Pornography Addiction in Adults: A Systematic Review of Definitions and Reported Impact

Abstract

There still exist a debate regarding the definition and etiology of SPPA as distinct from self-perceived sex addiction. As such, the research landscape is shaped by different theoretical perspectives. Without evidence to suggest one theoretical position as superior to another, clinicians might be at risk of recommending treatment that is in line with their theoretical perspective (or personal biases) but at odds with the motivations driving an individual to engage in particular sexual behaviors. In light of these findings, the review concludes with recommendations for future research.

Untangling the Porn Web: Creating an Organizing Framework for Pornography Research Among Couples

“…A number of individuals report perceiving their pornography use to be problematic, often describing it as compulsive or addictive (Grubbs, Stauner, Exline, Pargament, & Lindberg, 2015) and present themselves to therapy with such problems (Schneider & Schneider, 1996); however, discussion is ongoing for a diagnostic category in which to place such persons (Kraus et al, 2018). This has led to a lack of consensus regarding how, or even if, to treat such individuals (Duffy, Dawson, & Das Nair, 2016). The proposed pornography framework will not resolve this debate but it could give relevant considerations to clinicians trying to understand the effects of a particular client's use.…”

The Assessment of Problematic Internet Pornography Use: A Comparison of Three Scales with Mixed Methods

“…Several recent reviews have focused specifically on the conceptualization and assessment of problematic pornography use [4,11,30,31]. Some reviews have briefly summarized and commented on the included instruments [5], whereas others have evaluated their ability to assess the core components of problematic pornography use [11].…”

Moral disapproval and perceived addiction to internet pornography: a longitudinal examination

“…During recent years, problematic internet pornography use has garnered a great deal of both empirical and popular attention. However, the scientific community is divided in its considerations of whether problematic pornography use qualifies as an addiction . Nonetheless, the notion of such an addiction persists in public consciousness, with many people willing to self‐diagnose such a problem .…”

“…However, the scientific community is divided in its considerations of whether problematic pornography use qualifies as an addiction . Nonetheless, the notion of such an addiction persists in public consciousness, with many people willing to self‐diagnose such a problem . Clearly, this contrast between public and professional opinions represents an important discrepancy between people's perceived experiences and the status of scientific literature.…”