Change Agents with Andy Stumpf cover image

Change Agents with Andy Stumpf

How the Porn Industry Is Rewiring People's Brains (with Dawn Hawkins) - Change Agents w/Andy Stumpf

Aug 15, 2023
Dawn Hawkins, CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, joins Andy Stumpf to discuss the damaging effects of pornography on individuals' self-perception and relationships. They delve into the involvement of website owners in the porn industry, tech industry's response to combat pornography, the negative effects of pornography on the human brain, efforts to implement filters, and the links between porn consumption and psychological issues.
50:15

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Exposure to hardcore pornography can lead to permanent damage in how individuals view themselves and relationships, altering brain chemistry and desensitizing users.
  • The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) works to expose the negative impacts of the porn industry, advocating for stricter legislation and holding corporations accountable.

Deep dives

The Impact of Hardcore Pornography on Relationships

Studies suggest that the increasing exposure to hardcore pornography from a young age can lead to permanent damage in how individuals view themselves and relationships. Although research is still emerging, it is believed that pornography can alter brain chemistry and desensitize users, leading to a craving for more explicit material. Pornography can also impact the development of sexual templates, changing what individuals find attractive and influencing behavior later in life. Particularly alarming are the effects on children, who are exposed to violent and non-consensual content, leading to increased instances of sexual assault and abuse. Overcoming a pornography dependency can be challenging, as it requires unlearning the distorted messages it presents. However, studies show that with time and effort, individuals can reverse the harmful effects and reconnect with real human connections.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode