Is Porn Harmful?

Porn is harmful, but an even better question is, “Why is it harmful?”  

Consider the following scenario that plays out in homes every day.  Husband stays up late scrolling on his phone while wife is asleep, notices something that gets his attention and clicks.  Before he knows it, he’s doing it the next night, then during lunch break the next day.  Finally, he is so caught up in this addictive behavior because of the feel good chemicals that it brings to his system.  He’s hooked.

Porn is Harmful Because It Takes Away Your Power To Stop It Easily

The brain then gets wired in such a way to want more and more of the “hit.”  Over time, the erotic Hollywood version of sex, including it’s unwholesome and degrading acts does two things: 

It builds an unrealistic and quite pretend experience in the individual.  The porn user is connecting with a mirage rather than a real, live, human person.  This leads to unrealistic expectations of the type of mutual enjoyment that a connection with another human, especially a spouse is supposed to have, and it hinders true connection with the intricacies of human relationships and the necessities of being truly known in truth, respect, care, selflessness, patience, kindness, self-control.  It basically just robs both the viewer and their spouse of what’s rightfully theirs and the true connection they can have together in real life.

Porn Leads to Unrealistic Expectations and Hinders True Intimacy

Also, because porn wires your brain in such a way that you need more and more of it to turn you on, it makes you seek out further arousal, upping the ante over time because of the hijacking of your brain chemicals and makes it easier for you to consume images you may have even found repulsive at an earlier time.  That’s no way to go into a real-life relationship.

Porn also objectifies the body, making images of it to be used rather than respected as creations of God.  This just will never go anywhere good.

Porn Erodes Trust

Lastly, porn erodes trust.  When a commitment is made to another human being, there are certain expectations of exclusivity, the idea that this special area of life and action is going to be viewed and shared alone in that union.  

When a partner of a porn watcher finds out, they may feel like they’ve been lied to, like they are not comparable, good enough, or preferred, and insecure as to what they mean to the other.  Porn takes away a spouse’s sense of trust and safety. 

It is often hidden and therefore, when found out or confessed, it leads one’s spouse to wonder what else may have been betrayed, lied about, or fake.

Porn Fuels Exploitation

Lastly, the porn industry is a money-making machine that is often has connections with sex trafficking and the use and abuse of the people involved.

There is nothing about porn that leads to positive results.  It leads to isolation, disrespect, and harmful behaviors because it is based in self satisfaction rather than caring about the needs of others.

If you could use some help working through porn addiction or in building more intimacy in your relationship, reach out to us: 541-275-0412

Written by Michelle Croyle