The Negative Side of Watching Too Much Porn

Since the inception of the computer and online gaming, fear of people escaping the real world for the cyber world has always been a fear. Countless studies have confirmed that some individuals are more suggestible toward following that path then others. One such study, a recent report published in the Journal of Sex Research, revealed that one out of every ten male participants, who watched excessive amounts of sex and pornography on the internet, became more interested in their cyber space liaisons and less and less interested in the real world encounters.

The ages of the participants were not included as part of the information, however, the out come is not that surprising. It is human nature to become overly intrigued by an interest and loose your self in pursuit of it. Fanatical obsession sometimes ensues, but that is what people do. For a lot of individuals, the internet offers them the only opportunity to express and investigate their sexual inclination. Without access to the internet to play out these fantasies, there is the possibility these individuals may search out other less solitary methods to satisfy their intrigue.

The other interesting detail reported was, the more internet porn you watched and engaged in, the less real, human interaction and intimacy the individual is likely to have. The major reason for this is that most individuals view porn alone. Immersed in the solitude of their own private viewing space, this becomes their intimate world, their special place to go for intimate encounters and satisfaction. Through repeated and frequent experiences and visits, this special viewing space becomes their perfect place for closeness. For many a psychological attachment develops for that space. As a result, intimacy outside of that special environment is not possible and is not satisfying. They become incapable of functioning in an intimate encounter if the surroundings do not match the environment they have created. After a few such encounters and reasoning the opportunities for intimate satisfaction on the outside is most likely not going to occur, they retreat to their special viewing space and stop seeking real world confrontations.

The report is not discouraging internet sex and pornography viewing, because it is not a bad, harmful, or debilitating activity. The journal is only reporting that too much solitary involvement in this activity can alter an individual's perspective, causing them to lose their connection and desire to participate in intimate activities with others outside of the non cyberspace world. Dr. Julie Albright, at the University of Southern California, and author of the report recommends alleviating this problem by making internet porn viewing a couple's activity. Forty one per cent of the women surveyed confirmed they have viewed some form of porn on the internet. Of that forty one per cent, half of them stated that viewing internet porn makes them feel experimental. That sounds like the perfect invitation to me.

Resource: Sex in America Online - Sex Journal of Sex Research - June, 2008