“Pornographic binges” as a key characteristic of males seeking treatment for compulsive sexual behaviors: Qualitative and quantitative 10-week-long diary assessment

Abstract

Background and aimsCompulsive sexual behaviors (CSBs) are an important clinical and social issue. Despite the increasing number of studies, some of CSB’s aspects remain under-investigated. Here, we explore the nature of CSB, such as binge pornography use and masturbation (PuM), and verify the correspondence between self-perceived factors leading to such behavior with its measures obtained in a diary assessment.MethodsSemi-structuralized interviews with nine treatment-seeking males aged 22–37 years (M = 31.7, SD = 4.85) were followed by a questionnaire and a 10-week-long diary assessment, allowing us to acquire real-life daily patterns of CSB.ResultsSix out of nine subjects experienced binge (multiple hours or times a day) PuM. All subjects presented a high level of anxiety and perceived PuM as a way to regulate mood and stress. Data collected in the diary assessment uncovered a high diversity in the patterns of sexual behaviors (such as frequency of regular and binge PuM) and its correlates. Binge PuM was related to decreased mood and/or increased stress or anxiety. The causal relation between these correlates remains undetermined.Discussion and conclusionsBinge PuM seems to be one of the most characteristic behavior among males who are seeking treatment for CSB and is related to the feeling of losing control over one’s sexual activity. CSB individuals indicate a variety of binge triggers. Also, diary assessment data indicate that specific correlates of binge PuM (decreased mood, increased stress, and anxiety) differ between subjects. It suggests the existence of significant individual differences in binge PuM behaviors, and a need to study these differences, as it may help guide personalized treatment.

Facets of impulsivity and related aspects differentiate among recreational and unregulated use of Internet pornography

“…This might indicate that individuals with unregulated IP use especially have difficulties to stop watching IP during a session or need longer time to achieve the desired reward, which might be comparable with a form of tolerance in substance use disorders. This is consistent with the results from a diary assessment, which revealed that pornographic binges are one of the most characteristic behaviors in treatmentseeking males with compulsive sexual behaviors (Wordecha et al, 2018). Furthermore, the current results show that the amount of IP use is not sufficient to differentiate between recreational and unregulated IP users (also see Gola, Lewczuk, & Skorko, 2016).…”

Sexual addiction 25 years on: A systematic and methodological review of empirical literature and an agenda for future research

“…Moving beyond the substantive debates about the correct conceptualization of CSBD, there is evidence that the majority of laypeople view CSBs, such as excessive pornography use, as addictions (Burke & MillerMacPhee, 2020;Taylor, 2019). Many people believe that sexual behaviors can be addictive (Lang & Rosenberg, 2017, 2018, and when describing their own experiences with CSBs, addiction seems to be the most commonly used explanation (Cavaglion, 2008(Cavaglion, , 2009Wordecha et al, 2018). In short, public perceptions of out-of-control sexual behaviors are most often couched in terms associated with addiction, regardless of the formal distinctions still debated in the research literature.…”

Psychometric Instruments for Problematic Pornography Use: A Systematic Review

“…When compared to duration spent on online gaming (average of 25 hours per week and up to 70 hours per week in extreme cases; Griffiths, Davies & Chappell, 2004), the total amount of time spent viewing pornography is comparatively little. A possible explanation for the shorter duration of typical pornography use is that pornography use is more often than not accompanied by masturbation Reid et al, 2012b), and sexual stamina may become a factor, even during pornography binges (Wordecha et al, 2018). .…”