Porn and video game addiction are leading to 'masculinity crisis'

A leading psychologist has warned that young men are facing a crisis of masculinity due to excessive use of video games and pornography.

Psychologist and professor emeritus at Stanford University Phillip Zimbardo has made the warnings, which form a major part of his latest book, Man (Dis)Connected.

In an interview on the BBC World Service's Weekend programme, Zimbardo spoke about the results of his study, an in-depth look into the lives of 20,000 young men and their relationships with video games and pornography.

[DEEBO]

Man this one of the best post I read in a long time we'll the comments rather then article.

Too bad most will not bother with this topic.

[OB1Biker]

I don't know why some people would even remotely link porn with videogames

[breakpad]

it has absolute right ..with free internet porn men lost their masculinity and social behaviour toward women and women consider team sex with more men nearly canon ...

[RosweeSon]

Lot of wankers on call of Duty ;)

[Lord_Sloth]

Because they need something to blame and nobody really cares about blaming Porn, but videogames are a valued target for the issues of today so tossing it into the mix equals instant attention.

[Anthotis]

A lot of men with issues are finding escape and solace in games, because reality sucks so hard.

Part of the reason life isn't great for men is because of feminism which makes women unbearable, which is where porn becomes useful.

Games and porn aren't the issue here, though. It's not games and porn that are responsible for the majority of young American men avoiding marriage and behaving like children.

Feminism is the problem, as well as all the other SJW BS that is used to assault (mostly white)men and warp their masculine behavior.

Unsurprisingly, the effect feminism has on men doesn't make things any better for women either.

[ravinash]

I totally disagree with the whole Feminism arguments.
people tend to forget that the arguments on line here and other forums are disjointed from the real world.

Yeah, there are Feminists out there, but they will only be sharing these ideas in forums such as this.
If you get out in the real world, you will find that these people are actually few and far between. Ask round your female friends and you will find views that differ as much as they do with your male friends.

As for the argument about spending 15 hours playing games and watching porn... of course that's not healthy. I don't need to be a psychologist to see that.

Anything you do as extreme without moderation will course issues for you.
But usually this such behaviour is a symptom rather than the cause.

[Darrius Cole]

@Antotis - I was with you until you said "mostly white". Feminism effects all races, and excessive feminism creates the same distort view of family in everybody.

@Ravinash - Feminism arguments are more than just what people say on forums. They have gotten into government policy and into academics and even religious circles. Having gotten firmly into circles where policy get decided, it shapes policy in ways that has real consequences in peoples lives.

[Dee_91]

I can't lie, when I was like 15,16 I was doing this, watching, porn and playing video games back to back, it was my average day, but when I got a job, and actual responsibilities, all of that fun went right out the window lol.I never really sat down and monitored my psych, but I think I seemed like a pretty normal teen.Obsessed with sex and loved playing games..

@OB1Biker
I take it you didn't read the article?

"Zimbardo spoke about the results of his study, an in-depth look into the lives of 20,000 young men and their relationships with video games and pornography."

"Now, with freely available pornography, which is unique in history, they are combining playing video games, and as a break, watching on average, two hours of pornography a week."

That's the link.Now, i'm not sure if its a viable cause for the " issues" they say young men face.It seems like they did a research then just assumed this is what causes that.. I'm pretty sure he goes more into depth during the study then he did in this interview, but with this little info, it seem like he's reaching.

@Anthotis

"Part of the reason life isn't great for men is because of feminism which makes women unbearable, which is where porn becomes useful."

.. what the hell did I just read.. no amount of feminazism can make women unbearable for me... I would bone Anita Sarkesian in a heartbeat if the situation arose.. Social issues don't really affect my personal life.. Until it affects my personal life.

[ravens52]

I think everyone is reaching a little. Put some porn out with some normal size penisis. I'm sure after these "shy", not confident teens view someone "like" them being intimate with a female they'll realize they have nothing to fear. You kno how many male are scared of being rejected because of their size? That's the problem they think girlsll laugh or reject them so if u can just jerk off why get ur feelings hurt? Standards now and days are not even standard...

