Pornography Addiction: Is There Hope? Yes, But We Start By Changing how we talk about it
Monday, August 26, 2024.
In the digital age, the accessibility of pornography has skyrocketed, making it essential for mental health professionals to understand its potential impact on individuals and relationships.
While some people use pornography without adverse effects, others may develop problematic patterns that can disrupt their daily lives, relationships, and mental health.
To help identify when pornography consumption becomes problematic, researchers have developed the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS).
Pornography Addiction: Is There Hope? Yes, but need to think about porn differently
The term "pornography addiction" is often used casually but remains controversial among mental health professionals.
Unlike substance addiction, which involves a clear chemical dependency, the concept of addiction to behaviors like pornography consumption is more complex.
Many experts prefer the term "problematic pornography use" (PPU), which focuses on patterns of behavior that lead to significant distress or impairment, without necessarily implying addiction.
Research has shown that the compulsive use of pornography can lead to significant disruptions in an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being. However, the mere frequency of use is not always a reliable indicator of a problem. The PPCS was developed to capture the nuanced aspects of this issue.
The Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS)
Recognizing the need for a reliable tool to assess problematic pornography use, Beáta Bőthe and her team created the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS) in 2018. This scale is based on Griffiths's six-component model of addiction, which is widely used to understand addictive behaviors. The PPCS includes the following components:
Salience: This assesses how central pornography is to a person’s life, examining whether it dominates their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Mood Modification: This dimension evaluates how individuals use pornography to alter their emotional state, such as using it to relieve stress or enhance mood.
Tolerance: Tolerance involves needing more pornography or more extreme content over time to achieve the same effect.
Withdrawal: Withdrawal is characterized by negative emotional and physical symptoms when pornography use is reduced or stopped.
Conflict: This element examines interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts arising from pornography use, including issues in relationships, work, or personal guilt.
Relapse: Relapse assesses the tendency for individuals to return to problematic pornography use after attempting to reduce or quit.
Take the Test: Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS)
Reflect on your pornography consumption over the past six months and respond to each statement based on how often it applies to you:
I felt that porn is an important part of my life.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I used porn to restore the tranquility of my feelings.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I felt porn caused problems in my sexual life.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I felt that I had to watch more and more porn for satisfaction.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I unsuccessfully tried to reduce the amount of porn I watch.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I became stressed when something prevented me from watching porn.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I thought about how good it would be to watch porn.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
Watching porn got rid of my negative feelings.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
Watching porn prevented me from bringing out the best in me.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I felt that I needed more and more porn in order to satisfy my needs.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
When I vowed not to watch porn anymore, I could only do it for a short period of time.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I became agitated when I was unable to watch porn.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I continually planned when to watch porn.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I released my tension by watching porn.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I neglected other leisure activities as a result of watching porn.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I gradually watched more “extreme” porn because the porn I watched before was less satisfying.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I resisted watching porn for only a little while before I relapsed.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
I missed porn greatly when I didn’t watch it for a while.
Never / Rarely / Occasionally / Sometimes / Often / Very often / All the time
Scoring the PPCS
Each of the 18 items is rated on a scale from 1 (Never) to 7 (All the time). The total score ranges from 18 to 126.
18-44: Nonproblematic Use - Indicates that pornography use is likely not significantly impacting the individual’s life.
45-59: At-Risk Use - Suggests that the individual may be at risk of developing problematic patterns of pornography use and might benefit from further assessment or early intervention.
60 and above: Problematic Use - Indicates that the individual is likely experiencing problematic pornography consumption, which may require professional support or treatment.
These scoring guidelines help therapists and individuals categorize pornography use and identify when intervention may be needed.
Final thoughts
Understanding and addressing problematic pornography use is crucial for mental health professionals, especially those working with couples.
The PPCS offers a scientifically validated tool to assess when pornography consumption might be negatively impacting an individual’s well-being and relationships.
By focusing on the behavioral and emotional aspects of use, rather than merely the frequency, the PPCS provides a significantly more comprehensive picture of who might be struggling with problematic pornography use.
If you or someone you know is concerned about pornography use, seeking guidance from a qualified mental health professional is strongly recommended. The insights provided by the PPCS can be a valuable step toward regaining control and improving overall well-being.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Bőthe, B., Tóth-Király, I., Zsila, Á., Griffiths, M. D., Demetrovics, Z., & Orosz, G. (2018). The development of the problematic pornography consumption scale (PPCS). Journal of Sex Research, 55(3), 395–406.
Chen, L., & Jiang, X. (2020). The Assessment of Problematic Internet Pornography Use: A Comparison of Three Scales with Mixed Methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Griffiths, M. D. (2005). A components model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191-197.