Answer & Explanation:Access to and the availability of the Internet to conduct local and transnational business transactions, research personal and professional information to enrich our lives, and communicate with others even within the most remote regions of the world is unparallel to anything we have experienced in our lifetime. The overwhelming majority of Internet users access the world access the Internet daily for legitimate, law-abiding, personal and professional purposes, many of whom can be categorized as recreational users. However, for a smaller, yet significant percentage of users, the means and motives for accessing the Internet are far from law-abiding. Their intentions are deviant and as their sexual curiosity piques and increases, so does their addictive, compulsive behaviors resulting in the emergence of a new clinical disorder commonly referred to as sexual addiction to Internet pornography. Case Summary- Word count required is 150 words with reference.1. Define and describe in detail the etiology of sexual addiction to Internet pornography. Word count required is 150 words with reference.Case Analysis – Word count required is 150 words with reference.2. In Crimes of the Internet, the authors suggest that today’s male adolescents are somewhat desensitized to Internet pornography, particularly in regards to the objectification of females as being submissive and subservient. Do you agree or disagree with this position? Why or Why Not?Executive Decisions – Word count required is 150 words with reference.3. As a law enforcement officer, you are empowered with a great deal of discretion as to whether an arrest or verbal reprimand is warranted. You are summoned to the local high school in your jurisdiction concerning an anonymous “tip” that student Joe Smith, age 15, has several nude pictures of his 14-year old ex-girlfriend on his cell phone and has shared the sexually suggestive images with his friends who in turn shared the images with their friends. During your interview, Smith acknowledges having the images and sharing them with his friends. Since the images depict a “minor,” you inform Smith that he can be criminally charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. Now is the time to highlight your critical thinking / problem solving skills. How would you proceed in resolving this incident?
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Chapter 1
Sexual Addiction to the Internet:
From Curiosity to
G Compulsive
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Behavior
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D
Michael Pittaro
O
Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Pennsylvania
N
Michael Pittaro, MPA, is the Executive Director
, of the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, and an adjunct professor with Cedar Crest College’s (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Criminal
Justice Department. Prior to assuming his current position, Pittaro was the Chair of the Legal Studies
Department at Lehigh Valley College, Pennsylvania. He is the author of several publications, including the
J
nation’s first and only criminal justice quick study reference guide, and has been the honored recipient of
several awards for his teaching style and practice.
E Pittaro is the coauthor and editor of Crimes of the
Internet and a member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences.
S criminal justice field experience. The holder of a masProfessor Pittaro has nearly 20 years of professional
ter’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s
S degree in criminal justice from Kutztown University,
he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Capella University.
Abstract
I
C
A
The Internet is undoubtedly the most valuable technological resource available to millions of
people across the globe. With a simple click of the mouse, one can retrieve information on virtually every topic imaginable in that the Internet
gives users access to millions of personal and
L
professional Web sites. By and large, Internet users enter cyberspace to conduct business,
E
research information, and communicate with others in virtually every corner of the globe, but
I pornographic text, videos, and images has become
the Internet has a dark side. The search for
a compulsive addiction for many men and
G women who spend countless hours searching for
explicit pornographic images or sexually engaging text communication. As a result, a new
H addiction to the Internet has slowly emerged as a
psychological disorder has emerged. Sexual
clinical disorder like any other addictive disorder that requires intervention and treatment.
This paper will provide an in-depth analysis into an emerging addictive disorder that is difficult to detect and challenging to control. 1
8
7
INTRODUCTION
1
As of February 2002, 54 percent of all Americans used the Internet on a regular basis, and more
than half of all households in the UnitedB
States had an Internet provider at home (Schneider
2003). The overwhelming majority of those who use the Internet use it for both legitimate,
U
law-abiding personal and professional purposes. Most users could safely be identified and
3
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Chapter 1
Sexual Addiction to the Internet
classified as recreational users, whereas a smaller population has recently emerged with
questionable addictive behaviors and tendencies. Internet usage, in general, and the duration of
time spent in Internet activities, in particular, is staggering (Cooper et al. 1999).
Without question, the Internet has become the most valuable technological resource
since its conception. With a simple click of the mouse, one can retrieve information on virtually
every topic imaginable. Over the past severalGdecades, society has struggled to create an accurate definition that would help identify and describe pornography. In 1973, the United States
O
Supreme Court in Miller v. California called for a definition of pornography based on the average person applying contemporary community
R standards (Dilevko and Gottlieb 2004). The
subjectivity and impermanence of this definition is perhaps best illustrated by Justice Potter
D
Stewart’s famous comment in reference to pornography, “I know it when I see it” (Dilevko and
O
Gottlieb 2004).
