Pure Life Ministries
Can one be addicted to something that does not have a chemical
component? While many people undoubtedly develop unhealthy ideas about
sex and sexuality from pornography, is addiction really the best way to
think about this?
Does the fact that this is an addiction that seems to affect men far
more often than women suggest that there are social and cultural
factors at play that make the issue far more complicated than merely
being about addiction? Are men addicted to pornography or the idea of
limitless sexual conquests with no consequences (note the lack of STDs
or unwanted pregnancies in mainstream pornography)?
Also, what is the function of the appeal to a higher power? On the one
hand, it seems to suggest that this a problem that could face anyone
and with the grace of God any sinner can be saved. However at the same
time it suggests that people are powerless to make responsible or
ethical choices once sexuality gets involved. Still, considering the
sky-high rates of sexual violence against women in our contemporary
society, perhaps we should be rewarding anyone who is making an effort
to think about women as something other than constantly sexually
available to any man who so chooses.
I believe that there are definitely social and cultural factors that play into addiction, especially between genders. Men and women enjoy different things, so they are more likely to form addictions to things that they enjoy. I think men obsessively indulge in the use of pornography because it helps them fulfill their compulsion without the social stigma of promiscuity, the risks involved in casual sex, and the issue of being unfaithful if the man is in a relationship. I believe that people always have free will in their choices, even once sexuality becomes part of the issue.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't necessarily think that an addiction has to have a chemical component, I definitely think that sex addiction needs a different name. I think that in most cases people assume that once the term addiction is applied they no longer have to take responsibilty for their actions. As a result,it gets used in cases when it should not. The fact that gender seems to affect the addiction implies that there is some other factor taking place in the situation. In this case, I think it is social factors. So while some say that it cannot be controlled, I think that we always have a choice. It might not always be easy to make that choice or to be able to overcome the issue, but I really think the choice is still an individual's to make.
ReplyDeleteDoes porn addiction need a new name or do we just need to have another term referring to people who enjoy porn so much that they feel they have an addiction and people who have a "real" addiction? Also, the choice an addict makes always points towards his or her addiction so they are making a choice, whether or not they were able to control that choice remains in question. I think people do have a choice but whether or not that choice is controllable is the main problem of addiction. Addicts have two choices but are unable to choose the one that moves away from the addiction.
DeleteI'm interested in this idea of differentiating between people who are "real" addicts from those who only think they are addicted. Pure Life Ministries seems to strongly advocate for self-diagnosis (they give you all the tools you need to determine whether or not you have suffer from a porn addiction) but might that create a dangerous precedent? On the flip side, if we insist on distinguishing between "real" addicts and people who are making excuses, doesn't that put us in the position of determining who is and is not sufficiently "sick"?
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ReplyDeleteThe idea of an addiction to pornography is vague. Pornography acts as an enabler to those who desire a higher sexual achievement. The creativity of videos and pictures enhances the experience for most men who don't achieve the level of sexual results they desire with an actual partner. However, I firmly believe that most men would rather engage in sexual activity with an actual partner. Most men reason that porn is easier to access, but there is no pressure for a man to perform, thus, pornography becomes a gateway to limitless success. The argument of porn vs. partner is not an ethical dilemma. Rather, it is a competition for resources. If a man can acquire a partner that appeals to his sexual appetite, the necessity for porn diminishes. If a man can access porn without searching for someone who can meet his needs, the necessity for a woman decreases. Initiative to seek a partner weighs heavily on how often men view porn. Although consequences such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases contribute to pornographic tendencies, an actual partner takes precedence over pornography in the eyes of most men, regardless of any potential negative results.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that if a man has a partner, then the need for porn goes away. Most men, including ones in sexual relationships still watch porn maybe because it can "excite" him to then have sex with his significant other. I do agree that men would rather engage in sexual activity with an actual person rather than just watching it, but sometimes porn can be used as a pleasurable inspiration for what he does with his partner
DeleteWe have to think about the fact that sexual violence towards women is usually about power and not the sex itself. So the fact that someone is watching pornography and getting their sexual release that way doesn't mean that they still won't go out and rape a woman. There are two sides to every arguement though. If a man is watching a porn that portrays a man in a powerful position over a women, the male watching it may get both his sexual release and his need for power taken care of. However, if another man watches the same porn, it may just heighten his need for power and cause him to act on it.
