The Great Porn Experiment

In this TEDx video, Gary Wilson discusses his view on how heavy use of online porn may be affecting men’s sex lives. As Wilson points out, accessing pornography through high speed Internet is fundamentally different from how guys used to get their kicks (e.g., by reading Playboy magazine) because it provides a constant barrage of new people and new sexual activities. While I think we can all agree that this is true, the claims he makes about the problematic effects of pornography are debatable.

Wilson argues that pornography addiction can create a variety of sexual difficulties, including erectile dysfunction, as a result of gradual desensitization to novel sexual content. However, this argument is controversial and many scientists question the concept of pornography “addiction” in general (see here for a different perspective).

Check out the full video here and weigh in with your comments below.

Watch more videos on the science of sex and relationships here.

Want to learn more about The Psychology of Human Sexuality? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates.