Looking at the physiological effects of [adult films], the human brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine.? Norman Doidge provides an explanation of how dopamine works in the male brain in his 2007 report.
Dopamine plays many roles in the brain, but most importantly, is in charge of reward-driven learning. Almost every type of reward that has been studied in a laboratory setting has shown an increase in the level of dopamine transmission in the brain (Stolerman, 2010). Dopamine is a normal chemical that is found in the human body. Among the functions when it is normally released is during intercourse, when orgasm occurs However, just like it does with heroin, the body develops tolerance to dopamine released while watching [adult films]. This is different than orgasm during sexual intercourse when there are multiple chemical and hormonal changes that occur before and after the release of dopamine, causing a complex interaction in the body which results in it not developing a tolerance to any of the hormones and neurotransmitters that are released (Doidge, 2007).
Understanding the flood of dopamine explains why [adult films] changes behavior. From a physiological point of view, the brain is building up a tolerance to material it sees, just like the body builds up tolerance to drugs it uses. This explains why users of [adult films] report needing increasingly extreme videos in order to become aroused (Doidge, 2007). In the past, this would have been impossible to acquire, but with the internet, escalation can happen with ease. However, dopamine does not cause just a physiological change but a behavioral one as well. Dopamine causes strong desire in the body when it enters. When a person is flooded with dopamine while watching [adult films], it creates a stronger response to that [adult films]. The mind then associates [adult films] with a rush of dopamine and thus is more likely to repeat the behavior that releases dopamine, i.e. watching [adult films]. Since the rate of return on dopamine is diminishing, higher levels of [adult films] are needed to get the same feeling of desire from dopamine (Doidge, 2007). Interestingly, dopamine is a neurotransmitter which causes desire, not pleasure. What this means is that many clients who come to mental health experts for help because [adult films] is destroying their relationships report not getting any pleasure from watching [adult films]ographic materials but are still unable to stop.
So what if [adult films] didn’t exist? Watch this hilarious video.
