Year: 2016
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background and aims: Internet pornography addiction (IPA) is considered one specific type of Internet addiction.From substance dependence research, it is well known that addiction can be viewed as a transition from voluntary, recreational drug use to compulsive drug-seeking habits, neurally underpinned by a transition from prefrontal cortical to striatal control over drug seeking and taking (Everitt & Robbins, 2015).Methods: These concepts have been recently transferred to Internet addiction in general, and IPA in specific.For example, in two recently published theoretical models on Internet addiction (Brand et al., 2014) and specifically on Internet Gaming Disorder (Dong & Potenza, 2014), cognitive processes and emotional responses to specific Internet-related cues are considered crucial in the development and maintenance of the addictive behavior.These models are investigated in the context of PA.Results: Behavioral data support the theoretical assumption showing that cue-reactivity and craving can be demonstrated in individuals with IPA.Also, executive reductions and reduced inhibitory control when being confronted with pornographic material increase the probability of experiencing a loss of control over the consumption of pornography.Functional neuroimaging findings suggest specific brain correlates of IPA, which are comparable with those reported in individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder and other behavioral addictions as well as substance dependence.Particularly the ventral striatum, a region associated with reward anticipation, responds to the confrontation with explicit pornographic material in subjects with IPA.Conclusions: Existing findings suggest that IPA is a specific type of Internet addiction, which is comparable with Internet Gaming Disorder and other types of behavioral addictions.
Author: Demetrovics, Zsolt
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2586266164