If you watch a ton of porn, rest assured it probably won’t make you insane. According to new research published by the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, it’s not the actual act of watching porn for hours on end that causes mental damage, but rather it’s the perception that the porn consumption is problematic (NYmag.com).
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In other words, the people who felt like they couldn’t control how many videos they watched were more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and anger than people who felt they could.
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“Collectively, these findings suggest that perceived addiction to Internet pornography, but not pornography use itself, is uniquely related to the experience of psychological distress,” said Case Western Reserve University’s Joshua B. Grubbs, whose study surveyed 2,000 porn-watching adults.
So there it is. If you view watching porn as no different from binge-watching, say, Archer reruns, chances are you’re fine. But if it causes you guilt and anxiety, you should maybe seek some help.
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Relevant studies and sources:
NYmag.com
