Don't All Men Like to Look?
The popular notion of male sexuality is that men are more attracted to visual stimuli than women. This is being confirmed with modern scientific research. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to demonstrate that the amygdala and hypothalamus are both more strongly activated in men than women when the same sexually arousing material is viewed by both sexes. You may recall that the amygdala is one of the primary brain areas making up the hedonic highway or pleasure pathway.
It has been discovered that when the amygdala is stimulated, there is an associated anticipation of positive emotions. In this case, there is an anticipation of the positive emotions, or pleasures, connected with sexual behavior.
So when a man visually notices a woman he finds attractive, the parts of his brain involved in visual processing and arousal are activated. Once sexual climax has been reached, activity in the amygdala begins to decrease. There is some evidence that a larger amygdala may produce a more intense sex drive.
What is the amygdala?
The amygdala, also known as the amygdaloid nucleus, is a small almond-shaped structure located in the temporal lobe of the brain. It is part of the brain's olfactory and limbic systems and is closely connected to the hypothalamus and hippocampus. The amygdala is involved in one's sense of smell, motivations, and emotional behaviors.
Although a woman can also be sexually aroused by visual images, it is not typically to the same extent as with a man. A woman who is sexually aroused will typically show more activity in the areas of the brain associated with emotions. Women also seem to be more sexually aroused by smell or certain body odors than men.
In addition to arousal, pornography has been shown to elicit fear, shame, anger, and lust in a significant number of people. Because of the nature of the stimulus, pornography, these other emotions may be mistakenly labeled as sexual arousal. Now combine this with memory. Visual images are more likely to be remembered than stimuli triggered by other senses.
Alert
The novelty and uncertainty produced by pornographic images can become addicting. However, as the “newness” wears off and the pornographic images become commonplace, the chemical stimulation of the pleasure circuits in the brain diminishes. Tolerance has developed and to achieve the same “high,” exposure to even more novel images must occur. Thus, pornography addiction becomes a progressive disorder.
Additionally, the more novel and bizarre the visual image, the greater likelihood of its being stored in memory and recalled with vividness. The combination of fear, anxiety, and arousal produced by pornography often leads to confusion and the recall of visual images that can be interpreted as disturbing.
This is dangerous in the minds of children with immature brains. The disturbing visual images of pornography, typically perceived with fear and anxiety, imprinted on a child's immature brain can lead to serious emotional and developmental damage.
In addition to the biological component of pornography, it is also asserted that men, primarily, are socialized in America to notice others sexually. Boys who find erotic magazines and view them are often seen as engaging in a normal rite of passage. Such activities are often met with snickers instead of instruction on developmentally healthy sexual behavior.
Fact
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, approximately 20 percent of all Internet pornography involves the use of children. In 2005, child pornography reportedly produced $3 billion of revenue.
Sex is used to sell products, and Americans have become conditioned to associate sexual images with many advertising campaigns. With sexual images so prevalent in society, it is no wonder that a person's amygdala can become aroused beyond what might be considered healthy.
