The modern society we live in left very few of us immune to pornography. Due to the heavy and rapid development of technology, it became easily accessible and available anytime and anywhere.
While it was long believed that the only people consuming porn are solitaires, that’s not the full truth. Instead, pornography as such, has both positive and negative effects on couples too. Its general effect is on the core of intimacy itself and pornography as a subject needs to be approached with care.
Now, there are no reasons to be afraid. When consumed in normal quantities it breeds positive effects all over the place. However, for some couples, it could be a stumbling block. To avoid any misunderstandings within the boundaries of a relationship, one should always discuss the subject with their partner.
Before we jump to the core of this article and the impact that pornography has on intimacy, we should talk about it first in a few short lines. Yes, let’s start there!
What is Pornography?
In essence, you know what it is. You don’t have to be a consumer to be aware of what it is and where you can find it. It is a term that depicts all forms of explicit, adult, and fully sexual content. You can find it in many forms, with the most popular ones being porn magazines and videos.
Due to the widespread use of the internet, you can find streaming websites on the web with ease. At its core, pornography has a goal to arouse its audience be it males or females.
The modern society we live in has quite close connections to the world of porn. As we said, the internet made it quite possible to find, watch, download, and consume porn in every imaginable way. The use is quite widespread and the manners of how and how often individuals practice it differ.
While some do it occasionally and on rare occasions others delve quite deeper into it. Depending on the group you belong to, this question needs to be addressed one way or another. Let’s start with the most important part – communication.
Communication Matters
The lifeline of every good relationship is communication. Couples need to be able to discuss everything from their deepest feelings to the most superficial needs. Pornography swims somewhere between these two things. You need to talk about it, set the boundaries clear, and ensure that nothing remains unsaid.
Of course, starting a conversation like this one is never easy. But this challenge is there for you to overcome it. This talk starts with basic comfort levels. You need to be comfortable with your partner, to be able to speak out both your feelings and needs and how pornography factors into it.
For some, this will not be a big deal. For others, it is a massive issue that needs to be addressed ASAP. The only way to know where you stand is to communicate it directly. Be open, stay open, and talk it through.
Positive and Negative Effects
Nothing in life is black and white and neither is pornography. This is an area you can always find out more if you’re interested. Many people believe that it holds no positive value and that’s simply not true. For one, it can be an amazing educational tool. Sexual education is very important for youth and porn can be used to direct them to the right side.
For some, it is a great way to find out more about their impulses and desires and a way to get a hang of how their bodies work. For some couples, it served as a great tool to help them improve their intimacy levels.
On the downside, we must not remain blind to the negative aspects of consuming pornography. First of all, pornography is well known for creating unrealistic expectations from our partners.
It sends a wrong picture to the world about body image, and sex in general, and can be a great cause of continuous dissatisfaction in a relationship. The bottom line is, people who spend too much time consuming porn replace real intimacy for it. Later on, they have issues committing to a relationship and the term of pure intimacy becomes unknown for them.
Emotional Impact
Our relationships are not immune to the effects this type of adult content can have. Yes, pornography can affect our emotions to a great extent. In many cases, partners start feeling jealous, mostly insecure, and later on even neglected.
If it is used without care and in abundance it will, without a doubt, make a relationship weaker, and sometimes the strain created cannot be fixed. While people view porn simply as a physical connection between people, it can cause severe emotional damage too.
Because of this, partners need to remain close if they are experiencing a crisis of this kind. It is a matter that needs to be swiftly addressed, through conversation which would involve being open, straightforward, and with all emotions out on the plate.
While porn can serve as an amazing way of letting some steam off, the negative effects of its consumption mustn’t be neglected. When in a crisis revolving around pornography those in a relationship need to show more affection than ever, full understanding, and work on maintaining and strengthening emotional bonds.
A Road to Satisfaction
Couples must understand that pornography needs to be used in a relationship if it’s found out that it’s already present. As we said, it can be used as an educational tool, but it also can be a real-life inspiration for couples.
Everyone can copy something from porn and apply it to their relationship. It can have a positive effect and rekindle the stalled relationships. Of course, everything must be kept within the boundaries that both partners set.
In today’s digital age, understanding how technology influences human connections is essential for couples looking to navigate the complexities of intimacy, an aspect explored further in the related article about the impact of pornography.
Bottom Line
Pornography is all around us. Ignoring it will serve no purpose, especially if it’s already entered your relationship. Couples must not be blind to its presence, and knowing it’s there can help in taking it on, controlling it, and eventually kicking it out of a relationship.
Also, if there’s a severe case of addiction it is vital to seek professional help. Beyond the most severe cases, pornography can be used to strengthen a relationship, re-focus it, and even make it better by being used the right way.
