Let’s Talk Porn | Maria Ahlin | TEDxGöteborg

Summary

This script explores the impact of pornography on society, highlighting its potential addictive nature and the aggressive content often portrayed. It discusses the normalization of such content and its influence on sexual attitudes and behaviors. The speaker emphasizes the importance of education and critical thinking to counteract the potential negative effects of porn on individuals and relationships. The script also touches on the brain's response to porn, drawing parallels with drug addiction, and concludes with a call to action for open dialogue and awareness to promote healthier perspectives on sexuality.

Takeaways

• 🔞 Pornography can be highly addictive, with one individual comparing it to a drug and detailing their struggle with compulsive consumption.
• 👶 Early exposure to porn can have lasting effects, as illustrated by a six-year-old's difficulty sleeping after first encountering explicit material.
• 🌐 The societal impact of porn is significant, with it often setting standards for sexuality and relationships without individuals having a chance to form their own perspectives.
• 📺 Popular culture, exemplified by the TV show 'Friends,' has historically portrayed porn as a desirable commodity, influencing perceptions.
• 🎬 Research indicates that mainstream porn has become increasingly aggressive and degrading, with acts like 'ass to mouth' and choking becoming prevalent in recent years.
• 🤬 Studies have found high levels of physical and verbal aggression in porn, often directed at women, with the majority of scenes depicting a positive or neutral response to such aggression.
• 🚫 The normalization of aggression in porn can lead to harmful misconceptions about consent and appropriate sexual behavior.
• 🧠 Neuroscientific research shows that porn can hijack the brain's reward system, leading to compulsive viewing and addictive behaviors similar to drug addiction.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Education and open conversations about porn are crucial in addressing its impact, with the aim of fostering critical thinking and awareness about its content and effects.
• 💪 Personal stories and testimonials highlight the positive changes that can occur when individuals become aware of and address their porn consumption, such as quitting porn and feeling better about oneself.

Q & A

What does Alex, the young man interviewed in the script, compare porn to?

Alex compares porn to a drug, describing his struggle with addiction since he was six years old.

What is the significance of the sitcom 'Friends' in the context of the script?

The sitcom 'Friends' is used as a cultural reference to contrast past attitudes towards porn with the current mainstream acceptance and consumption.

According to Natalie Purcell's content analysis, what trends were observed in pornographic films from the 1970s to the 2000s?

Natalie Purcell's analysis found that pornographic films have become increasingly aggressive and humiliating over time, with acts like ATM, gagging, double penetration, and choking becoming prevalent by the 2000s.

What does the acronym 'ATM' stand for in the context of the script, and what does it imply?

ATM stands for 'ass to mouth,' an act where the penis first enters the anus and then goes directly into the mouth, indicating the aggressive nature of modern porn.

What was the main finding of Anna Bridget's study on physical and verbal aggression in pornographic scenes?

Anna Bridget's study found that about 9 out of 10 scenes contained physical aggression, primarily gagging, slapping, and hair pulling, and about 5 out of 10 scenes contained verbal aggression, often in the form of name-calling.

How does the script suggest that the typical response to aggression in porn differs from real-life reactions?

The script points out that in porn, aggression is often met with positive or neutral responses, contrasting with real-life reactions where such aggression would typically elicit anger or discomfort.

What concerns were shared by individuals who have been affected by porn, as mentioned in the script?

The script mentions concerns such as young girls comparing themselves to porn standards, leading to insecurities, and men feeling pressured to perform like porn actors, leading to anxiety and self-blame when not receiving the 'typical porn response.'

What is the connection between porn consumption and sexual aggression as discussed in the script?

The script discusses research showing that porn consumption can lead to trivializing sexual aggression and a strong link between watching porn and acting out sexually aggressive acts, including sexual assault.

How does neuroscience view the impact of pornography on the brain, according to the script?

Neuroscience research, as mentioned in the script, suggests that pornography hijacks the brain's reward pathway, leading to compulsive behavior with addictive qualities, similar to drug addiction.

What is the proposed solution to the issues raised by porn consumption, as outlined in the script?

The script proposes education and conversation as key strategies to address the impact of porn. It suggests initiating critical discussions about porn in various settings to promote awareness and equip the next generation with a critical mindset.

