What role does pornography play in sex addictions?
Viewing pornography is quite often the first sexual experience of adolescents. In fact, research has shown that the median age for the first use of pornography by boys is 11-13; for girls it is 12-14. With widespread sexual activity on TV, home videos and the internet; it has become very easy to access pornography. Pornography is usually the first step toward fantasizing sex and then to masturbation. Rare is the sex addict who has not used pornography, sex fantasies and masturbation. Usually these elements remain throughout the progression of addictive behavior. The physical need for this addictive behavior is similar to that of drug addiction. There are big highs and then lows until the behavior is repeated to return the high state. Neurochemical activity in the brain is stimulated by the release of norepinephrine, endorphins (opiods), dopamine and serotonin among others – these feed the system of demand and reward required by the addict. Quite simply, the body demands a dose of excit
