark warnings in how porn might affect a person’s behaviors towards sex and may even cause a person to become desensitized to the serious nature of sexual violence and may even cause them to not report it. While the consumption of porn can have a serious and tangible impact upon a person’s life, there is hope for someone who may find themselves with an unwanted compulsion to view pornography. Dr. Hilton shares a hopeful message about recovery,

Dr. Don Hilton (05:13):
And a person that has been rewired with these sexual scripts through pornography will find that recovery while very possible, is a process as well just as becoming addicted as a process. Recovery similarly is a process. It takes time, it takes effort in recovery, the person remaps and rewires their brains back to a more homeostatic state, back to a more normal natural state where they can again, love and feel and become human again.

Fight The New Drug (05:45):
Research is demonstrated that overcoming a pornography habit is absolutely possible, and that over time, pornography’s negative effects can be managed and largely reversed. If you’re ready to quit for good, fortify can help. Fortify is an online recovery program that has helped tens of thousands of individuals around the world stop their porn habit in its tracks. Fortify’s free science-based recovery platform is dedicated to helping you find lasting freedom from pornography, you can connect with others, learn how to better understand your compulsive behavior and track your recovery journey. Join fortify for free today at ftnd.org/fortify. That’s F-T-N-D.O.R.G/fortify. You’re not alone. Recovery is possible. Quit porn for good with fortify.

(06:51):
Consider Before Consuming is made possible by listeners like you. If you’d like to support, Consider Before Consuming, you can make a one-time or recurring donation of any amount at ftnd.org/support. That’s F-T-N-D.O.R.G/support. Thanks again for listening. We invite you to increase your self-awareness, look both ways, check your blind spots and consider before consuming.