Internet pornography is more problematic than ordinary pornography due to its prolific availability, affordability, and perceived anonymity. Excessive Internet pornography consumption has been observed to interfere with sleep, relationships, attitudes, sex, work, and in some cases, may culminate in sexually delinquent/abusive behavior.

Although no formal diagnosis currently exists, Internet Pornography Addiction may be included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (tipped to be published in 2012).

Given that problematic Internet pornography consumption involves the relentless pursuit of pleasure where tolerance builds and encourages consumers to explore larger volumes of more deviant forms of sexuality (the same characteristics of addiction); treatment programs have typically been designed along the same lines as overcoming drug/alcohol addiction.

In fact, the chemical process associated with sexual-climatic behavior is the same chemical process associated with consuming exogenous drugs (like cocaine). The same neuro-transmitters are secreted and terminate in the same pleasure-region of the brain (the Nucleus Accumbins). Specifically, endorphin, methionine, and enkephalin are activated, which, through several synaptic steps, enhances the flow of dopamine into the Nucleus Accumbens. Just like cocaine use, compulsive sexual behavior can bring about neurochemical changes that require escalation and/or compulsive repetition of behavior to elicit the same level of euphoria. This is the reward-pathway to addiction.
–Robi Sonderegger, Ph.D.

For further research on this topic, see Dèttore, D., & Giannelli, A. (2008). Explorative survey on the level of online sexual activities and sexual paraphilias. Abstracts of the 9th Conference of the European Federation of Sexology, 17(1), p. 15; Sunderwirth, S., Milkman, H., & Jenks, N. (1996). Neurochemistry and sexual addiction. Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, 3:1, 22-32

On the second Friday of every month, the InternetSafety.com Blog will be posting guest video posts from Dr. Robi Sonderegger, clinical psychologist and founding director of Family Challenge Australia, and consultant and policy adviser on the rehabilitation of trauma associated with war, sexual exploitation (human trafficking) and natural disaster worldwide.

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