[Rachel_Alucard]

http://imgur.com/IFsUjZB

[Kryptonite42O]

Rachel_Alucard

That sums it up so perfectly. I need to save that image.

[rainslacker]

@breakpad

That's the same argument I've been hearing for over 25 years since porn became easily available in the store. It was BS then, it's BS now. A man's views on women, or a woman's views on men, or just people's views on other people in general are learned at home, through media in general, and by their personal interactions with others.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

I'm too deep in either to turn back now anyway. In it to win it.

[blackblades]

Lol

[lunatic0001]

True that..I'm too deep in the rabbits hole to turn back haha

[Letthewookiewin]

But I only watch porn for about 35 seconds....

[gedapeleda]

yeah man,
I just don't give a fuck anymore.
I guess women will always have to blame us, it's never their fault :D

[Perjoss]

"I just don't give a f*** anymore."

And there is nothing wrong with this at all, as soon as you realize that giving a f*** is actually kind of pointless you will start to enjoy life so much more.

Not all, but most women like to mess you around in 1 way or another, and the ones that do not intentionally do it have no idea what they really want, so 1 minute they are perfectly happy, and the next minute who the f*** knows what.

Is it worth the hassle? maybe it is, but I'm just too busy having a ton of fun with my games and porn. I love women (when they are not being insane) but the problem is I just love my games a bit more.

[CaptainObvious878]

Perhaps if society wasn't constantly demonising men's sexuality, perhaps if media outlets called out feminists when they mention 'sick male fantasies', or some variation of, instead of blindly and happily regurgitate the opinions of sexists feminist, men would be more open to their female partners instead of feeling ashamed of their perfectly natural and healthy urges trying to desperately satisfy their need for intimacy and acceptance with virtual naked women. And maybe they also wouldn't be escaping to virtual worlds way they feel a sense of accomplishment and respect.

Maybe instead of once again pointing at men and saying you're the problem do something about it, they should be looking at the actual core problem. But of course, if that means actually holding women accountable and actually having the audacity to suggest that maybe they might be a part of the cause of the problem, than that's never going to happen in my life time.

[TacoTaru]

Don't forget that saying "hello" to a woman who doesn't feel like hearing it that day can be considered sexual harassment and can really get you in trouble.

[roarmonster]

you guys are pathetic. Women are the reason guys watch excess porn and play video games? Look, I love video games, it's a huge hobby of mine, but I also do other things; I know how to have fun in other facets of my life, I don't demonize women, and the few I find entitled I just dont deal with. You know what consequently follows on occasion? Sex, with a real person.

You guys acting like you do this because girls are a problem is laughable, you do it because it is easier and you are probably awkward/uncomfortable to some degree or have have intimacy problems. If a girl is in to you, they have no problem with you expressing your "natural and healthy" urges, you are just afraid of rejection and are blaming feminazis, a minority of the group, for this.

I would agree that it is annoying when some girls mistake common courtesy for some sort of affection, but that is them just reflecting what they are used to onto you. With the amount of people I know who always have an ulterior motive anytime a girl is cute, and the amount of less dogish guys that think a girl is into them anytime they are nice.....cant blame them

It's sad guys, not a good look. If you really are cool with the porn/videogame vortex it might cause you some personal problems but fine, who cares. If you are just butthurt though, stop playing victim

[Tetsujin]

@Taco

That is 99% of why I refuse to talk to women outside "hello." I get sick of women who can't tell the difference between being nice and actually trying to get to know them. At my college there's countless times where women would swear someone was trying to "get down their pants" when all they wanted was someone of the opposite gender to talk to. Yet they're the same ones who complain because "all the good guys are taken/gay."

