Examining attentional bias to unsolicited sexual stimuli and its potential association with internet pornography use

Abstract

Attentional bias towards addiction-related cues has been a subject of extensive research in substance-use disorders (SUDs). Although this mechanism was primarily researched for psychostimulant drugs, there is now evidence that the same incentive-motivational properties can be used in reference to problematic Internet pornography use (IPU). This study aimed to contribute to existing research on the effects of IPU, by experimentally testing the effects of exposure to sexual content on a specific subconscious cognitive process: the allocation of attention (i.e., attentional bias). More specifically, this study aimed to compare attentional bias to sexual cues between participants with different frequencies of Internet pornography use. This study also addressed the effects of abstinence from pornography use on attentional bias. A total of 23 adult heterosexual males aged between 18 and 52 years (Mage = 32.52; SD = 9.317) were recruited to participate in a two-component study. The first component consisted of a Visual Probe Task followed by a set of self-report measures, and the second component was a re-examination of the Visual Probe Task, following one week of abstinence from pornography use. Results found no significant differences in reaction times between sexual and neutral cues. However, statistical significance was reported with frequency of Internet pornography use and mood modification, and age of first pornography use and saliency. Findings concerning frequency of use and mood modification, support the observation that using Internet pornography as a coping mechanism for depressing moods or stress can be considered a risk factor in developing problematic pornography use.