What Does Porn Actually Do To Your Brain? | Dr. K (Healthy Gamer)

Summary

The script discusses the neurological impact of pornography, highlighting how it engages nearly every part of the brain due to its connection with our evolutionary drive to procreate. It explains why porn can be so addictive, providing a temporary escape from negative emotions without the physical consequences of substance abuse. The conversation also touches on the role of technology in creating parasocial relationships and the addictive nature of social media, where likes and views can trigger similar neurochemical responses as pornography, leading to a dependency that may exacerbate feelings of loneliness.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Pornography impacts the entire brain, unlike substances that affect specific receptors.
• 🌟 The brain is hardwired for sex and procreation, making pornography a powerful stimulus.
• 🔍 The speaker sought answers in scientific literature to understand the brain's response to sex and pornography.
• 🧬 Pornography activates brain circuits related to sexual arousal, bonding, and emotional suppression.
• 💡 Pornography provides a temporary escape from negative emotions without physical health consequences.
• 💔 The ease of access to pornography can lead to dependency and avoidance of addressing underlying emotional issues.
• 🤔 The speaker suggests that people may use pornography to cope with more than just loneliness or sexual dissatisfaction.
• 📈 The addictive nature of pornography is linked to its ability to mimic and provide a 'shadow' of real-life relationships and social interactions.
• 📱 The evolution of pornography, including social media aspects like OnlyFans, creates parasocial relationships that further engage the brain.
• 🌐 Social media and content creation platforms can also impact the brain by tapping into our desire for social status and validation.

Q & A

How does pornography affect the brain?

Pornography affects the brain by engaging nearly every part of it, as sexual arousal, engagement, and bonding involve multiple neurotransmitters and brain regions. It triggers a potent stimulus that is easily accessible and can suppress negative emotional circuitry, providing temporary relief from thoughts and emotions.

Why is pornography so attractive to people who struggle with their emotions?

Pornography can be attractive to those struggling with emotions because it offers a temporary escape from negative feelings and provides a surge of dopamine during orgasm, which can be seen as a state of temporary enlightenment or bliss.

What is the evolutionary significance of the human brain's response to sexual activity?

The human brain's response to sexual activity is deeply rooted in evolution, as procreation is a fundamental goal for the survival of the species. The brain is wired to prioritize sexual activity, even at the expense of other bodily functions, to ensure the continuation of the human organism.

How does the accessibility of pornography influence its impact on individuals?

The accessibility of pornography increases its impact because it allows for easy and frequent engagement without the physical consequences associated with other addictive substances, making it a potent and readily available stimulus.

What misconceptions exist about the typical users of pornography?

A common misconception is that people who use pornography are only those who are unhappy with their sex life or lonely. However, the reality is more complex, as pornography can scratch an evolutionary itch for relationships and social status, even if it doesn't provide the complete experience of real-life interactions.

How does the evolution of pornography, including social media aspects, affect its impact on the brain?

The evolution of pornography, especially with the integration of social media elements like OnlyFans, creates parasocial relationships that can further engage the brain's social circuits, enhancing the neuroscientific effects and potentially increasing dependency.

What is the difference between the brain's response to pornography and social media?

While both pornography and social media can trigger dopamine release and engage various brain circuits, they differ in their specific impacts. Pornography primarily activates sexual and reward circuits, whereas social media taps into social status and approval circuits.

How does the instant gratification from social media compare to that of pornography?

Both social media and pornography provide instant gratification, but they do so through different mechanisms. Social media offers immediate feedback and social validation, while pornography provides sexual stimulation and a temporary escape from negative emotions.

What are the potential consequences of relying on pornography to cope with loneliness or negative emotions?

Relying on pornography to cope with loneliness or negative emotions can lead to a dependency that perpetuates the very issues it temporarily alleviates, as it does not address the underlying problems and can create a cycle of avoidance.

How does the brain's response to social media influence content creators' experiences with platforms like Netflix or YouTube?