As described by Cooper et al. (1999), the
Namount of information available on the Internet is
virtually limitless, and a sizeable portion of it is related to the topic of sex. Prior to the Internet,
, pornography out of fear of public exposure and
most individuals refrained from fully embracing
likely humiliation if one were to get caught in an adult bookstore renting X-rated tapes or any
other adult sexual paraphernalia, or while going into an X-rated theater, especially alone
J 25 percent of total search engine requests are
(Philaretou 2005). According to Bissette (2004),
porn-related. Consequently, Internet pornography
E can be enjoyed in the comforts and anonymity
of one’s home (Philaretou 2005). It is for this reason that the search for Internet pornography has
become a compulsive addiction to millions, S
mostly men, who spend countless hours viewing,
downloading, and exchanging explicit sexualSimages and movies, including child pornography.
Stein et al. (2001) characterize this particular behavior as psychiatric in general, sexual pathology
I
in particular.
Far worse than child pornography is the
C fact that the Internet has also become a fertile
breeding ground for sexual offenders, specifically pedophiles, who use the Internet to prey
A
upon the weak, vulnerable, and innocent. Sexual addiction to pornography crosses all demographic boundaries regardless of one’s religious, racial, ethnic, or cultural background and
experiences. Even though women do not represent a large segment of those labeled as comL
pulsive, there is a growing interest in the number of women accessing the Internet, especially
chat rooms, for sexual gratification. UnlikeEprint, video, and film pornography, Internet sex
can also be interactive through real-time exchanges
of words and video pictures that are more
I
enticing to the viewer (Schneider 2003). Some of the many advantages of the Internet are that
G
it is widely accessible, inexpensive, legal, available
in the privacy of one’s home, anonymous,
and does not put the user at risk of contracting
a
sexually
transmitted disease or an unplanned
H
pregnancy (Schneider 2003).
1
8
One cannot address the issue of sexual addiction
7 to Internet pornography without first having
discussed the enormous wealth and profitability of the pornography empire. The adult enter1
tainment industry generates an estimated $57 billion in worldwide revenue (Bissette 2004).
Twelve billion dollars of which originates inBthe United States alone, more than all combined
revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC news affiliates (Bissette 2004). In fact, it is one of the fastest
U
growing economies in the world with the porn industry making an estimated 6,000 movies
THE PORNOGRAPHY EMPIRE
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The Etiology of Sexual Addiction
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a year and growing (Rice-Hughes 2005). The Internet pornography business, in particular,
is alleged to have grown significantly since 1985 when its profits are believed to have exceeded
$75 million to an estimated $665 million in 1996. In fact, there are an estimated 1.3 million
pornography Web sites, and this number is continuing to grow at unprecedented rates each
year, particularly amongst amateurs who post their sexual adventures on the Internet for the
simple thrill and excitement of doing so (Rice-Hughes
2005). The search engine, Google, now
G
examines over three billion Web pages with sex continuously being the most searched topic on
O
the Internet (Cooper 2004). As one could imagine, the pornography industry, as a whole, consists of a vast empire that will continue toR
expand as more and more users access the Internet in
search of pornography.
D
According to a massive study conducted by Comscore Media Metrix, 71.9 million
O an incredible 15 billion pages of adult content in
people visited adult Web sites and viewed
August 2005, reaching 42.7 percent of the
NInternet (Rice-Hughes 2005). The two largest individual buyers of bandwidth are firms in the United States’ adult online industry (Rice-Hughes
2005). By 1997, there were roughly 900, pornography sites on the Web. One year later, this
number had grown to approximately 30,000, and is estimated to climb at an unprecedented rate
to meet the needs and demands of Internet surfers (Stack, Wasserman, and Kern 2004).
J
E
THE ETIOLOGY OF SEXUAL ADDICTION
S
Before embarking on this research-oriented
S journey, one must be familiar with the etiology
of sexual addiction and the behaviors associated with this disorder. Sexual addiction is a subI
category of Internet Addiction Disorder, a term that was first proposed by Dr. Ivan Goldberg
to explain pathological, compulsive Internet
C usage (King 1996). It has been suggested that an
Internet addiction disorder has similar features to that of a gambling addiction, and therefore,
A
one must approach this problem in much the same manner as one would approach an addic-
tion to gambling (Young 1996). One must be cognizant of the fact that it is not the technology
that is addictive, but rather the behaviorsL
being expressed when one uses the Internet for sexual purposes (Grohl 2005). According to Young (n.d.), Internet addiction, like many drug
E individuals desperately seek to feel normal.
addictions, provide the euphoria that some
Consequently, this behavior is often displayed
in individuals who are depressed, anxious, or
I
experiencing problematic relational issues.
