Researcher: Porn Addiction a 'Fiction'

Researcher: Porn Addiction a 'Fiction'

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — A University of Auckland researcher who studied claims of compulsive behavior among men who watch adult content reports that the concept of “porn addiction” is “a fiction.”

Dr. Kris Taylor spoke to New Zealand news site The Spinoff as part of a current series on porn.

Taylor has spent years studying “the relationship between men and porn, including those in the NoFap community who’ve sworn off porn and masturbation altogether,” The Spinoff’s Don Rowe noted.

Taylor’s PhD dissertation studied the idea of porn addiction among a sample of New Zealanders aged 15-83, and noted “a lack of complexity in studies of the ways in which men and teenage boys navigate porn,” The Spinoff reported. “Taylor’s work suggests that while some men struggled with their porn use, actual addiction (in the diagnostic sense) to porn is itself a fiction.”

According to Taylor, pornography “has become a bit of a scapegoat for the larger problem of masculine entitlement, sexism and misogyny.”

The academic told The Spinoff that the language of addiction “is often used by viewers of pornography to diminish feelings of moral, ethical and even religious conflict. Masturbation can induce a sense of shame, and compulsive sexual behaviors can then be explained away as an addiction.”

"NoFap" Communities Online

Taylor has also researched members of “NoFap” communities since 2016.

“While members of the community often see the benefits of self-discipline flowing into other areas of their life,” The Spinoff piece explained, “the emphasis on pseudoscience and flawed perceptions of human sexuality sets some up for failure.”

As XBIZ reported, the superstition that semen retention is related to magical masculine powers has a long history, linked to the Victorian notion of “sexual hygiene” and to “social hygiene” — which also helped give rise to the virulently racist “eugenics” movement.

For Taylor, much of the “NoFap” pseudoscientific discourse is connected with a “fear of real achievement in men coming down to being able to attract partners to have sex with, which is generally the main goal. That overlaps quite problematically with incel and other communities online, where the idea is that your life will become better if you have sex with a woman.”

Historically, he added, abstinence itself has been seen as “a very masculine way to deal with your issues — it’s very cut and dried, as opposed to being a little more introspective and reflective. It puts a massive amount of importance on penises and semen as key factors in how human relations are supposed to operate. We have a very poor understanding generally as a society around things like consent and a reliance on ‘just say no’ language, which doesn’t work.”

To read “The Man With a PhD in Porn Addiction,” visit The Spinoff.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

ImLive Launches Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

New York Assemblyman Proposes Banning the Term 'Sex Work'

Republican New York Assembly Member Brian Maher has introduced a bill to prohibit the use of the term "sex work" in government documents.

Age Verification Watch: Michigan Joins the AV Club, Some Laws Just Make No Sense

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Free Speech Groups Back SCOTUS Appeal of Georgia Strip Club Tax

Two civil liberties organizations filed an amicus brief Tuesday supporting a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal in a case involving whether a tax specifically aimed at adult entertainment establishments violates the First Amendment.

Creator Networking App 'Plaiir' Launches

Plaiir, a mobile networking app for creators, has officially launched.

Swedish Court Rules LELO Products Do Not Infringe 'Invalid' Satisfyer Patent

A Swedish district court has ruled that a patent filed by Satisfyer parent company EIS GmbH is not valid, and therefore three products from pleasure brand LELO are not in violation.

Show More