Science of Sex – Does Porn Contribute to Social Anxiety Disorder?

Here’s an article that caught my attention right off the bat:

Was the Cowardly Lion Just Masturbating Too Much?

Aside from the bizarre title, the article is a fascinating read. Essentially, it discusses how addiction to porn and masturbation can lead to increased social anxiety, mainly because of low dopamine levels that occur after orgasm. Low dopamine levels are associated with social anxiety, and the idea is that people who frequently masturbate are leaving themselves dopamine depleted between self-induced sexual highs. Of course, dopamine surges during orgasm, and people really like that surge, so if people are masturbating excessively, they sort of lock themselves into a vicious circle – masturbate to feel good, then feel awful after you come down, so you masturbate some more to feel good again, and then wind up dopamine depleted again so you feel lousy once more, so to perk up you wank, etc., etc., etc.

The article offers anecdotal evidence of former addicts who have given up the porn and rediscovered their social lives. There is no formal study listed here, but some very interesting quotes from experts on addiction, social anxiety, and the workings of the brain during masturbation all come together to form what I consider to be a coherent article (far more coherent than the so-called academic study on the mating habits of women as found in romance novel titles, anyway).

It’s interesting stuff, and it’s really got me thinking about the old argument porn vs. erotica. If addiction to porn, and thus masturbation, leads to problems with enjoying real life relationships, does the same hold true for erotica? This is assuming, of course, that erotica is a different genre.

To me, they are two different things. Porn is sexually explicit material created with the intent to arouse (i.e. bring about that dopamine spike that comes with orgasm). And that’s the only purpose of porn. It exists for no other reason.

Erotica, on the other hand, is a genre that looks at how sex and its related issues (STDs, relationships, economics, etc.) affect people. At least, that’s my definition of it. For example, why do we choose to have sex with a particular partner? Why do we sometimes choose to abstain? What’s it like to be HIV positive in today’s world? How about in tomorrow’s world? How could sexually transmitted diseases evolve in the future and how might they affect us? And do we really buy the toothpaste with extra whitening power because we believe that whiter teeth will make us sexier and thus make it easier to get laid? Or are we just buying it because we like the sexy model in the commercial?

And so on. I like it if my erotica stories manage to be sexually arousing at the same time, because hey, I like feeling aroused as much as anyone else (that dopamine sure is addictive!). But I wonder if putting content of more substance into those stories might somehow negate the negative effects of porn addiction. Does having a plot, characterization, and an actual theme give the mind enough to combat potential addiction? In other worse, is erotica better for you than porn?

The fact is, I’ve never heard of anyone being addicted to erotica. But then, maybe someone is.

What do you guys think?

*****

If you’re looking for some erotica to listen to, check out my podcast, Heat Flash Erotica. This week’s story is called “Mirror, Mirror.” It’s a naughty little fairy tale about the hazzards of playing dress up. And if you’re looking for a free read, stop by the Erotica Readers and Writers Association. I’ve got a story up on the sexual hazzards of computer viruses, entitled Going Viral 😉

About Cynical Woman

Cartoonist, Artist, Geek, Evil Crafter, Girl Scout Troop Leader and Writer. Also, a zombie. I haven't slept in I don't know how long.
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5 Comments

  1. For as long as I can remember, I’ve used the term “self-medicating” to refer to masturbation. Seems I wasn’t far off.

  2. There’s a common saying in Sex Addicts Anonymous: “The sex (or porn) is not the problem. It’s the crappy solution to the problem.”

    To me, the study authors have it backwards. The dopamine high is a way of avoiding anxiety and other bad feelings. True, it creates a vicious cycle like many drugs, in which the depletion afterwards leads to feeling even worse. But seeking the orgasm is a symptom of other problems. Otherwise, we’d all be anti-social after sex, and I sincerely doubt a statistically based study would support that.

  3. Alessia,

    No, I don’t think ‘self-medicating’ is that far off. I would be interested in digging up some articles on the health benefits of masturbation, just for comparison to this article on the downside of masturbation and social anxiety. I honestly think it’s like those studies on red wine; a little a day is good for your heart, but too much will make you an alcoholic and kill your liver, if not something worse.

  4. Big Ed,

    Bingo! I think you hit the nail right on the head. It’s not the porn or the masturbation that’s the problem, it’s the reason for turning to porn or masturbation that’s the problem. Why would people rather watch porn than have a real relationship? Answer that question and you’d be on your way to a solution to the problem.

    And for the record, I am sort of anti-social after sex, but that’s because I do not want my post-orgasmic afterglow interrupted!

  5. Pingback: Science of Sex – the relationship between porn and sexual performance « The Cynical Woman Website

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