The brain's response to social media can lead content creators to experience significant emotional highs and lows based on engagement metrics like likes and views. This can create a cycle of seeking validation and approval, which can be as addictive as the neuroscientific effects of pornography.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Impact of Pornography on the Brain

The speaker discusses the widespread increase in pornography usage and its effects on the brain. They compare the brain's response to pornography to that of substance abuse, noting that unlike specific substances affecting particular receptors, pornography engages nearly every part of the brain due to the evolutionary importance of procreation. The speaker explains that pornography can suppress negative emotional circuitry and provide temporary relief from thoughts and emotions, similar to the effects of drugs like opioids or alcohol. They also touch on the misconception that pornography use is solely due to dissatisfaction with one's sex life or loneliness, suggesting that it serves a broader purpose in addressing emotional needs.

05:00

🤔 The Illusion of Fulfillment Through Technology

The speaker delves into how technology, including pornography, video games, and social media, provides a 'shadow' of real-world experiences without the full benefits. They use the example of online friendships, which can provide emotional support but lack the physical and neurological benefits of in-person interactions, such as the release of oxytocin during a hug. The discussion extends to the evolving nature of pornography, particularly with platforms like OnlyFans, which allow for parasocial relationships and further stimulate the brain's reward circuits. The speaker warns that these technological interventions can create dependencies, as they provide immediate gratification without addressing underlying issues, leading to a cycle of loneliness and dissatisfaction.

Keywords

💡Pornography

Pornography refers to the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal. In the video, it is discussed as a stimulus that affects nearly every part of the brain due to its connection with sexual arousal and procreation, which are fundamental human drives. The script mentions how pornography can be addictive because it provides a 'massive cure to all the negative emotions in life' without the physical consequences associated with other substances.

💡Neurotransmitter

A neurotransmitter is a chemical in the brain that transmits signals between nerve cells. The video script discusses how every neurotransmitter in the brain is involved in sexual activity, highlighting the complexity of the brain's response to sexual stimuli like pornography.

💡Evolutionary goal

The term 'evolutionary goal' refers to a behavior or trait that has been favored by natural selection over time because it helps an organism survive and reproduce. In the context of the video, the speaker explains that the drive to procreate is so strong that the body is willing to 'sacrifice so much' to preserve this ability, which is why stimuli like pornography can be so compelling.

💡Behavioral addiction

Behavioral addiction is a condition where a person becomes compulsively engaged in a certain behavior, much like a substance addiction, but without the use of drugs. The video script uses video games as an example of a behavioral addiction, noting that pornography also fits this category because it activates many parts of the brain, creating a 'diffuse activity' that can lead to compulsive use.

💡Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure. The script explains that pornography stimulates the release of dopamine, which is why it can be so addictive. The speaker also mentions that orgasm, like the one induced by pornography, can provide 'spurts of dopamine' and a temporary state of bliss.

💡Parasocial relationships

A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship where a person feels a connection to someone they only know through media, like a celebrity or influencer. The video script discusses how platforms like OnlyFans are creating parasocial relationships by allowing users to interact with performers, which can exacerbate feelings of loneliness by providing a 'shadow' of real human connection.

💡Substances of abuse

Substances of abuse are drugs that can lead to addiction and harmful effects on health. The video script contrasts these with pornography by explaining that while substances like alcohol or opioids affect specific receptors in the brain, pornography affects a broader range of neural pathways because it is tied to such a fundamental human drive.

💡Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a role in social bonding, stress reduction, and feelings of well-being. The script uses the example of hugging another person to release oxytocin, which is a real-world experience that provides a sense of bonding and stress relief that virtual interactions like those found in pornography cannot replicate.

💡Social media

Social media refers to online platforms where users can create and share content or participate in social networking. The video script discusses how social media can provide an instant 'fix' for feelings of loneliness or a need for social validation, similar to how pornography can provide an instant fix for sexual urges.

💡OnlyFans

OnlyFans is a content subscription service where creators can earn money from users who subscribe to their content. The video script mentions OnlyFans as an example of how pornography is evolving to include social media-like interactions, creating a more immersive and potentially addictive experience.

💡Netflix

Netflix is a streaming service that allows users to watch movies and TV shows on demand. The script uses binge-watching Netflix as an example of how technology can provide an escape from negative emotions or loneliness, similar to the effects of pornography, but through a different kind of content consumption.

Highlights

Pornography usage is increasing and affects the brain differently than substance abuse.

Every part of the brain is involved in sex, making it a powerful evolutionary goal.

Pornography takes advantage of our brain's procreative drive.