ReplyDeleteWe also need to think of the fact that watching porn doesn't make you a bad person. And although the pornography itself is not chemical watching porn can produce chemicals in the brain which is a component many people throw around when discussing what is and is not addictive. Personally, I agree that this is seen mostly in men because men and women experience joy from other things.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that Pure Life Ministries stops short of suggesting that watching porn makes you a bad person, I wonder: do they leave any space for healthy viewing of pornography? Can you tell from the website if there is a way in which adults can enjoy porn without it being problematic? What would that way be? If there is no suggestion of how that might work, what does that say about how this group conceives of pornography and human sexuality more generally?
DeleteWhen I first read of sexual addiction the only thing that I could compare it to in my head was to that of an adrenaline addict. Why I first made that connection I’m not positive but I do know that adrenaline addicts are not addicted to an outside drug but a drug that is released from the body whenever the body enters it fight or flight response. This chemical is natural and occurs in everyone’s body whenever we are faced by a situation that challenges us, it causes muscle relaxation to be able to perform at more efficiently and quickly. This is the feeling that intrigues most adrenaline junkies. Enough about adrenaline, how does this relate to an addiction to porn? When participating in sexual activity it releases endorphins as well as when you work out or when injured. It is this chemical one would come to like and want continually. The addiction to porn itself is a bit absurd but the addiction to the chemical released in the brain while having an orgasm. Which comes back to many people thinking that it’s not chemical related but inside the body it is. To appeal to a higher power I believe would just to keep faith and strength because technically it is a chemical reaction.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it mean that one of the groups this site claims it wants to reach out to is ministers who feel that porn addiction is a growing problem among their congregations? How does this fit with the argument that these are questions of personal choice or brain chemistry? What authority is being given to religious leaders by this group's standards?
DeleteI agree with Bradley when he relates adrenaline addicts to sexual addicts. You don't always have to take a chemical substance in order to become addicted. Many actions and activities release chemicals within in the brain causing a stimulus that is enjoyable/pleasurable. I don't believe that someone is addicted to watching other people have sex. It is the feeling they get from the chemicals being released that they become addicted to. When looking at the website I found it very interesting how they would say "setting men/women free" talking about setting them free from their addiction to porn aka a sin. Everyone is human and they make mistakes it is just does everyone have enough will power to overcome an addiction? When thinking about addiction through a religious view point they change the name from addiction to sin. Sins are personal choices that need to be stopped and in this site the religious leaders know "best". All of the religious counselors have been "set free" from their sexual addiction. Maybe it is easier to overcome an addiction when you are doing it through your own faith?
DeleteI disagree with the article in that some addictions do not have a chemical component. Every activity you do triggers the release of a chemical in the brain. Therefore, someone could become addicted to the chemical that is released when they do a certain activity even if the activity does not seem directly related to a chemical component like a drug. Also, I do not think people are powerless to their addiction. I think that with enough will power and the right tools someone can overcome the addiction.
ReplyDeleteI think that not all the addiction has to do with the chemical component almost half of the addiction is related with the brain that makes the people addicted to something.I also think that men are more likely to be affected by addiction.This doesn't mean that if someone watch porn is addicted and dangerous.This mean that if you do something very often and you cannot control yourself this is called "addiction" and in this case men are more likely to be dangerous if are addicted to sex.I think that in this case are both a little social and cultural factors because both of them are related with someone's life. Another thing that I want to mention is that every addiction can be control and people are not powerless to their addiction it's not that easy but for everything is a solution in this life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sara's point that not all addiction comes with a chemical component that is put into the body, but rather one that is created by the brain. I think that this point forces us to focus on whether addictions to things such as porn or exercise, are not primarily psychological disorders. Not to say that these are not legitimate addictions, but that these addictions come secondary, or as a result of the psychological issue which is the root of the problem. I think that this also goes back to the idea that addiction may need to be broken down into smaller sub groups (Substance based vs. Psychological based), in order to help people discuss and treat these addictions properly.
