The influence of stress on the processing of visual sexual stimuli (VSS) in men in relation to habitual VSS-consumption

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rudolf Maria Stark
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: from 2015 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 288446241

There are numerous indications that pornography consumption has reached a new dimension due to easy access via the internet. While most men report no problems concerning their VSS-consumption, some experience a loss of control in the course of their consumption history. Despite seriously negative consequences (e.g., occupational and relationship problems, depression), these men seem to be unable to achieve a lasting reduction of their VSS-consumption. Some researchers interpret these symptoms in terms of a behavioral addiction. Results from drug addiction research point to an association between stress and augmented addiction behavior as well as relapses, potentially mediated by an interaction between the stress hormone cortisol and the dopaminergic reward system. Habitual VSS-consumption (VSS-consumption-intensity) considerably differs between men. It is widely unknown which personality traits are predictive for VSS-consumption-intensity and whether increasing VSS-consumption-intensity is associated with altered VSS-processing. Altered VSS-processing would be expected given the the well-established neurobiological incentive-sensitization theory of addiction by Robinson and Berridge (1993). To date, studies investigating the impact of stress and VSS-consumption-intensity on VSS-processing are rare and have so far revealed inconsistent results.For the proposed research project, it is planned to investigate the impact of (1) stress, (2) individual VSS-consumption-intensities and (3) the stress x VSS-consumption-intensity interaction on VSS-processing in men. In a between subject design, half of the participants will undergo a stress test, which reliably results in cortisol release. The other half will pass a control condition without an expected cortisol release. Both groups consist of four subgroups with different (very low, low, high, very high) VSS-consumption-intensities. In the planned experiment, VSS-anticipation and VSS-consumption phases will alternate. For the different phases, a different impact of stress and VSS-consumption-intensity is expected. Beside fMRI data, humoral, morphometric, connectivity, peripher-physiological, behavioral, and subjective data will be collected. Further, personality traits, VSS consumption motives as well as psychopathological symptoms will be assessed by questionnaires. These data offer a remarkable data basis for mediator and moderator analyses concerning the impact of stress and VSS-consumption-intensity on VSS-processing. This will result in testable hypotheses of critical factors involved in the development of excessive and out-of-control consumption behavior with regard to VSS.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants