Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly Page #2

experts agree that it releases chemicals

of pleasure when it is aroused,

chemicals like DeltaFosB.

There are engines of desire,

molecular engines of desire,

chemical engines

that cause us to want.

And when we see something that

we've trained our brain to want,

we turn those engines on.

DeltaFosB is a switch that turns

on these engines of desire.

And we know that DeltaFosB and

other signaling, cascade chemicals

are very important in building these wires,

these brain wires of wanting.

So sex looks

just like those drugs.

Pornography, in and of itself,

is designed to just expedite

a sexual experience.

It's meant for an instantaneous hit,

just like a drug,

um, and it gets us there faster than

we're typically designed to go.

So, at the end of the day,

pornography, in my opinion,

is simply those things

that are designed to quickly

get us to a sexualized state,

an erotic moment.

And it could be, as I said,

from a visual, a verbal,

it could be something written

it could be something...

Anything that's designed

to activate those senses,

separate from an interaction with

somebody you're actually with.

Since we've already

highlighted that sexuality

has been a major component of human

nature since the beginning of time,

and considering that the US is relatively

young compared to the rest of the world,

here's how other cultures view pornography

and its place in their respective societies.

Personally, I think

we're moving towards

a very sexualized culture

at the moment.

We're becoming more liberal.

They had a very liberal

movement in the 70s,

and I believe we're

repeating that again now.

And as sexualism

becomes more accepted,

I think porn's a very normal

part of the Australian culture.

I think as a society we're probably

becoming a little bit more,

uh, relaxed and able

to talk about sexuality.

It's definitely something

that males engage in more,

and I think women

watch reluctantly.

Or if they

have watched it,

it's not something

they necessarily own to,

or they watch it

as a bit of a joke.

Certainly does fit into the

Australian culture. I think, um...

Is it a normal thing?

And I don't think that

pornography is normal,

in my opinion.

Because it's not real.

Especially when it comes to marketing

any kind of product in Australia,

then certainly, sex is used

to sort of, you know, represent

or turn people on

to buy a certain product.

Is it a problem?

Yeah, I think it's a big problem.

It obviously works.

People respond to sexualism.

If people didn't respond,

it wouldn't be so rampant.

So I think from a marketing perspective,

as long as it's working,

we're going to

continue to use it.

And with that in mind, I think we're

probably only at the tip of the iceberg.

I think we're seeing a phase

where sexuality and

over-sexualization of kids

is generally pushing media to explore

different ways to make money.

For example, every time you pick up a

magazine with a picture of Kylie Minogue,

she looks like

she's having an orgasm.

And the fact of the matter is

that women don't look like that,

and they shouldn't have

to look like that to be...

To be thought of

as being attractive or sexy.

It just places unrealistic

expectations on individuals

to, you know, view sex

in a different way,

and it also...

In relationships, it's...

It makes it uncomfortable

if people aren't comfortable with

those type of things as well.

But I guess, you know,

it's part of what's going on right now.

It's very accessible.

I think that as many Americans

as many French people,

you know, everybody has

their addictions, you know.

I don't think they're more addicted

people to sex in the USA than in France.

I think, in France,

we watch pornography,

and it's okay about that.

But I think

in the United Sates,

you can watch it, but it's a little

bit taboo, you know what I mean?

There is a paradox

between that, because

United States may be the biggest

producer in pornography in the world,

- but it's very...

- Puritan.

But it's very puritan

at the same time.

So you can watch it,

but you don't say that.

In France, I think it's not

really something you talk about.

It's a kind of deviance.

I don't think

it's a natural thing.

You shouldn't need it,

because you should find the

thing you need in your partner.

It's still a taboo,

even if it's changing now,

but we are now...

You know, we change these few years,

but now we are in so much...

So much... Big exposure...

to the body, to the...

you know,

whatever we sell in advertising.

Pornography is like

the opposite of romance.

To me, it's like seeing a close

up of a big dick, and a vagina,

and the woman goes...

like that. I'm like...

It's not romantic.

To me,

sex goes with feelings.

I see it is

a very complicated question.

Because it's... It's play

with all of the collective

subconscious, and, uh...

And the way we build a society,

and so it is, uh...

It is, uh...

- An ocean?

- An ocean.

Yes.

But not everyone

buys into the concept

that porn abuse and porn

addiction is a real issue.

David Ley is

a clinical psychologist

who feels that pornography is a

lesser element of greater issues.

At first, my opinion was,

"Well, this is just pop psychology,

sort of harmless."

I ended up believing, in fact,

that this is pretty dangerous.

That this is...

psychology and medicine

playing a role in suppressing

sexuality in our culture.

The idea of porn addiction

and the idea of sex addiction

is a very powerful concept.

It has stuck around for 30 years

and plus for a lot of reasons.

Porn addiction

and sex addiction

is a way for

culture and society

to label sex as dangerous,

something that we need

to be afraid of.

It is a way for society

to exert control over

people's sexual behavior

in a time when sexuality

is changing dramatically.

And especially

when we look at cultures

that are less shaming about sex

and are less

strangely obsessed with it,

they don't have problems

with sex addiction.

There are cultures through history

and cultures in the world today

that don't treat sex

in this way.

That don't treat it as taboo.

Perhaps, due to the more puritan

principles of America's founding fathers,

Ley says he sees the issue,

the porn panic as he calls it,

as more of a juxtaposition between our

sexual desires and our social values.

Moral panic is when

the media and society

buy into a certain issue,

make it a moral

and a social concern.

It turns into a crusade.

Masturbation is the most common form of

sexuality worldwide throughout history.

People masturbate far more than they

actually have sex, intercourse.

Why would we distinguish masturbation

from other kinds of sexuality?

What's the difference?

I'll tell you what

the difference is.

Cultural and social values.

Because there is the idea

in our society

that the right kind of sex

is intimate,

emotionally committed,

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