Pornography, often expressed in the more caustic four lettered version (PORN), has become the proverbial elephant in the room. However, I think elephant is a bit too generous and, to be more accurate, I think we ought to just call it the Monster in the Room. Sadly, while the monster of sexual deviance used to live in the dark shadows of secrecy in the closet with other skeletons, pornography has rapidly found its way into the mainstream of society and, in turn, has become comfortable operating in the open. From the viewpoint of sexual deviance, why live in a closet when, with the assistance of supposed harmless apps and software, one can merely erase the tracks of the monster’s visit?
Television, still a dumpster that delivers fetid treats, can no longer hold up to the wickedness that is being made available through apps and devices connected to a wireless signal that can bring feral and abominable monsters with the mere touch of an index finger. With an ability to instantly cover the tracks of these monsters visits, individuals can now sidle up to the poison of their choosing and, due to the ad-driven nature of corporate greed, invest nothing more than time and pollute their minds while firing off neurological stimuli that produce long-term havoc on the mind.
Just how mainstream has porn become? To understand the answer to this question, you have to move beyond a secularized society that has opened their arms wide to hedonist pleasures and distortions. According to Barna Research (2016), 57% of pastors and 65% of youth pastors admit they have struggled with porn, either currently or in the past. In fact, based of the large-scale study by Josh McDowell and Barna Research called the Porn Phenomenon, 41% of males (13-24) that identify as practicing Christians admit to viewing pornography on a regular basis and 23% of males (over the age of 25) who identify as Christians admit to the same. If this isn’t staggering enough, 13% of females that identify with Christianity (ages 13-24) admit to pornography and 5% of females over the age of 25 that identify as Christian. If that isn’t enough, one 1 out of 3 people that identify as Christians say that they feel guilt after participating with pornographic materials! Mark Laaser, in his book Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction, states that “experts speculate up to 10 percent of the total Christian population in the United States is sexually addicted. If true, this means that in a congregation of 500 members, 50 are sex addicts” (p. 15). This is astounding!
Supernormal Stimuli
To gain a proper appreciation for the devastating effect that pornography has on the brain, it will be important to follow along with a study that was done by Nobel prize-winner Nikolaas Tinbergen. Tinbergen, a Dutch biologist and ornithologist, is credited for developing a term that is known as Supernormal Stimuli. Though heavy with evolutionary ideologies, some of the discoveries made by Tinbergen help create a greater awareness in regard to pornography and the brain.
Without getting into the plethora of complex observations and ideas, the term Supernormal Stimuli essentially points to the discovery that artificial stimuli are often stronger than natural stimuli. In order to prove this theory, Tinbergen engaged in several key experiments. First, he made artificial bird eggs that were larger and more colorful than real eggs and, when placed near real eggs, found that mother birds favored sitting on the artificially larger and more colorful eggs. Second, he made artificial butterflies with larger and more colorful wings and placed them in the same environment with other butterflies. The result? Male butterflies attempted to mate with the artificial butterflies without giving much attention to the genuine butterflies.
Why is this finding important? It reveals that things in nature, based on stimuli, are often attracted to the artificial and become preferred over the real thing. Due to these supernormal stimuli, biological instinct causes a shift in attraction and, in the long run, instinct takes over to the detriment of the species because it could no longer resist the artificial stimuli.
In regard to pornography, how much are we observing the results of this supernormal stimuli? Well, for starters, consider with me how the vast majority of pornography operates within the parameters of artificiality via video editing, photoshopping, and various other tricks of the trade that are meant to eradicate imperfections and cast the vivid ideal of an false reality. Often, the porn industry will capitalize on the false-reality of illicit fantasies that capture the sinful desires of illicit societal taboos. At the end of the day, pornography becomes nothing more than a supernormal stimuli that begins to create a culture where sinful instinct takes over and the addicted are no longer able to resist the artificial stimuli which, in turn, makes the real and natural unappealing and unsatisfying.
I can’t tell you how many marriages have been on the brink of ruin because of pornography. Getting beyond the betrayal, the sin, and the distortion that pornography is quagmired in, one has to begin to recognize the long-term effects that begin to manifest by those addicted to porn. Sexual intimacy in marriage suffers. Why? Supernormal stimuli has messed up the reward circuitry of the brain and, due to the dopamine system being hyper-engaged by supernormal stimuli, porn addicts find themselves in a cycle where they “seek more than they can be satisfied” (Dr. Susan Weinschenk, 2009).
Stay tuned for the next in this series as we begin to address porn and marriage and address questions like, “is porn addiction the same as adultery?”
Reference
100 Things You Should Know About People: #8 — Dopamine Makes You Addicted To Seeking Information