DeleteI've actually been playing with this idea that every activity we enjoy has a possibility to become an addiction. Recently I've been learning in Psychology that for every enjoyable action we do, our brains release Dopamine. This chemical is release when we do activities that are rewarding. This causes me to believe something like porn addiction is possible. To understand why it effect men more broadly than women, I think it is necessary to understand that on average men think about sex more often then women. It's very possible that this factor alone can cause men to seek out other avenues for dealing with that mental sexual frustration i.e. looking for porn rather than looking for multiple sex partners to quench that "urge." Looking for porn rather than having multiple partners does decrease the risk of possible STD's which can definitely factor into the possible addiction to porn. Overall from what I've learned there is no one answer to addiction.
ReplyDeleteI think porn addicts can be classified in the same manner as sex addicts. For men, they are addicted to sex because of the adrenaline rush and the release of chemicals in the brain; this same chemical rush occurs from watching porn. Porn is an easier avenue for many men, especially if they have lower self-confidence which allows them to not have to go out and seduce someone to have sex with. While much of the Christian religion views pornography as a sin, I agree with James H. in saying that at least the men are satisfying their sexual addiction without abusing some girl or risking the possibilities of pregnancy or S.T.D.'s.
ReplyDeleteThe porn addiction is like the "The History of The American Junkie" it began underground behind the governments eyes and many laws were broken to create it. It was looked as deviant in many peoples eyes because of the social laws in place when the country was young. Today it seems to have become a normal occurrence. Porn is not illegal it is like the use of tobacco you must be 18 to use or be involved in porn. Porn addiction, I believe, goes along with sex addiction because it is practically the same thing; however, it is a self stimulant. There is always the overuse of something and this reason is because there is no higher power when it comes to porn just you and your money. Although when people watch the pornography it has a rippling effect to carry into their sex life and can have an external effect on people. But the use of porn has no effect on sexual violence I believe it makes men want more instead of less, which is why the addiction occurs in an attempt to calm a sexual behavior. People who are addicted to porn will have the chemical need and will be able to become addicted to other things, which in turn create the "American Junkie".
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is possible to be addicted to porn because it seems to be very similar to a sexual addiction. I think that porn addictions are easier to hide because they are simply easier to maintain. With a sexual addiction, a person, mostly a man, needs a women to help fulfill his addiction. But with a porn addiction, they can do it by themselves which is why it is talked about less. A porn addiction can be just like any other addiction because the user gets enjoyment out of it just as if they were addicted to a drug. This enjoyment is the same as a chemical addiction, such as drugs, which is why I believe that you can be addicted to something without the chemical component of addiction.
ReplyDeleteI think that the term "addiction" is too strong of a word when it comes to sex and porn. I feel like people are just severly tempted by watching porn and engaging in all of these pleasurable things and they can't control themselves, so they fall to this temptation because they crave that "good" feeling. I think that Pure Life Ministries is calling this a sin because it's relatable to lust. Someone who watches porn is obviously a person who enjoys sex and enjoys thinking about it, which makes them more prone to think about it in public settings and with people that they see. The Bible deems thinking about things such as sex as a sin. I don't like that Pure Life says that watching porn or thinking about sex is a problem. We are human and it's in our biology to like sex and to be curious about it and to gain pleasure out of it. I think that it's better for a guy to watch porn than to go out and cheat on his wife. Pure Life should have reworded their ad to help Christians struggling with this. Watching porn and thinking about sex is completely normal and it doesn't make you an awful sinner just for being a human.
DeleteI feel like any activity could potentially become addictive. Some are just a lot easier than others because of the enjoyment it brings people. Watching porn seems to be one of those activities where once someone has pleasure from it, they just cannot get away and want to see more and more. In an essence, I think men just do what they want to do, they don't want to be forced to do something. They want to have control in any situation, whether it's relating to sex or not.
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