Pornography activates a diffuse activity across the brain, unlike substances that affect specific receptors.

The moment of orgasm is a state of temporary enlightenment due to the absence of thoughts.

People use substances like opioids or alcohol to escape their thoughts, similar to the effect of orgasm.

Pornography is a potent stimulus that is easily accessible and lacks physical health consequences.

Pornography suppresses negative emotional circuitry and provides dopamine spurts.

The misconception that people watch porn due to dissatisfaction with their sex life is not always the case.

Technology, including pornography, scratches an evolutionary itch but doesn't provide the complete real-life experience.

Online relationships can provide emotional support but lack the physical bonding of real-life interactions.

Pornography is evolving with social media aspects, creating parasocial relationships.

Pornography creates a dependency that keeps people stuck by meeting some of their brain's needs.

Social media activates different brain circuits related to social status and quantifiable likes.

Content creation on social media can lead to dopamine rushes similar to those from pornography.

Binge-watching shows on platforms like Netflix can provide an escape from loneliness.

The blending of social media and pornography through platforms like OnlyFans is becoming more prevalent.

Transcripts

talk a bit about how porn impacts the

brain and why that's just so attractive

to people that can't seem to deal with

their emotions that's such a great

question so I I I this is a question

that I was wondering right so we're

seeing in our in our community we're

seeing a just a huge uptick in

pornography usage and I was like what is

going on like why is porn like what's

going on so I I sat down and I did what

a what I was trained to do right which

is any any good academic doctor is

trained to find answers in the

literature so I went to the the

scientific literature and I tried to

understand okay which parts of the brain

are affected by sex right so and then

this is this is the cool thing is like

when we look at things like uh you know

substances of abuse something like

alcohol so alcohol will affect our Gava

receptors opioids will affect our mu

receptors Kappa receptors THC will

affect our anandamide receptors they're

very focal parts of the brain that are

affected by

substances so I was trying to figure out

what is pornography effect which where's

the porn receptor and that's where what

I discovered is if we really stop and

think about it sex and procreation is

arguably the purpose of the human

organism and so every part of our brain

is involved in sex literally every part

of our brain every part every

neurotransmitter if you look at sort of

the Neuroscience of sexual arousal

sexual engagement bonding all that stuff

every part of our brain is affected so

we see in pornography and if we kind of

think about it from an evolutionary

standpoint like you know there's a

reason why people can be in like heart

failure and still engage in sexual

activity like especially men and like

the the gonads still produce sperm you

can still get somewhat of an erection

and you can still get like some kind of

ejaculation so our body is willing to

sacrifice so much to preserve the

ability to procreate so it is a very

very very um important evolutionary goal

and what pornography basically does is

take advantage of this so if we look at

the effect of pornography I think it's

far more whole brain than something like

marijuana or alcohol and this is what we

tend to see with all of the behavioral

addictions so these are not substances

but this also happens with things like

video games where there isn't a discreet

part of the brain that lights up we see

a more diffuse activity all across the

brain and if we sort of think about it

right the drive to procreate is so

powerful that when you get

aroused you stop thinking about all

kinds of other stuff this is why when

people fall in love they make stupid

decisions right because all the other

parts the like all of your brain becomes

aligned towards this one goal you're

thinking about it a lot you're obsessing

about this person you're falling in love

we romanticize this but there's a

neuroscience component to that which all

gets activated by

pornography so pornography is one of

these things that is just such a potent

stimulus that is so easily accessible

and furthermore doesn't frequently come

with the consequences that we're talking

about see no one gets cancer from

watching too much pornography no one

gets lung cancer no one gets liver ceros

you know no one goes through like you

know seizures when they're withdrawing

from porn from pornography so it doesn't

come with some of these consequences and

yet it activates it really suppresses

some of our negative emotional circuitry

it gives us spurts of dopamine when we

when we orgasm um even if you look at uh

some of these ancient yogic texts they

say that uh orgasm is a state of

temporary Enlightenment because if you

really pay attention to the state of

mind and orgasm you have no thoughts

right it's a moment of pure Bliss so if

you kind of think about people who get

addicted to things like opioids or

alcohol or marijuana what are they

trying to do they're trying to get away

from their thoughts they're trying to

get away from their mind and the moment

of orgasm is a very powerful

physiological and neurological way to

get out of all that stuff so it it's

it's just a very potent kind of

physiologic neuroscientific tool to help

us feel better so then would you say

there's a big misconception that people

