Floyd Godfrey, PhDBy Floyd Godfrey, PhD
Pornography addiction, much like substance addiction, follows a distinct pattern of escalation and dependency. Dr. Victor Cline, a renowned clinical psychologist, identified four stages that individuals commonly experience as they become increasingly ensnared by pornography: Addiction, Escalation, Desensitization, and Acting Out Sexually. Understanding these stages is crucial for mental health professionals, particularly those specializing in sex addiction, as it provides a roadmap for identifying and treating the disorder.
Addiction
The first stage of pornography addiction is marked by the initial exposure and subsequent compulsive consumption of pornographic material. Individuals in this stage often experience a powerful psychological dependency, finding themselves unable to control their viewing habits despite recognizing the negative impact on their lives. As Dr. Cline observed, once addicted, "men, teenage boys, and in limited cases women, 'could not throw off their dependencies on the pornography by themselves, despite many negative consequences such as divorce, loss of family, and problems with the law'" (Kastleman, 2001, p. 58). This stage lays the foundation for a destructive cycle where the individual is trapped in a cycle of craving, temporary satisfaction, and subsequent shame or regret.
Escalation
As the addiction progresses, individuals often find that the same material that once provided a "high" no longer has the same effect. This leads to the second stage, Escalation, where they seek out more intense, explicit, or deviant content to achieve the desired arousal. According to Dr. Cline's research, "With the passage of time, the porn addict required rougher, more explicit, more deviant kinds of sexual material to get their 'highs'" (Kastleman, 2001, p. 59). This escalation is a critical turning point in the addiction process, as it signifies a deepening dependency and a greater deviation from what was once considered acceptable.
Desensitization
Following escalation, individuals enter the third stage: Desensitization. During this phase, the once shocking or taboo material becomes normalized. The addict no longer experiences the same level of arousal from content that was previously considered extreme. Dr. Cline noted that "Material which was originally perceived as shocking, taboo-breaking, illegal, repulsive or immoral, though still sexually arousing, in time came to be seen as acceptable and commonplace" (Kastleman, 2001, p. 60). This desensitization not only perpetuates the addiction but also erodes the individual's moral compass, leading to an increased likelihood of engaging in behaviors they once found reprehensible.
Acting Out Sexually
The final stage of pornography addiction is Acting Out Sexually. At this point, the individual’s addiction has escalated to the point where they begin to mimic or seek to replicate the behaviors they have been exposed to through pornography. This stage is particularly dangerous as it often leads to real-world consequences, including infidelity, sexual assault, or involvement in illegal activities. Dr. Cline described this stage as "an increasing tendency to act out sexually the behaviors viewed in the pornography" (Kastleman, 2001, p. 60). For sex addiction specialists, this stage represents a critical point where intensive intervention is necessary to prevent further harm.
Understanding these four stages is essential for therapists and sex addiction specialists who are working with individuals struggling with pornography addiction. By recognizing the progression from addiction to escalation, desensitization, and ultimately acting out, professionals can better tailor their therapeutic approaches to address the specific needs of their clients at each stage.
Floyd Godfrey, PhD is a Clinical Sexologist and a Certified Sex Addiction Specialist. He has been guiding clients since 2000 and currently speaks and provides consulting and mental health coaching across the globe. To learn more about Floyd Godfrey, PhD please visit his website: www.FloydGodfrey.com.
Reference
Kastleman, M. B. (2001). The Drug of the New Millennium. Granite Publishing & Distributing.
