Stephen Sammut, psychologist, highlights the dangers associated with pornography addiction. He also explains how you can avoid them. … [+]
The new StudyPublished in the journal Frontiers in PsychologyThis article discusses the dangers associated with porn addiction and provides a pathway to recovery through faith and morals. Stephen Sammut, a Franciscan University of Steubenville lead author in Ohio, says that focusing on cognitive abilities at a higher level can overcome the urges of our lower brains to consume porn.
“We know that faith and morals provide people with certain standards of behavior that enhance their growth and development, in addition to providing them with standards of how they should view and treat people,” says Sammut.
His research shows that it is important to concentrate recovery efforts on areas of the upper brain responsible for logic and rational thought. The brains of porn are connected to the lower brain regions that are responsible in producing pleasure and emotions. We are more guided by our pleasure centers as humans than by logic or reason.
“We know from the study of psychopathology over many years that a dysfunctional regulation of the lower brain by the upper brain is reflected in pathological behaviors,” explains Sammut.
These pathologies may take many forms: gambling addiction, obsessive thinking, rumination or alcoholism.
Sammut says that when we use our logic from the upper brain to satisfy our lower brain’s pleasure cravings, we will start to behave in unacceptable ways. Porn addiction is one example of a ‘dysfunctional cognitive relationship’ where our rational brain essentially becomes a servant to our lower brain’s impulses.
According to Sammut, there are a number of ways in which this imbalance can negatively impact people’s lives. Here are three:
- Your self-worth degrades. Pornography consumption can lead to self-esteem and sexual drive declines, which in turn leads to many insecurities.
- The perception you have of others can be distorted. Porn makes you see people as objects and pleasure sources. This is how you may view people around you.
- Changes in your perception of reality and your life. People who are addicted to porn become more comfortable with dealing with the unreal, and lose their ability to face reality. This can lead to a decrease in their ability and willingness to be romantically and socially compatible.
Sammut suggests that people turn to faith and morality to avoid these negative effects. This can help them reorient towards a more balanced relationship between the upper and lower brains.
“Faith and morals have the potential to contribute to appropriate brain functioning – that is assisting in the prioritization of the upper brain over the lower,” says Sammut. “So, it makes sense that they could be especially helpful in regards to assisting people in reducing their pornography use.”
Their results, which included over 1000 university students, found that faith, morals and personal motivation were the main factors reported to reduce pornography.
Here is a full interview with Stephen Sammut on his latest research. Pornography distorts reality’s perception
