Erototoxin: Brain Chemistry and Pornography

An addiction to pornography and masturbation could be better explained as an addiction to the chemicals that they release in the body by means of pornography and masturbation rather than the pornography and masturbation itself. In other words, you become addicted to your own body chemistry.

Today's blog post will take a look at some of these chemicals:

• Epinephrine – Also known as adrenaline. Epinephrine is a hormone that prepares the body for action, while suppressing its other non-emergency needs. It is involved in memory, and is one reason why pornographic images can be “imprinted” in the mind.
• Testosterone – the human body’s self-created steroid. Increase of testosterone leads to an increased sexual desire. Because of testosterone, viewing pornography and masturbating may increase your sexual desire rather than suppress it. Testosterone is also linked to aggression.
• Endorphins – The human body’s self-created morphine. Endorphins can directly cause feelings of euphoria or ecstasy.
• Oxytocin – A bonding chemical involved in sexual arousal. It is associated with feelings of love and bonding with another human being. Ironically, when one views pornography and masturbates, one bonds to an image rather than another human person.
• Dopamine – A neurotransmitter that plays an important role in behavior, reward, and feelings of pleasure.
• Serotonin – A neurotransmitter that is directly related to your emotional state. Higher levels of serotonin have been associated with feelings of relaxation and euphoria.
• Phenylethylamine – A substance that is chemically related to amphetamines. It has been called the “love chemical” because mimics the brain chemistry of someone in love. It can also produce euphoric moods.

Dr. Judith Reisman (http://www.drjudithreisman.org), who studies the effects of pornography on the human brain, nicknamed this cocktail of chemicals listed above “erototoxin.” It is easy to see why pornography and masturbation can be so very addictive.

The Effect of Classical Conditioning on Pornography Addiction

If you've ever had an introductory psychology class in high school or college, chances are you've heard of Ivan Pavlov and classical conditioning. At the turn of this century, Russian physician and psychologist Ivan Pavlov had been conducting an experiment involving meat and dogs, presenting dogs with meat and measuring how much the dogs would salivate. However, before the meat was presented to the dogs, a dinner bell was rung. Pavlov noticed something odd: eventually the dogs began salivating as soon as they heard the bell, even when there was no meat present: the bell had taken on the properties of the meat!

Today, we classically condition ourselves (often without realizing it). For example, a woman eats dinner in her living room most of the time. She soon finds that she gets hungry every time she sits in her living room, even though she's recently eaten (and shouldn't be hungry). For another example, a man makes it a habit to read soon before he falls asleep. He eventually discovers that he often becomes lethargic when reading anything, such as documents at his workplace.

Naturally this has a profound impact in regards to pornography. If a man views pornography at his computer a few times, eventually he will condition his body to expect pornography whenever he sits in front of a computer. Because of this classical conditioning, many men have intense cravings to look at pornography whenever they check their email, type their reports, or do anything involving a computer.

How can conditioning be undone? Are those conditioned cursed to remain conditioned? No. Classical conditioning can be undone by repeatedly presenting one stimulus without the other. In the case of pornography, this means using your computer without viewing pornography (could be for days, months, or years depending on the level of addiction). This may be extremely difficult given cravings and temptations, but this is the time to call upon God. Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).