Keeping love at a distance: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of former pornography addicts’ experiences with pornography

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore former pornography addicts’ understanding of their experiences with pornography. The purpose was also to see in what way psychoanalytic theory could contribute to a further understanding of these experiences. Four men between the ages of 25 and 56 who identified themselves as former pornography addicts were interviewed two times each using a semistructured interview guide. The interview transcripts were analyzed using IPA. Three master-themes were identified (Pornography in the context of growing up; The experience of watching pornography; Pornography as a solution), containing three subthemes each. The psychoanalytic concepts of sexualization and primitive withdrawal were found to be useful in discussing the results. The discussion suggested that pornography can be used defensively to distract from the relational meaning of emotions, while also leading to a distancing from oneself and from important others.