Unfortunately, these days watching pornography is becoming more and more common. There is a lot less stigma around the act of viewing explicit material, and many people believe that doing so is “harmless.”
However, as with any activity, there is more to it than meets the eye. Porn can lead to addiction, which can have a variety of adverse side effects. Today we’re going to look at one – the influence that pornography has on one’s concept of sex and consent. Let’s see what damage it can do.
#1 Sex is for Pleasure Only
Sexual behavior is not abnormal, especially when it is shared by two people who love and respect one another. However, because porn is focused solely on one thing (arousal and excitement), it can remove all intimacy from the experience.
After watching so many explicit videos, it’s much harder to have a more meaningful interaction with your partner. When sex is all about chasing an orgasm, it removes everything else that matters.
#2 Sex is Based on Physical Attraction
While we can’t deny that a significant part of sexual behavior has to do with attraction to another person, there is more to it than that. Passion can be just as powerful a motivator as lust, and it can make the experience much more intimate and meaningful.
However, when one watches a lot of porn, all of that passion is taken out of the equation. When you’re simply looking at attractive girls in explicit situations, it makes you believe that appearance and looks are all that matter.
To make it even worse, this idea can go to the extreme when porn addicts believe that anyone who looks attractive is interested in sex. After all, why make themselves beautiful if it’s not for that?
#3 Women are Always Open for Sex
When watching pornography, everyone is always ready for an explicit encounter. Regardless of the circumstances or situation, all roads lead to one thing.
This effect can be remarkably dangerous because it leads porn addicts to believe that women are always ready for intimacy, no matter what. When you’ve seen so many girls in videos who were pressed into the act and wanted it that way, you begin to believe that real life can operate in the same way.
To continue this further, the impact can also be that women are only viewed as sexual objects, rather than people. This is already an issue in modern society, and porn can enhance those negative aspects even more.
#4 Sex Doesn’t Have Consequences
Have you ever seen what happens after the camera turns off? There’s a reason that porn doesn’t show the aftermath of what just happened. As with all movies, you only get to see the parts that make you feel good.
As a result, you can begin to think that having sex won’t create any repercussions. Porn actors rarely use condoms, so it’s natural to believe that they aren’t necessary. Also, shame and regret don’t exist in this world, so it can lead one to think that it won’t exist in real life either.
#5 Sex is Satisfaction, Guaranteed
No matter how the situation turned into sex, everyone is always ready to go, and they have no problems going from zero to 60. However, in the real world, sex isn’t always like that. Watching too much porn can make it seem that sex is always going to be a good time and that everyone involved will enjoy it thoroughly.
When you start to think that way, then any rejection of sex can be seen as a matter of persuasion. Since it’s guaranteed to be good, why would anyone say no? Even worse, if they press the issue, it can be seen as more of a challenge, rather than a reason to stop.
#6 There are No Obstacles to Sex
Porn is all about fulfilling fantasies, which means that there will never be a situation that doesn’t lead to sex. Unfortunately, this can warp your views on the subject by directing you to think that nothing can stand in your way from getting what you want.
Just because the situation or circumstances are not ideal doesn’t mean that you’re not entitled to sex. In the wrong hands, this can be dangerous.
#7 No Isn’t Always No
There is a significant subset of pornography where women are coerced into having sex, and it can have a profound impact on those who watch it. When you see it in action, it makes you believe that women always secretly want to get it on, no matter how much they resist.
Obviously, believing this can lead to a lot of severe problems, not the least of which is forcing someone to engage in sexual behavior. After all, they just need to see how good it feels and they’ll be on board, right?
#8 People Aren’t Meaningful, Just Sexual
There are countless numbers of men and women in front of the camera in pornography, so it’s easy to stop paying attention to who they are and instead focus on what they are, which is a source of pleasure.
Over time, you can think that a woman’s worth is tied to her physical appearance. The more attractive she is, the more value she has. This can not only warp one’s view of women in general but how they are treated in relationships as well.
#9 Fidelity Isn’t That Important
It’s rare to find a happily married couple in pornography who doesn’t sleep around with other people. Even if they are married, they have no problems with having sex with a variety of different suitors, meaning that the sanctity of their vows is worthless.
It should be obvious that that kind of mentality can ruin even the strongest of relationships, as a porn addict will see cheating as a “normal” thing to do.
#10 New Partners=Better Sex
Finally, because porn actors are always switching partners, it can create this idea that to have sex you can’t stay with the same person. This ties directly into the cheating aspect above, but it also goes a step further than that.
Rather than trying to make your current relationship more meaningful and impactful, you believe that the only path to happiness is seeking new partners and different sexual exploits.
Bottom Line
As you can see, there are a lot of dire effects that porn addiction can have on a person, which is why it’s necessary to spot the problem and do something about it. Over time, these beliefs can get worse until they lead to actions that cannot be redeemed.
