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Displacing Problems: A Constructivist Grounded Theory of Problematic Pornography Use

James Binnie,Ian Albery,P. Reavey

Published 2025 in Archives of Sexual Behavior

ABSTRACT

Research indicates that pornography is not inherently harmful for the individual; however, many users consider their use to be problematic. The majority of research concerning problematic pornography use (PPU), often referred to as pornography addiction, discusses nomenclature rather than having an applied focus. Given the lack of theoretical development in this area, a constructivist grounded theory was undertaken with the aim of creating an understanding of the development and maintenance of PPU. All participants were required to have self-reported PPU and were recruited from online sources. A total of 258 journals of pornography use and 21 semi-structured interviews were completed. Five interlinked categories were constructed from the data. All participants were seen as having distinct problems prior to their self-reported PPU. Over time, their pornography use changed function, from enjoyment to using habitually, instrumentally, or as a form of emotional regulation. The participants’ discovery of “having PPU” occurred by proxy, through an external means. When participants reached out for information, they were met with an addiction narrative and consequently saw themselves as addicted to pornography. Once this narrative was internalized, the participants displaced their distinct problems, the participants now saw their main problem as addiction, rather than their preexisting distinct problems. This process of displacement was conceptualized as the core category in this grounded theory in that it led participants to committing to a mission, attempting to conquer their addiction. Having once embarked upon their mission, the underlying distinct problems became secondary to the participants, often seen as resulting from their pornography use. The constructivist grounded theory was situated within current theory and research. Some aspects of the grounded theory were judged as having similarities to existing theories, but when taken as a whole it is proposed that the grounded theory, with its focus upon displacement, is original, having clear implications for future research and clinical application.

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