What is the role of the organization 'Changing Attitudes' in the context of the script?

Changing Attitudes is a youth organization where the speaker is the CEO, and it focuses on educating about the impact of porn, aiming to change attitudes and promote healthier perspectives on sexuality and relationships.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 The Impact of Pornography on Society and Health

The paragraph introduces the concept of pornography as a harmful influence, akin to a drug, through the personal account of a young man named Alex. It discusses his early exposure to porn at age six and his ongoing struggle to quit at 19, highlighting the escalating need for more aggressive content. The speaker ponders an alternative society not dominated by porn's influence on sexuality and relationships. The narrative pivots to the popular TV show 'Friends' to draw a contrast between past and present attitudes towards porn. It emphasizes the role of porn as a primary sex educator and questions the curriculum it imparts. Research by Natalie Purcell is cited, revealing the aggressive and abusive nature of modern porn, with a historical progression towards more extreme acts. The paragraph concludes by detailing specific acts like ATM and gagging that have become mainstream, which were uncommon two decades prior.

05:01

🤬 The Detrimental Effects of Pornography on Sexual Behavior and Perception

This paragraph delves into the prevalence of physical and verbal aggression in pornographic content, referencing a study by Anna Bridget that found high rates of such acts, primarily against women. It contrasts the typical pornographic response to aggression—being positive or neutral—with real-life reactions, which would likely be negative. The speaker uses this to underscore the distorted messages and expectations porn creates. Personal anecdotes illustrate the impact on individuals' self-esteem and sexual relationships, with examples including a man's concern about his girlfriend's lack of porn-like responses and young people developing compulsive porn consumption habits. The paragraph also touches on the broader societal implications, such as the influence of porn on the perception of sexual aggression and the potential for it to trigger sexual offenses.

10:03

🧠 The Neurological Consequences of Pornography Addiction

The focus shifts to the neurological effects of porn consumption, likening it to drug addiction. It references Dr. Valerie Voon's study, which found that compulsive porn users exhibit brain activity similar to drug addicts. The study's brain scans illustrate heightened responses to porn in compulsive users, indicating a stronger urge without a corresponding increase in sexual desire. This challenges the myth that porn addiction stems from excessive sexual desire. The paragraph calls for recognition of porn addiction and emphasizes the need for action to change societal attitudes towards porn. It suggests education as a key strategy, advocating for open discussions about porn's effects in various settings to foster critical thinking and awareness.

15:04

🌟 Fostering Change Through Education and Critical Dialogue

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of education and conversation in addressing the challenges posed by porn. It shares a success story from the 'Changing Attitudes' organization, where an individual has overcome porn addiction after being educated on its impacts. The speaker calls for a society based on equality, consent, and sexual health, where individuals can freely explore their sexuality without being influenced by porn's distorted standards. The paragraph concludes with a call to action, encouraging the audience to consider how they will contribute to the conversation about porn and to anchor their discussions in research, statistics, and real-life stories to effect change.

Keywords

💡Pornography

Pornography refers to the depiction of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal. In the context of the video, it is described as having a significant impact on individuals' attitudes, relationships, and sexual health. The video discusses how pornography consumption can lead to unrealistic expectations and potentially addictive behaviors, as illustrated by the interview with Alex, who started consuming porn at a young age and continues to struggle with it.

💡Sexual Aggression

Sexual aggression encompasses any act of unwanted sexual behavior that is forced upon another person. The video highlights research showing that pornography often portrays aggressive and abusive acts, which can desensitize viewers to the seriousness of such behaviors. It discusses how these portrayals can normalize sexual aggression, leading to potentially harmful attitudes and behaviors.

💡Content Analysis

Content analysis is a research technique used to systematically evaluate messages in various forms of media. In the video, Natalie Purcell's content analysis of popular pornographic films is mentioned, revealing a trend towards increasingly aggressive and degrading acts. This analysis is crucial for understanding how the portrayal of sex in pornography has evolved and its potential impact on societal attitudes.

💡Dehumanization

Dehumanization is the act of depriving a person of their individuality or humanity, often by objectifying them. The video argues that pornography often dehumanizes individuals, particularly women, by portraying them in degrading and submissive roles. This dehumanization can lead to a change in attitudes towards women and contribute to the trivialization of sexual aggression.

