Mood Changes After Watching Pornography on the Internet are Linked to Tendencies Towards Internet-Pornography-Viewing Disorder

AUTHOR(S)

Laier, Christian; and Brand, Matthias

PUBLISHED

2017 in Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 5, pp. 9-13

KEY FINDINGS
  • This study showed that the effects of watching Internet pornography on mood and sexual arousal can be considered to have reinforcing effects for the user; which can lead to compulsive patterns of use.
ABSTRACT
Internet-pornography-viewing disorder (IPD) is considered one type of Internet-use disorder. For IPD's development, it was assumed theoretically that a dysfunctional use of Internet pornography to cope with depressive mood or stress might be considered to be a risk factor. To address the effect of Internet pornography use on mood, an online study with three measuring points with a sample of male participants was conducted. Participants were investigated regarding their tendencies towards IPD, personal use of Internet pornography,... READ FULL ABSTRACT
EXCERPTS
  • "Generally, the results of the study are in line with the hypothesis that IPD is linked to the motivation to find sexual gratification and to avoid or to cope with aversive emotions as well as with the assumption that mood changes following pornography consumption are linked to IPD"
  • "This corresponds with studies assessing brain correlates of perceived problems in controlling sexual behaviors which showed that the activity of reward related brain structures and subjectively perceived craving are correlated to the presentation of addiction-related sexual cues. So far, the results are in line with the prediction that the dysfunctional use of Internet pornography to cope with depressive mood or stress might be considered as a risk factor for developing an IPD. The results support some main assumptions of theoretical frameworks for Internet-use disorders, but these frameworks need to be specified regarding mechanisms contributing to the development and maintenance of an addictive use of Internet pornography."
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