Sexual addiction to the Internet, forGthe most part, has been under-researched, but it has
recently gained the attention of criminologists
and criminal justice practitioners (Seegers
H
2003). The question remains unresolved as to whether sexual addiction is a bona fide addiction
like other addictive disorders such as substance abuse (Griffiths 2001). Some still approach the
subject of sexual addiction to the Internet1with a strong degree of skepticism and rightfully so.
Therefore, it is important to look deeply into the etiology of addictive disorders to fully appre8 behaviors that this disorder, like the others, has
ciate and understand the potential problematic
on individuals, the individuals’ families, community,
and workplace (Seegers 2003).
7
As with any addiction, there are many plausible causes and explanations that may help
1
to explain how someone becomes an addict. Addiction has been linked to biological, neuroB peers, family, and community can also influence
logical, and physiological factors, yet one’s
one’s decisions (Seegers 2003). Early literature in the sexual addiction field placed a heavy
U
emphasis on the role of childhood maltreatment, mainly physical and sexual abuse, as the
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Chapter 1
Sexual Addiction to the Internet
primary cause of most sexually addictive behaviors (Blanchard and Tabachnick 2002). Sexual
addiction to the Internet has since become widely recognized by clinicians in the fields of
psychology, sexology, and psychiatry as a behavioral disorder warranting further review and
investigation (Blanchard and Tabachnick 2002). Today, there are many causal explanations
for this type of behavior with the evidence suggesting a correlation between sexual addiction
and many well-known disorders. For example,
G studies have shown that sexual addicts also
suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorders,
O
bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, brain injuries, hormonal abnormalities, chemical imbalances, endocrine abnormalities, diabetic hyperglycemia,
hypoglycemia, or any combination
R
of the aforementioned (Blanchard and Tabachnick 2002).
D
Cooper et al. (2004) credit Young (1996) for being one of the first to write about Internet
O
addiction as an emerging clinical disorder warranting
further research. Over the past decade,
there have been dozens of studies conductedN
with a few researchers becoming self-proclaimed
Internet addiction experts. Cooper et al. (1999) were the first to conduct a large-scale study of
,
online sexual activity. The results of this particular
study are scattered throughout this chapter.
The Cooper et al. study (1999) is considered by many to be one of the most detailed and widely
cited articles written on the subject.
J implies a psychological dependence on the
Sexual addiction to the Internet usually
Internet, typically for 11 or more hours per
E week, that is frequently characterized by an
increasing investment of time, resources, and attention (Cooper et al. 1999). Like most addicts
who are initially confronted by family andS
friends, most will deny that a problem behavior
exists. Denial is a common characteristic that
S most sexual addicts display once exposed. One
must be cautious in assigning this label to individuals who may be using the Internet for
I personal or professional business. For examlengthy periods of time to complete legitimate
ple, an online student will typically spend C
more than 11 hours per week online to perform
research and complete weekly assignments in a timely manner. However, if one begins to
A
neglect family, friends, school, and work in favor of spending time online in search of pornography or sexually enticing communication, one may be labeled as a sexual addict, especially
when the Internet usage causes significant problems in one’s life.
L
The attention that this disorder has received over the past few years has resulted in
scholars and practitioners acknowledgingEthat Internet sexuality can be pathological
(Cooper et al. 1999). The other issue to emerge
I is the growing acceptance that the Internet
invites sexual exploration through sexual fantasies that would otherwise be extinguished
G feedback (Cooper et al. 1999). The Internet
if it were not for reinforcement of the immediate
is appealing and attractive in so many ways,H
yet it is feasible for some to rely on it as the drug
of choice to fulfill certain needs and expectations.
Cooper et al. (2004) are credited with first introducing the concept of the Triple
A Engine. The Triple A Engine highlights three
1 characteristics of the Internet that undoubtedly explain its tempting influence over its users: accessibility, anonymity, and affordability.