💡Addiction

Addiction is a complex condition where a person engages in rewarding behaviors despite adverse consequences. The video discusses how pornography can be addictive, using neuroscience research to show that compulsive porn users exhibit brain activity similar to drug addicts. This comparison underscores the potential for serious psychological and behavioral consequences associated with excessive porn consumption.

💡Sex Education

Sex education refers to the instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional, social, and physical aspects. The video criticizes pornography as a primary, yet inadequate, source of sex education for many, and calls for comprehensive and critical sex education to counteract the potential harms of porn consumption.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information objectively. The video emphasizes the importance of teaching critical thinking about pornography to help individuals discern between the often unrealistic portrayals in porn and real-life sexual relationships. This approach aims to empower people to make informed decisions about their sexual health and attitudes.

💡Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system and brain functions. The video references a study by Dr. Valerie Voon that explores how viewing pornography affects the brain, particularly the reward pathway. This research is significant because it provides a biological understanding of why some individuals may develop compulsive behaviors towards porn.

💡Sexual Health

Sexual health encompasses a person's physical, emotional, and social well-being in relation to sexuality. The video suggests that pornography can negatively impact sexual health by promoting unrealistic expectations and potentially addictive behaviors. It calls for a society that values sexual health and encourages open, informed discussions about sexuality.

💡Equality

Equality refers to the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. The video advocates for a society based on equality, where sexual relationships are founded on mutual consent and respect. It argues that the current prevalence of aggressive and degrading pornography contradicts these values and that a shift in attitudes is necessary to achieve true equality.

💡Consent

Consent is the voluntary agreement to engage in a particular activity, especially sexual activity. The video stresses the importance of consent in sexual relationships and criticizes pornography for often portraying scenarios that lack clear, enthusiastic consent. It suggests that a culture that respects consent is essential for healthy sexual interactions.

Highlights

Alex, a young man, describes porn as a drug and shares his struggle with addiction since the age of six.

The speaker envisions a society not shaped by porn's standards on sexuality and relationships.

The sitcom 'Friends' is used as a cultural reference to discuss the changing attitudes towards porn.

Porn has become the primary teacher of sex education, raising questions about its curriculum.

A content analysis by Natalie Purcell reveals the aggressive and abusive nature of mainstream porn.

The study shows an increase in aggressive acts in porn since the 1970s, with extreme acts becoming mainstream by the 2000s.

Another study by Anna Bridget finds that 9 out of 10 porn scenes contain physical aggression.

The typical response to aggression in porn is positive or neutral, contrary to real-life expectations.

The speaker shares anecdotes of individuals affected by porn's unrealistic standards.

Research shows porn can trivialize sexual aggression and link to sexually aggressive acts.

Neuroscientists have found that porn hijacks the brain's reward pathway, similar to drug addiction.

Dr. Valerie Voon's study provides evidence of the brain's response to porn being similar to drug addicts.

The speaker calls for action to change the impact of porn on society through education and conversation.

Education is proposed as a strategy to disrupt harmful beliefs about porn and promote critical thinking.

A father shares a tip on discussing porn with children, suggesting doing so while driving.

The speaker shares a positive message from someone who quit porn due to educational efforts.

The talk concludes with a call to start conversations about porn based on research, statistics, and real-life stories.

Transcripts

[Music]