OT

I don't see video games/porn as the issue, I see society as the biggest problem. It's to the point where so many people (both genders) try to find some "outlet" to blame for lack of something (in this case marriage, relationships, etc) and use it as a scapegoat. I watch porn and play video games, but you know what? I also go out, I'm in college, I actually socialize with people who fit into my social circle, and I'm also actively involved in traveling for tournaments.

If it wasn't for video games I wouldn't be in college, learned a few things school didn't teach me about the real world, made friends, and I'd be a memory. Porn is my escape, which also there's certain things I'm into that a lot of women would swear "I need help" (nothing illegal or nasty, just something some wouldn't approve of while others wouldn't care).

[CaptainObvious878]

@roar

Was wondering when a big, strong "alpha male" was going to stroll onto the scene and tell us what's what.

Just for the record, I'm very happily married and don't need to do porn, but I don't judge anyone that does. The demonising of men in the media and society is so obvious that I still easily see it, even though this porn debate doesn't apply to me.

If you can't see how feminised society has become. If you can't see 'rape culture' screamed around every corner, especially in colleges, scaring some guys to even say hello to girls because they're terrified of being called a rapist, then you're blind or stupid or both.

[Blasphemy]

i havent read the article but i dont think video games and porn are leading to a problem. they are the solution to a problem. if you cant get you frills out of the real world then you go to your computer or video games to do that for you. i dont see anything wrong with it. i think without video games and porn there would be alot more suicides.

what would he rather people be addicted to porn and video games or alcohol and drugs?

the real problem is finding someone that is into you and likes doing the same things you like to do. or finding someone who doesnt have a ton of baggage.

[DEEBO]

Well I can see how it can become a problem but that's anything in life.

But nothing beats a real flesh and blood woman even if they can be nuts at times.

Everyone needs to just try to look at themselves in the mirror and see how they can improve their lives and stop trying to judge and change someone else.

[reallyNow]

Video games and porn doesn't solve anything. It simply pushes the problem further down the line. I use video games as a form of escapism. Never has doing 100 laps in GT helped solve anything. It always just diverts my attention from my crippling anxiety. When I'm playing games, I'm not me. I'm whatever I'm playing. I can forget I'm me. And its glorious.

[ion666]

Really ? are you sure it wasn't the hipster craze listening to Mumford & sons expressing their feeling to each other. Or rappers getting manicures and having more shoes than girls to match their outfit. Or is that everything that a guy likes is ridiculed by these feminist for having a sexual thought.

[pcz]

lol so first videogames turn people into mass murderers, and now they will turn you into a transvestite ?

i think you could argue porn can lead to 'sexual identity crisis' as they put it, but trying to link video games with sexual identity is absurd.

far fetched rubbish.

if anything is to blame for a masculinity crisis (if there even is one,) is the state/governments reluctance to promote or reinforce any type of moral standard. now they just liberate any and everything.

i mean, in the past we would be a country with strong religious principles, so we had ideas about sexual identity and gender roles. but in the modern time we shun these principles as bigoted, the government dont want to promote christian morals because they dont want to offend other religious groups or lose votes.

so what we have is the breakdown of these values, and as a result, we have a society where people are morally/spiritually lost and confused. so yes, you get a 'sexual identity crisis' among other things...

blaming videogames is bizarre.

[thricetold]

@Anthotis

" Mostly white " ? Seriously? Firstly I'll never understand why Americans would use colors to identify themselves, proper term is Caucasian. White implies purity and history has shown the world that doesn't apply to Caucasians. Or shall we ask the native Americans? Or the Spaniards? Or the Moors? Shall I continue?

No feminism affects ALL men, regardless of race or creed or nationality, not just mostly one race. Of all the races you think the most privileged race in the world is being targeted?

Been a while since I've been to the states, but I'm guessing we got ourselves a real live cowboy, a true Texan in our midst.

[threefootwang]

I'm surprised this is even an issue today. Between working full time and working out everyday I literally average 8-10 hours of gaming for the whole week if I'm lucky. Too many important things going on to put gaming as priority.