How Porn Impacts the Consumer, Their Brain, and Their Behaviors

08/02/23 • 7 min

Over the last decade, an overwhelming amount of science and research has come out on the topic of pornography and its effects on the viewer. Hundreds of studies by experts show how consuming porn develops neuropathways that can change our brains and impact people individually, including how it can be habit-forming, become an escalating behavior, change how we view others, and even impact mental health.

But the good news is that we can retrain or rewire our brains to return to a healthier state! In this episode, we hear from experts Dr. Simone Kühn, Dr. Donald Hilton, and Dr. Andrew Dohm, who share the science behind porn’s impact on our brains.

This episode is part of our Truth About Porn series. Truth About Porn is a current, ever-growing database dedicated to research on the harmful effects of pornography. Learn more at https://truthaboutporn.org/

Episode resources:

Video: Donald Hilton, M.D. Interview, Truth About Porn

Video: Simone Kühn, Ph.D. Interview, Truth About Porn

Article: How Porn Can Become an Escalating Behavior

Article: How Porn Can Change the Brain

Episode resources:

Video: Donald Hilton, M.D. Interview, Truth About Porn

Video: Simone Kühn, Ph.D. Interview, Truth About Porn

Article: How Porn Can Become an Escalating Behavior

Article: How Porn Can Change the Brain

Previous Episode

My Experience Being a Girl Addicted to Porn for 13 Years

This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

Rachel was first exposed to pornography at seven years old and went on to develop an addiction to porn for the next thirteen years. Despite getting treatment for anxiety and depression as a young girl, she never felt like she could tell others about her struggle with porn because it was something that "girls didn't struggle with." Rachel discusses the shame she felt from being a girl struggling with porn, how being exposed to violent pornography from such a young age caused her to later be desensitized to an abusive relationship, and why she now encourages people to talk about their struggle in order to break from the shame that so often keeps them struggling.

Article: Why Fighting Porn Must Include Fighting Shame

Video: How I Realized I Had A Porn Problem: Myuniqe's Story

Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 52: Katelyn

Next Episode

How the Porn Industry is Connected to Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking shares a variety of symbiotic connections with porn.⁠ Often they’re one and the same. ⁠Even in the production of mainstream porn, sex trafficking can still occur—and it happens more often than most people think.⁠

As long as there’s a demand for porn—especially porn that is extreme, abusive, or degrading—the porn industry will continue to meet that demand. ⁠Consider before consuming, and help Stop The Demand for sex trafficking.⁠

In this episode, we hear from experts Donna M. Hughes, Valiant Richey, and Mahri Irvine, Ph.D., who share the science and connection between the porn industry and sex trafficking.

Episode resources:

Video: Donna M. Hughes Interview, Truth About Porn

Video: Dr. Marhi Irvine, Ph.D. Interview, Truth About Porn

Video: Valiant Richey Interview, Truth About Porn

Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 96: Valiant Richey

Article: How Porn Can Fuel Sex Trafficking