to me

porn is a drug

these words belong to alex a porn

consuming young man which i interviewed

for my co-author book on how porn

affects our health

he was six years old when he first

stumbled upon porn

and the images were so strong he told me

he even had trouble sleeping afterwards

today he is 19 and still haven't been

able to quit porn

it's like having sober periods with

relapses he explained where i need more

and more aggressive porn to experience

the same kick

would you think about this

a society

where our attitudes aren't constantly

being shaped by porn

a society where porn doesn't get to set

the standard for our sexuality

our relationships our attitudes

before we even have a chance to explore

these amazing things for ourselves

my favorite sitcom of all times is

friends

if you do not know that one and i

definitely think you should it's the

very popular american tv show

about six friends living in new york

city

in one of the episodes the two

characters joey and chandler had by

mistake may i add gotten free cable tv

access to porn

oh happy day right

i mean they were so happy they did

everything in their power to keep that

tv on

and that kind of made me think what was

it about porn back then

that made joey and chandler want to keep

their tv showing pouring on

and what is it about today's mainstream

porn that is just so important we talk

about

too many nowadays

porn is the number one teacher on sex

education and if that's the case it's

only fair that we ask ourselves

what curriculum does this teacher use

in 2012

natalie purcell who's a phd in sociology

from the university of california

did a content analysis where she looked

at over 100 of the roughly 250

most popular and best-selling porn

movies

she found

aggressive

abusive

and cursive acts

in almost every single movie

the analysis also showed how porn ever

since the 70s has become increasingly

more aggressive and humiliating

and by the end of the time period that

was analyzed which was the 2000s

acts like atm

gagging

double penetration and even choking were

included in almost every single movie

now atm is not the money machine it's

actually an act called ass to mouth

meaning that the penis first enters the

anus and then it goes directly into the

mouth

and gagging is an act where the penis

goes so far down the throat that

basically your gag reflexes will start

to kick in

it wasn't until the 2000s when these

acts were heavily introduced in

mainstream porn 20 years before that it

was basically unheard of

in another interesting study this one

going back to as early as 2005 by anna

bridget's and associates

looked at a random sample of 50

out of the 275

best-selling most rented u.s port movies

from the time period of december 2004

to june 2005

then added these 50 movies they then

randomly selected 304 scenes and

analyzed them

and here's what they found

about 9 out of 10 scenes contained

physical aggression

now physical aggression was defined

primarily as gagging

remember the penis down the throat

slapping

and even hair pulling among other things

also about 5 out of 10 scenes contained

verbal aggression

which then primarily was defined as name

calling where the most common names that

were used were [ __ ]

and [ __ ]