8 is accelerate and intensify online sexual activThe Triple A Engine is said to turbocharge, that
ity, and is believed to be the precursor to 7
the new sexual revolution (Byers, Menzies, and
O’Grady 2004). The anonymity coupled with easy access and affordability leads to a sense of
1
freedom and disinhibition, which can enhance self-disclosure and a willingness to talk frankly
about sexual matters in general, and sexual
B fantasies in particular (Byers, Menzies, and
O’Grady 2004). Some people adopt a completely different persona since physical and emoU
tional characteristics like attractiveness and shyness can easily be concealed in secrecy from
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The Emergence of the New Sexual Revolution
other online users. For instance, some homosexual men reveal their sexual orientation first in
cyberspace to test the reactions of others to the announcement before doing so in the real
world (Byers, Menzies, and O’Grady 2004).
Expanding on the Triple A Engine approach, Griffiths (2000) suggested additional
facets such as convenience, escape, and social acceptability must also be examined and
considered as powerful lures to Internet
Gsexuality. In particular, it is the social aspect of
computer-assisted communication and the interpersonal exchange with others, which is so
O
stimulating, rewarding, and reinforcing that some find it difficult to stop this type of behavior from continuing (King 1996). In addition
R to the chat room experience, the Internet users
have access to an enormous amount of information to anonymously solicit and trade massive
D
amounts of pornography (Cluff 2005). Like some other addictions, sexual addiction to the
O and friends. In fact, nearly 70 percent of those
Internet is often held in secrecy from family
who download pornography keep it a N
secret from family, friends, and intimate partners
(Rice-Hughes 2005).
,
THE EMERGENCE OF THE NEW SEXUAL REVOLUTION
J
As alluded to earlier, more and more people are using the Internet as an alternative to venturing
E
out into the traditional bars, single clubs, and dating services to meet other people (Cooper and
S by the Internet and, thereby, not afraid to reveal
Griffin-Shelley 2002). People are uninhibited
fantasy-laden thoughts over the Internet as
S would be the case in a direct, face-to-face interaction. In other words, the Internet brings out behaviors that otherwise would not be openly disI of rejection or embarrassment. Unfortunately, the
cussed in most sexual relationships for fear
reference to the so-called sexual revolution
C has not yet been fully explained and lacks empirical evidence to substantiate its claims (Byers, Menzies, and O’Grady 2004). Revolutionary
A since women do not use the Internet in the same
radical changes for women are not expected
large numbers and for the same purposes as men have shown to do in almost all studies
conducted to date (Byers, Menzies, and O’Grady 2004). However, more than 80 percent of
L will take this behavior offline and are more likely
women who have this particular addiction
than men to act out these behaviors in real
Elife, including having multiple partners, casual sex,
or an extra-marital affair (Rice-Hughes 2005).
I
G
Definition of Internet Sexuality
H
Internet sexuality has been defined as the use of the Internet for any activity, including audio,
text, graphics, or any other Internet medium that involves sexuality (Cooper et al. 2004). This
definition also includes recreational use,1entertainment, exploration, support around sexual
concerns, education, purchasing sexual materials, trying to find sexual partners, and so forth
8 allows rapid access to sexual materials and even
(Cooper et al. 2004). Given that the Internet
sexual partners, sexual behavior in this 7
context is especially interesting to researchers who
continue to focus on the uninhibited nature of Internet sexuality (Stein et al. 2001).
1
Cybersex is a subcategory often associated with any conversation pertaining to Internet
B described as using the Internet to engage in sexusexual activity. The term has been repeatedly
ally gratifying behaviors (Cooper et al. 2004). This would entail looking at pictures and movies,
U
and engaging in other sexually gratifying behaviors, including sexual chat communication,
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Sexual Addiction to the Internet
exchanging sexually explicit e-mails and files, and cybering (Cooper et al. 2004). Cybering is a
term coined by Cooper et al. (2004) to describe the sharing of fantasies over the Internet, which
entails being sexual together while one or more of those participants masturbate to the shared
fantasy.
It is considered an addiction if the individual is obsessed with spending a great deal of
time fantasizing, planning, or thinking about
Gsexual behavior in pursuit of the perfect image,
story, or erotic material that fulfills a favorite fantasy (Cooper et al. 2004). Fantasy, when couO
pled with online pornography, can produce a potentially dangerous situation, one in which
intimacy can be superficially gained and R
wrongly substituted for actual intimate contact
(Bloem 2005). With fantasy, one can imagine anything one likes, however unrealistic, without
D
experiencing embarrassment or rejection or social or legal restrictions or consequences
O used interchangeably with sexual addiction.
(Bloem 2005). Sexual compulsivity is often
Sexual compulsivity, however, is defined as N
an irresistible urge to perform an irrational sexual
act that may be difficult to discontinue without intervent …
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