For most of us alive today, we porn has been something that has always been there. Most of us will remember the days of the X-rated section in the movie store that you had to be 18 years or older in order to go inside. Thos days, of course, are of the past: Now, you can access to porn anytime, anywhere, so long as you have an internet connection – and in HD, to boot. Porn stars are no longer just fringe celebrities, either. Many make hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars annually from their content. Websites like PornHub, OnlyFans, and others attract millions of users every single day. Unfortunately, the dangers of porn are also there, lurking behind the XXX content. In some cases, as was in the tragic case of this “gooner”, the consequences can be fatal.
Understanding “Gooners” and Gooning
The term “Gooners” is from a relatively new online movement to describe a person who engages in extreme porn marathon and masturbation sessions. They spend incredible amounts of time locked in a cycle of relentless porn consumption, clicking through video after video for hours on end. The behavior has been dubbed “gooning”, and therefore, the people who participate in it are called “gooners”. They edge their way through lengthy periods of masturbation, with multiple tabs open displaying the explicit content. The result is a continuous cycle of arousal and release.
The Tragic Story of Nautica Malone
Arguably now one of the most famous gooners, albeit for a tragic reason, is a man named Nautica Malone. He has become one of the poster boys for the dangers associated with excessive porn consumption and gooning. Malone first gained notoriety after a video of him approaching a drive-thru window naked from the waist down went viral. Tragically, he was found dead by suicide not long after. His wife said that it was the video that drove him to suicide. His death has also raised many questions on the dangers of porn and the potential psychological and emotional toll of extreme porn use.
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The Gooneral and its Consequences
Following Nautica Malone’s passing, a “gooneral” was organized in his memory, where individuals gathered to honor him as a “Goonlord” and a victim of “goonicide.” The gooneral was organized at Bikini Beans Coffee in Tempe, Arizona – an establishment where the staff are all dressed in risque beach wear. Eventually broken up by the police, this event brought attention to the dark and worrisome realities of excessive porn consumption and gooning, highlighting the potential consequences that can arise from falling into the depths of this addictive behavior. What’s just as troubling seems to be the public celebration of gooning and the habit of excessive and extreme porn consumption.
The Brain on Porn: Unveiling the Dangers of Pornography
Pornagraphic images and explicit content were nearly impossible to obtain until PlayBoy came along in the 1950s. Today, the type of content that PlayBoy publishes would barely even be considered porn. With the introduction of porn videos and now internet porn, people have essentially unlimited, free access to every kind of porn you could possibly imagine – and even more that you couldn’t. As the accessibility of porn, particularly aggressive kinds and those involving people and situations that are not actually legal, such as minors, concern as to the harm it will cause people has come to the forefront. Researchers have rushed to attempt to study the impact of porn consumption on the brain and behavior, and the results are definitely shocking.
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Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Brain Activity
Studies examining the effects of porn consumption on the brain have raised troubling findings, particularly related to individuals with compulsive sexual behavior. Research by Dr. Valerie Voon and her team at the University of Cambridge has revealed distinct patterns of brain activity in those with compulsive sexual behavior when exposed to erotic material. These patterns parallel those observed in individuals with substance abuse, suggesting a potential link between porn consumption and addictive behavior.
“We are still in the very early stages of understanding these processes on a neurobiological level,” Voon says. “What we do know with porn is that there are some patterns that are consistent with an addiction – but some that are not. We need much larger epidemiological studies to know for sure.”
Brain Structure and the Effects of Pornography
What’s more shocking is the research that has found that porn actually impacts the brain’s structure and functional connectivity. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry noted decreased activity in various brain areas among habitual porn viewers, drawing the same parallels between the effects of porn and substance addiction. However, the study also posed the question of pre-existing brain characteristics predisposing individuals to find pornography more rewarding. After all, we know that some people are more prone to addiction than others, be it drugs, alcohol, porn, or anything else, really. Where one individual may be able to have the occasional beer, try a substance one time, or every once in a while watch something on a porn site, for others one little dabble is a slippery slope into full-blown dependency and addiction. The truth is, we don’t yet have the science to understand why.
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The Debate on Porn Addiction
We are still very much in the early stages of research when it comes to the dangers of porn use. In fact, still the issue of whether or not porn addiction can be classified as an addiction at all remains a focal point of most research. While some argue for the inclusion of ‘hypersexuality disorder’ in psychiatric manuals, lack of consistent evidence has hindered formal recognition of porn addiction. Neuroscientist Dr. Nicole Prause emphasizes the distinct characteristics of porn and sex ‘addictions’, highlighting that there are differences in control and the brain’s response to cues with sex/porn addictions as compared to other types of addiction. She remarks that where drug addicts become increasingly sensitive to the cues of their addiction, porn actually decreases this sensitivity.
Evidence does suggest, however, that excessive porn consumption can lead to habituation, where regular viewers seek more extreme and novel stimuli. Dr. Voon’s work has affirmed that online porn, in particular, may fuel the pursuit of increasingly hardcore content, potentially exacerbating addictive behaviors. Where someone might start with what you would call ‘softer’ or more ‘vanilla’ content, they will progress into more hard-core, aggressive, potentially violent and even illegal types of pornographic content.
The Impact on Behavior and Attitudes: Teens and Children
One of biggest concerns over the hyper-accessibility of porn is on developing teenagers, particularly boys. Many young teens are already consuming this content before they even have their first kiss. Not only does this warp their perception of sex, consent, and both the male and female bodies and anatomy, but it will also impact their ideas of when they should start having sex and how much sex they should be having. Long-standing concerns about the impact of porn on behavior and attitudes persist. Research by psychologist Prof. Neil Malamuth highlights associations between high porn consumption and sexist attitudes, coercive acts, and aggressive behavior among predisposed individuals.
For children, the impact of viewing pornographic content is profound, posing significant dangers and damages that can influence their emotional and social well-being. Research indicates that exposure to porn can alter the structure and development of immature brains, potentially leading to damage in the developing prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that is crucial for decision-making and impulse control. Furthermore, viewing porn can also disrupt the dopamine reward system, making it challenging for children to find excitement and fulfillment in healthy relationships. Porn also impacts the way children view both relationships and women, their rights, and their value. The normalization of sexist ideas and gender roles in mainstream porn can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, impacting the child’s perception of relationships and expectations either for themselves or for their partner. It’s crucial for parents to monitor and discuss online content with their children, educate them on healthy relationships and sexual behavior, and take proactive steps to protect them from the potential negative impacts of pornography on their growing brains.
The Positive and Negative Aspects of Pornography
While discussions often center on the dangers of porn, some researchers have emphasized potential benefits. Dr. Prause suggests that porn can introduce viewers to new sexual activities and enhance sexual experiences. Additionally, contrary to concerns about decreasing libido and causing impotence, research has debunked these notions. Porn can allow users to explore their own sexuality in a more private way free of fear of being shamed or ostracized for their curiosity or what they like.
Navigating the Complexities of Pornography
In considering the broader societal impact of pornography, research challenges some long-held beliefs. The discussions surrounding the dangers and potential benefits of pornography reflect just how nuanced this subject truly is. There is a need for further, comprehensive and unbiased research to understand the impact of porn on various demographics, the potential dangers of porn, and the intricacies of porn addiction.
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