most of the people

that were exposed to this aggression

were women

and what was

their typical response to this

aggression you think

almost everyone reacted either positive

or neutral

almost never negative

let's apply this to everyday life shall

we let's say i'd given you a gentle

stroke on the cheek i'll probably see a

smile on your face

had i instead

slapped you

you would perhaps not be as happy with

me

am i right

yeah i would assume

important the typical response to

aggression is precisely the opposite of

what you would otherwise expect in real

life

in real life you will be mad at me for

slapping you but important

either you remain neutral or you even

groan and ask for more

we just have to stop here for a second

and consider the message that this is

sending what pressure what norms what

standards is created from this

i

once met with a guy

who shared his concerns about his

girlfriend never screaming and moaning

like they do in porn

and he goes what am i doing wrong

and then he says

you know what

maybe i should try to strangle her

that she will probably enjoy

that was kind of my reaction as well

yeah

i've educated on this issue for about 10

years now

i met with kids

from the ages of five and six

whom stumbled upon pornography

and i met with young girls comparing

themselves to the very often extreme

standards set by porn thinking they

aren't good enough not pretty enough not

sexy enough

i met with teenagers who compulsively

consume pornography on a regular basis

doing everything in their power to quit

often unsuccessfully

and i met with guys

so eager to please and so eager to

perform just like they do in porn

and when they aren't getting the typical

porn response from their partner in bed

a lot of them blame themselves for not

being able to perform sexually

i was right in the middle of a talk

about porn when a mom

raised her hand

and she stood up grabbed the mic and

said

the other day

my eight-year-old boy came running out

of his room hysterically crying

at first the little boy had refused to

tell his parents what had happened he

did not want to talk about it

but eventually it became clear he'd

stumble upon porn

but it wasn't so much the actual porn

that he had seen that upset him

he was crying because he thought

this this thing that i just saw

important

is what my mom and dad do to each other

in bed

more than 50 years of research has shown

us what porn causes

first porn can produce attitudes which

then goes and trivializes sexual

aggression

research proves a strong link between

porn consumption and acting out sexually

aggressive acts like sexual assault

and here's the thing even porn that's

non-aggressive can have these effects on

our attitudes due to the fact that

whenever a person in porn is being

dehumanized that's when the change in

attitudes

is happening

i mean are we getting this this is

actually what porn

can do to us

now not all of course who consume

pornography will go out and sexually

assault someone that's like not what

we're saying here but the fact remains

that for an alarming amount of sex

offenders porn was a triggering factor

leading them to be less sensitive to

sexual aggression

this is not rocket science this is

basic human psychology

what we see often we get used to

let's go back to

joey and chandler for a second

my favorite sitcom friends

what was it that was going on inside

their brains that made them so eager to

keep that tv on

neuroscientists have found that

pornography hijacks the reward pathway

in the brain and can become a compulsive

behavior with addictive qualities

in 2014 dr valerie voon and i think this

must be stated for the wreckage she's a

global authority on addiction

and also the leading researcher in the

neuroscience department at the

university of cambridge

she released her long-awaited study

a study that provided groundbreaking

results on how viewing porn affects the

brain

and the study showed how compulsive porn

users

have real similarities on several levels

to those addicted to drugs

the image that you see here is an

illustration of a brain scan image that

shows the brain activity of healthy

volunteers when shown pornography

versus compulsive users

and as you can see when the compulsive

users were shown porn their response was

much higher

indicating that they were both more

triggered by the porn shown to them and

that they also experienced a stronger

urge for porn

so the compulsive users had a greater

wanting for porn but

they still did not have a higher sexual

desire and the liking for it

which is a finding that should debunk

the myth that those who are compulsive

porn users must simply be people with a

greater sexual desire

also having a warning for something but

not a liking for it

is a finding that really fits like a

glove with the current definition of

addiction

the facts are starting to pile up and if

you ask me it's just a matter of time

and research before pornography

addiction is formally acknowledged

but until then

we have to continue listening to those

who are brave enough to share their

stories with us

okay so

i think you would agree with me that we

definitely have a challenge here right

i mean we have 24 7 unlimited access to

physically

verbally aggressive material that

clearly has an impact on our attitudes

relationships sexuality intimacy

possibly even causing addiction

therefore we need to act now we need to

act quickly if we want to change this

because as of now this train is headed

in the wrong direction

so

do you want a solution

yeah i can sense that

i mean i really think it's so important

that we talk

porn

okay

with education as one of our main

strategies we're going to start the

conversation about porn

we are going to talk to our students

kids colleagues teachers family members

neighbors whoever wants to listen to us

we must include a critical discussion

about porn in schools in workplaces in

locker rooms at home

just like we disrupted the idea that

smoking was just a harmless and a social

thing to do

and just like we're teaching critical

thinking about media and advertisement

we are going to disrupt

old ideas and beliefs about porn and

start teaching critical thinking about

it

with education and conversation that

creates awareness we are going to equip

the next generation with the mindset

that won't make them easy targets

i

sat down with a father who

wanted to share his best tip on how to

talk to your kid about porn

well he said first you got to make sure

that the conversation you're having is

happening while driving your car

okay so you're driving and your kid is

next to you

first you don't have to look straight at

each other so that helps right

and second he goes and he almost like

whispered and says your kid can't go

anywhere

whatever works right

obviously just having a conversation

about porn even if it's you know the

really awesome car conversation

isn't going to solve everything

this is not a small problem therefore no

you know quick fix solutions exist

but i believe that by teaching a

critical thinking a critical mindset to

this we're off to a pretty good start

and now if you're kind of wondering is

this educational strategy is it really

working

i want to show you a message

that we received on instagram just a

couple of weeks ago to changing

attitudes

and changing attitudes is a youth

organization where i'm ceo and we

basically educate on this issue

now let me read this to you because it

is pretty awesome

i would just like to thank you for being

a contributing factor to me having

completely quit porn

i've been porn free for two months now

and i'm feeling much better than before

also i feel i'm no longer contributing

to an offensive and obnoxious industry

how awesome is this

right

to me this is this is what it's all

about yeah

[Applause]

what do you think about this

a

society

based on equality

based on consent based on sexual health

where we get to explore and where we get

to be curious

and where we get to decide what we want

what we think is sexy what turns us on

but to get there we need to start the

conversation about porn now

we need to anchor ourselves in research

stats science real life stories

for too long

the health consequences generated by

porn has been more or less completely

ignored

but it's time we changed that

which is why i'm leaving you with this

how are you going to talk about porn

thank you very much

you