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the Emerging Science of Addiction Gary Wilson Commonwealth Publishing United Kingdom, 2015, 224 p. ISBN:
9780993161605 Louie Giray
Colegio de
Muntinlupa
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Billie Eilish, a young yet famous American
singer-songwriter, had been trending online because of her conversations with a
radio host. At the age of 11, she confessed she first started watching pornography,
which gradually made a negative impact on her life. She narrated, “I think it
[pornography] really destroyed my brain and I feel incredibly devastated that I
was exposed to so much porn” (Eilish, as stated in Nicholson, 2021). Eilish is
only one of the many who are secretly suffering from being addicted to
pornography. Indeed, this has sparked a critical conversation about porn which
many just shy away.
Even before Eilish talked about it, Wilson was among
first ones who seriously recognized the negative repercussions of porn, most
especially to the brain. Sadly, Gary Wilson has passed away in 2021. He taught human pathology
and physiology for many years and had been interested in the neurochemistry of
addiction and mating. Called as a savior and liberator by many
who got in touch with him and his work (Associated Press News, 2021), he gave a voice to many who are battling with
Internet pornography. His legacy will live on, most especially in his book Your Brain on Porn, which is comprised of three chapters and has 224
pages.
Chapter 1, What Are We Dealing With?, conveys
that most Internet users see Internet porn as a way to relieve boredom, sexual
frustration, and stress. Wilson briefly narrates the history of today’s
pornography way back from CDs to magazines and then later to videos. He says
that computer programmers and IT specialists were the first people to report
problems brought by Internet pornography since they were ahead of many people
in technologies and Internet connection. During 2006, Wilson claims that
high-speed Internet gave a boost to Internet porn because snippets of porn
videos can easily be accessed with convenience.
The author thought that this issue on porn was an
elephant in the room, a taboo. He noticed several men were searching for help
online concerning porn problems. Hence, Your Brain on Porn website came
to life as a means to help them. Using the narratives of online porn users, he
documents their experiences: (1) losing control; (2) inability to orgasm during
sex; (3) unreliable erection during sexual encounters; (4) alarming porn fetish
tastes; (5) loss of attraction to real partners; (6) inability to concentrate;
(7 depression and discouragement. While many clinicians view online porn
harmless, the author urges that this should be considered harmful, given the
various first-hand narratives he learned.
Chapter 2, Wanting to Run Amok, puts forward
that human beings inherently crave novelty because of dopamine. Wilson
clarifies that dopamine is the evolution’s strategy to discourage inbreeding
and to keep the gene pool fresh. At the same time, Internet porn, as the author
accentuates, has a lot of novel things to offer—with various clips being
uploaded at a fast-paced rate and can be accessed 24/7. To
add up to that, online porn has become hyperrealistic, innovative, and
experimental, which can boost the element of surprise and novelty among the
consumers. With this technological convenience, a person, who is not mindful,
can easily become addicted. As emphasized by Sruthers (2008), porn can hijack
our brain. If left unchecked, as the individual continues to consume online
porn, his brain persistently rewires also. This leads now to abnormal behaviors
and compulsive dependence.
Moreover, pornography can particularly be risky to
adolescents and teens whose brains are very malleable and vulnerable to
addiction. Wilson maintains that porn may register as satisfying at first, but
it can make the person feel less and less gratified over time—a manifestation
that sexual excitement is being revised. Wilson also cites several resources on
the negative effects of Internet porn on brain. He continues that once people
conditions themselves to Internet porn, they may not be satisfied anymore with
sex because of unmet expectations. This can also lead to porn-induced sexual
dysfunctions. Moreover, he contends that there is widespread ignorance about
the scientific evidence concerning Internet porn addiction, leading to health
care providers misdiagnosing Internet porn users.
Chapter 3, Regaining Control, contends that the
beginning step to regaining control from Internet porn is to willfully stop
watching it, which is otherwise known as rebooting. Wilson declares it may take
months or years before the impulse to watch fades and eventually dies down;
however, it does not necessarily mean that Internet porn users can immediately
return and remove themselves safely again. This is because it is ingrained in
the neural pathway of the brain. Wilson cites some suggestions which he prominently
sees on forums: (1) remove all porn on phone and computer; (2) move the
environment to make it conducive to the cause; (3) use porn ad blockers; and
(4) track progress.
Additionally, Wilson recommends an Internet porn user
can also seek support by: (1) having an accountability partner or group; (2)
seeing a therapist or psychologist; and (3) writing in a journal. Meanwhile,
one can seek to improve self-control by exercising, getting outside,
socializing, meditating, or pursuing creative pursuits. Wilson recommends that
Internet porn users wanting to stop must be gentle with themselves and learn
more about the human brain. Surely, there are challenges along the way which
they will encounter as they recover. Hence, not surrendering is pivotal. They
should be mindful of the discomfort in the process and the triggers that make
someone tricked into indulging in Internet porn again.
The author concludes the book by analogizing Internet
porn as the new cigarette—like porn, cigarette smoking before was considered
harmless. He narrates that it took many decades before consensus was reached
explaining its hazards, but it was already late and had been affecting many
people. With the prevalence of Internet porn which is increasingly seen as
normal and risk-free, Wilson argues that people do not need to wait for
consensus before quitting Internet porn, most especially if they are already
experiencing the negative repercussions in their lives. Particularly, he is
blatantly against “good porn” being healthy and fine to be viewed by
teens—since this can propel them more to explicit materials. Also, this can
result in perceiving human beings solely as sexual creatures or erotic objects.
Talking about porn is taboo in many societies. Hence,
many adolescents and youths decide to hide their pornography problems (e.g.,
addiction). They do that to avoid embarrassment or mockery. If not helped
properly, their problems may mutate which can lead to serious consequences that
can deteriorate their functioning and relationships. Through the concern and
initiative of Wilson, this book has become a great contribution to the
understanding of this situation. While the usage of narratives and scientific
findings has reinforced its worth and clarity, the tips provided are practical
and can help the readers surmount the pornographic predicament. Coupled with The
Porn Trap (Maltz & Maltz, 2009) and Wired for Intimacy
(Struther, 2009), Your Brain on Porn is highly recommended to
adolescents, youths, and professionals dealing with young people’s concerns
related to pornography.
Bibliographic References
Associated Press News (May 26, 2021). Best-selling
author of Your Brain on Porn, Gary Wilson, has passed away. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-483ff533319698f9bfcb4f1adba9a899
Maltz,
W. & Maltz, L. (2009). The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by
Pornography. Harper
Collins.
Nicholson, R. (December 18, 2021). Billie Eilish
Inspires Awkward but Vital Conversations about Porn. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/18/billie-eilish-inspires-awkward-but-vital-conversations-about-porn
Struthers, W. (2009). Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography
Hijacks the Male brain. InterVarsity Press.
Wilson, G. (2017). Your Brain on Porn. Internet Pornography and the
Emerging Science of Addiction. Commonwealth Publishing.
Louie
Giray
Filipino.
A graduate of Master in Communication, he is a lecturer handling communication
courses at Colegio de Muntinlupa, Philippines. He also spearheads an initiative
whose aim is to equip young scholars with research skills. A member of National
Research Council of the Philippines, he has published various research articles
and books related to education and to the wider social sciences arena.