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Porn Isn’t the Problem: Shame, Scripts, and the Science Behind Masturbation
Is porn really rewiring your brain?
Does masturbation harm relationships?
Or are we caught in cultural shame scripts that make normal behaviors feel dangerous?
In this episode, I unpack the research, from claims about erectile dysfunction and “porn addiction” to the ICD-11’s take on compulsive sexual behavior. Drawing from my clinical work with 100+ men, I explore how moral incongruence, secrecy, and shame—not masturbation itself—fuel distress. If you’ve ever wondered what the science actually says, this conversation will give you clarity, nuance, and maybe a little relief.
References:
1. Antons, S., Brand, M. Diagnostic and Classification Considerations Related to Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder and Problematic Pornography Use. Curr Addict Rep 8, 452–457 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-021-00383-7
2. Beáta Bőthe, István Tóth-Király, Popova, N., Nagy, L., Mónika Koós, Zsolt Demetrovics,Potenza, M. N., Kraus, S. W., Ballester-Arnal, R., Dominik Batthyány, Bergeron, S., Joël Billieux, Peer Briken, Burkauskas, J., Cárdenas-López, G., Carvalho, J., Jesús Castro-Calvo,
3. Chen, L., Ciocca, G., & Corazza, O. (2025). Identification and comprehensive characterization of moral disapproval and behavioral dysregulation-based pornography-use profiles across 42 countries. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2024.00054
4. Engelhardt, R., Geppert, R., Grubbs, J. B., Timo von Oertzen, Trommer, D., Maes, J., & Kraus, W. (2025). Problematic pornography use and psychological distress: A longitudinal study in a large US sample. Addictive Behaviors, 169, 108398–108398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108398
5. Grubbs JB, Perry SL, Wilt JA, Reid RC. Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence: An Integrative Model with a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arch Sex Behav. 2019 Feb;48(2):397-415. doi: 10.1007/s10508-018-1248-x. Epub 2018 Aug 3. PMID: 30076491.
6. Ince, C., Fontenelle, L.F., Carter, A. et al. Clarifying and extending our understanding of problematic pornography use through descriptions of the lived experience. Sci Rep 13, 18193 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45459-8
7. Karol Lewczuk, Agnieszka Glica, Iwona Nowakowska, Mateusz Gola, Joshua B. Grubbs, Evaluating Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 17, Issue 2, 2020, Pages 300-311, ISSN 1743-6095, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.11.259.
8. Singareddy, C., Shrestha, S., Zheng, A. et al. Prospective Association of Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety with Pornography Viewing Frequency Among Young Adults. Arch Sex Behav 54, 749–759 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-03024-y
9. Vieira, C., & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Problematic Pornography Use and Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Sexual Health & Compulsivity, 31(3), 207–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/26929953.2024.2348624
10. Walther A, Ehlert U, Komlenac N. Problematic pornography use as an externalizing depression symptom in cisgender men: A cross-sectional questionnaire study. J Behav Addict. 2025 Sep 8. doi: 10.1556/2006.2025.00070. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40920476.
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By Dr. Leann BornemanIs porn really rewiring your brain?
Does masturbation harm relationships?
Or are we caught in cultural shame scripts that make normal behaviors feel dangerous?
In this episode, I unpack the research, from claims about erectile dysfunction and “porn addiction” to the ICD-11’s take on compulsive sexual behavior. Drawing from my clinical work with 100+ men, I explore how moral incongruence, secrecy, and shame—not masturbation itself—fuel distress. If you’ve ever wondered what the science actually says, this conversation will give you clarity, nuance, and maybe a little relief.
References:
1. Antons, S., Brand, M. Diagnostic and Classification Considerations Related to Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder and Problematic Pornography Use. Curr Addict Rep 8, 452–457 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-021-00383-7
2. Beáta Bőthe, István Tóth-Király, Popova, N., Nagy, L., Mónika Koós, Zsolt Demetrovics,Potenza, M. N., Kraus, S. W., Ballester-Arnal, R., Dominik Batthyány, Bergeron, S., Joël Billieux, Peer Briken, Burkauskas, J., Cárdenas-López, G., Carvalho, J., Jesús Castro-Calvo,
3. Chen, L., Ciocca, G., & Corazza, O. (2025). Identification and comprehensive characterization of moral disapproval and behavioral dysregulation-based pornography-use profiles across 42 countries. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2024.00054
4. Engelhardt, R., Geppert, R., Grubbs, J. B., Timo von Oertzen, Trommer, D., Maes, J., & Kraus, W. (2025). Problematic pornography use and psychological distress: A longitudinal study in a large US sample. Addictive Behaviors, 169, 108398–108398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108398
5. Grubbs JB, Perry SL, Wilt JA, Reid RC. Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence: An Integrative Model with a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arch Sex Behav. 2019 Feb;48(2):397-415. doi: 10.1007/s10508-018-1248-x. Epub 2018 Aug 3. PMID: 30076491.
6. Ince, C., Fontenelle, L.F., Carter, A. et al. Clarifying and extending our understanding of problematic pornography use through descriptions of the lived experience. Sci Rep 13, 18193 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45459-8
7. Karol Lewczuk, Agnieszka Glica, Iwona Nowakowska, Mateusz Gola, Joshua B. Grubbs, Evaluating Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 17, Issue 2, 2020, Pages 300-311, ISSN 1743-6095, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.11.259.
8. Singareddy, C., Shrestha, S., Zheng, A. et al. Prospective Association of Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety with Pornography Viewing Frequency Among Young Adults. Arch Sex Behav 54, 749–759 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-03024-y
9. Vieira, C., & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Problematic Pornography Use and Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Sexual Health & Compulsivity, 31(3), 207–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/26929953.2024.2348624
10. Walther A, Ehlert U, Komlenac N. Problematic pornography use as an externalizing depression symptom in cisgender men: A cross-sectional questionnaire study. J Behav Addict. 2025 Sep 8. doi: 10.1556/2006.2025.00070. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40920476.