As we’ve previously noted, it’s difficult to get consistent answers on the alleged dangers of pornography. Scientific research on the subject varies widely.

It’s safe to say that Kevin Majeres, a psychiatrist specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy and a faculty member of Harvard Medical School, is among those who view pornography as harmful.

Writing on the blog Purity is Possible, Majeres explains how the brain works and what happens to the brain during repeated exposure to pornography. He begins with mating patterns discovered in rats:

Scientists have discovered that if you place a male rat in a cage with a receptive female, they will mate; but once done, the male rat will not mate more times, even if the female is still receptive. He loses all sexual interest. But if, right after he finishes with the first female, you put in a second receptive female, he will immediately mate again; and again a third, and so on, until he nearly dies. This effect has been found in every animal studied. This is called the Coolidge effect.

Okay. The stuff about the rats having sex is disgusting and a little creepy. But what does that have to do with us?

Majeres’ article in full. The science may yet be unclear on the physical side effects of porn, but he makes a strong case, at the very least, that pornography is 1) highly addictive 2) harmful to relationships.

Regardless of how one feels on the morality of pornography, those reasons alone—if one values self-control and healthy relationships—should cause alarm.

Jon Miltimore is the Senior Editor of Intellectual TakeoutFacebook.

[Image Credit: Pixabay]