Can Watching Porn Help Escape Meaninglessness?

People watch pornography for a variety of reasons–stress reduction, sexual curiosity, self-exploration, the satisfaction of sexual fantasies, etc. One important motive for pornography consumption is escaping meaninglessness and boredom.

Boredom refers to an unpleasant experience that occurs when there is a mismatch between one’s need for arousal and the stimulation available. We may describe a person, movie, game, lecture, party, day, or even one’s life as boring. It is associated with concentration difficulties and feelings of unease, restlessness, and agitation. Therefore, it can motivate engagement in more stimulating, valued, and meaningful activities.

Sometimes, however, boredom motivates escape from the self, meaning engaging in pleasurable but mindless activities. Some examples are unhealthy eating, using drugs, obsessive online gaming, and of course, compulsive pornography viewing.

A recent study on boredom and pornography consumption supported the theory of escape from the self. The study, conducted by Moynihan et al., and published in Personality and Individual Differences, is examined below.

Investigating Pornography Consumption, Boredom, and Meaninglessness

Sample:

• 179 (104 men; 143 heterosexuals) residents of Ireland and the U.K. The average age was 30.

Methods:

• The frequency of pornography viewing was assessed.
• Perceived meaninglessness was measured using the "Presence of Meaning" subscale of the "Meaning in Life Questionnaire." Sample item: “My life has no clear purpose.”
• Boredom proneness was assessed with the "Boredom Proneness Scale–Short Form." Example: “In most situations, it is hard for me to find something to do or see to keep me interested.”
• Pornography viewing was measured using three subscales (emotional avoidance, excitement seeking, and sexual pleasure) of the "Pornography Consumption Inventory." Sample item: “It [pornography] provides an opportunity to be distracted from life’s challenges.”

Results

The study examined whether meaninglessness might predict greater pornography viewing “via boredom and using pornography for emotional avoidance.” Researchers evaluated this relationship “using scales that measured pornography use for excitement-seeking and sexual pleasure,” and the results showed “significant indirect relationships in each case.”

Boredom, Lack of Meaning in Life, and Low Self-Esteem

In summary, the data analysis supported the existential escape hypothesis. It concluded, “Pornography consumption may function as a means of dealing with perceived meaninglessness, signaled by boredom.”

Of course, not every person who experiences chronic boredom decides to watch pornography or develops problematic pornography use. What determines how people cope with meaninglessness partly depends on their self-esteem.

People with high self-esteem usually cope by engaging in meaningful activities. For example, they reflect on nostalgic memories, volunteer for a good cause, or try to emulate their role models.

By contrast, those with low self-esteem or incoherent worldviews are more likely to choose the coping strategy of escape from self-awareness. As noted earlier, other than watching pornography, some examples of escape from the self are: eating comfort food, drinking to excess, compulsive video gaming, and mindless and anonymous online interactions.

Takeaway

Individuals who experience meaninglessness or threats to meaning in life may attempt to escape from it by engaging in mindless but pleasurable activities.

For instance, they watch pornography for excitement and sexual pleasure, which serves as a distraction from uncomfortable feelings and the distress associated with the experience of existential meaninglessness and chronic boredom.

People who cope with boredom by engaging in pleasurable but mindless activities, such as viewing porn, tend to have low self-esteem. High self-esteem individuals usually cope by engaging in healthier or more useful activities, such as reflecting on nostalgic memories, engaging in altruistic behavior, and emulating their role models.

Some self-help solutions to problematic pornography consumption and other compulsive behavior include:

• Being mindful.
• Working on building self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Getting involved in more productive ways of reducing feelings of boredom and meaninglessness (e.g., helping others).

It is important to note that sometimes self-help strategies are not enough because compulsive behavior can be a symptom of depression, addiction, or other serious mental health issues. Therapy may be more helpful in these cases.

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To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.