| ARTICLE REVIEW: 'HARD-CORE ADDICTION' By Edward Marriot Taken from The Sydney Morning Herald, November 22-3, 2003; pages 4-5 This is a review of an article about Pornography, the Internet and mens' addictions to it. The article begins with Pornography being more prevalent than even, thanks to the internet and other modern technology. In the USA alone, more money is spend annually on porn each year than on movie tickets and all the performing arts combined. As well, more than 10,000 hard-core porn films are made each year in in California. That is more than the average of just 400 in Hollywood. Marriot then questions the millions who consume it (most of these being men) and how they are affected ie. Is it harmless 'masturbation' or is there more to it? Or would it encourage men to innappropriately expect sex? Affect relationships? Be addictive? Or encourage rape, pedophilia and sexual murders? He also questions what is it about porn than men are attracted to (or predisposes them to be attracted to it). In answer to these questions, some men gave the following reasons: 1. LONLINESS This may include being away from home, longing for love and closeness, or the unquestioning acceptance of themselves by women. 2. BIOLOGICAL REASONS Meaning that men are 'biologically preprogrammed' to like sex and to respond to the sight of people having sex. 3. AVAILABILITY Being a far cry from the days when teenage boys would 'clandestinely' rummage through their Dad's cupboards in search of 'titillating material', they now only have to log on and the world's their oyster. 4. YOUNG BOYS' FASCINATION WITH SEX Teenage boys want to know what sex is about and porn 'demonstrates the mechanics', according to Psychoanalyst David Morgan. However, Morgan argues that this interest is mostly 'transitional' and is a 'rehearsal' for the real thing (not a 'full-time place of residence'). The problem is with the above reason is that many 'viewers' get stuck in the 'mastubatory universe', getting so addicted they cannot make the transition into reality and involve other people. As well, many men feel threatened by the 'emotional power' they believe women hold over them; or that their sense of self-worth is pinned on their sexual performance during the course of their relationships with women. On the average internet site, women are 'hot and ready', eager to please and the like, according to Marriot. Porn is where male authority is unchallenged and the women are willing, even grateful, servants. In reality, women are anything but: they have higher job status, they themselves demand to be satisfied, and opt to combine career and motherhood. Consequently, men experience isolation, disappointment and anger, much of which is expressed through porn. What is even more dangerous is that it can carry into the relationship and family, where not only the women are used but also children. And (according to sex-crime expert, Ray Wyre) there is a proven link between pornography and sexual violence. Many a sex offender has used a wide range of excuses for their behaviour eg. 'she consented to it'. However, even if it doesn't lead to these problems, it still makes its viewers crave something 'harder' to gain the same sense of excitement and 'makes sexism sexy' The article suggest the following ways of overcoming this problem: 1. ACCOUNTABILITY: 'Make your computer accountable' and 'let people check what you are looking at' 2. INTIMACY: Love your wife and children, have a good relationship and work at it. 3. UNDERSTANDING: Know that porn is simply 'fantasy in place of reality' and cannot give one the fulfilment one can get from reality (as in relatioships). And, like the article review of 'The Devil Made Me Do It', there are many people who cannot distinguish between fantasy (via the 'net' and mass media) and reality. There are reasons apart from music, the Internet and the like which distinguish those who do the right thing and those who don't. What ever the reason be, it doesn't make it right that one cannot do the right thing. Marriot ends the article on a humourous note: 'Do you want to say when you get to the end of your life? That you wish you'd spent more time masturbating on the Internet? His answer: 'I don't think so!!!' And I doubt many people would wish for that either. Back to the Psychology Page |