think that the majority of people who

are watching and engaging in porn are

just unhappy with their sex life they're

feeling lonely they're they're not um

you know in a relationship and and in

fact the reality is it's just giving

them this massive cure to all the

negative emotions in their life I'd say

yes and no so you're you're you're

absolutely right that I think it is it

is solving more than loneliness for

sure but remember that see see this is

the problem with all these technological

interventions that we have now

pornography video games whatever social

media see the reason that these things

are growing is because they scratch an

evolutionary itch so our brain has a

desire for relationships we have all

kinds of circuits in our brain that

measure our social status compared to

other people they can induce anxiety

they can help us feel comfortable

there's this stuff is very deeply wired

the problem with technology is that it

gives us a shadow but it does give us

something it gives us a shadow of what

the real world provides so you know I

have relationships with people online

that I would consider very real friends

of mine I emotionally bond with these

people and so I can get some some very

real value out of this thing the problem

is that it never gives us the complete

real life version so just if we look at

friends for example I can talk to my

friends online and I can we can work

through a breakup together right so

let's say I get dumped and and they

provide emotional support that's very

real and if you look at for example the

social networks of Gamers during the

pandemic Gamers were actually resilient

against the early stages of depression

and anxiety because we actually had a

social support network that was virtual

so we were fine not leaving the house

the challenge though is if you look at

that online relationship that I can't

get everything so when I hug another

human being I get a release of oxytocin

that makes me feel good it makes me feel

bonded it makes me it alleviates some

degree of stress but you can't you can't

hug yourself right so so there's

something that's always missing so this

is the challenge with something like

pornography and and this is becoming

more of a problem not just with

pornography but with some of these like

social social media aspects to

pornography like only fans because now

we're seeing the development of

parasocial relationships so it's not

just the direct neuroscientific effect

of sexual activity now I can interact

with this person I can get their

attention I can pay extra money to have

them call me out specifically at the

beginning of a video they're going to

say hey I made this for you and that

scratches more itches in the brain so

we're seeing that pornography is

evolving and I think as it scratches

those itches as I'm getting my needs met

through the pornography that will

propagate my loneliness because just

like marijuana or anything else I'm not

actually fixing those problems in in my

life so it creates this kind of

dependency that keeps people stuck

because my brain is not I don't know if

this kind of makes sense but see if my

brain gets none of its needs met it will

work really hard to get its needs

met right so if I'm absolutely starving

and absolutely like thirsty I will do

whatever it takes but if I have

something that gives me some amount of

water then I will never be desperate

enough to actually fix the situation

because I'm getting enough of it kind of

handed to me in a very easy way and

that's what pornography does so I want

to dive into like things like social

media and even like Netflix because what

you just said about like giving it like

this instant fix right and dealing with

loneliness I think social media can

certainly do that too like it personally

like I found that like if a post or a

video does really well like I get this

massive dopamine rush and then if one

doesn't I'm like h like pummer right and

I think that's common amongst people in

the content creation space and I also

know people that when they are lonely

because of the fact you can just binge

Netflix shows you could sit there all

day and check out and just watch like

your favorite show over and over again

for days on end so do you put stuff like

that in the same category as porn in the

way that it impacts the brain or is it

slightly different I would say it's

different so so some things are similar

and some things are the same right so so

it's not going to engage all the same

circuits that pornography does it'll

activate different things but we're

starting to see especially with things

like only fans like we're seeing that

blending right so there's a social media

component that's combining with

pornography but as you mentioned so

social media activates all kinds of

other circuitry so there's this kind of

uh see human beings are acutely aware of

like what their status is in relation to

other human beings and this is what

social media really like picks up on so

we we you know the challenge is that in

the past we had no way to quantify our

social status like I didn't actually

have like a social rating but with the

creation of things like social networks

we can literally quantify how much

people like you right there's like a

literal button called a like and that is

something that that is very very like

addictive in in this in a sense right

because now we know exactly what we need

to do to get more more likes we have a

quantification of something that used to

be like hard to understand how do I get

more people to like me what do I do it's

kind of confusing but social media

really Taps into that