Mental Health
Why do people watch pornography? The role of schema modes in problematic pornography use.
Open Access: Yes.
Abstract
Problematic pornography use (PPU) has been the object of attention from clinicians and researchers due to its impact on relationships, mental health, and sexual satisfaction. More recent research has examined potential motivational factors underpinning online pornography use. However, no prior studies have investigated the role of schema modes in the motivation to watch pornography. The present study assessed the predictive ability of schema modes in online pornography use and investigated the difference between problematic and non-problematic pornography users. The study also examined the association between schema modes and the eight components of the Pornography Use Motivations Scale. A sample of 966 adults completed the Schema Mode Inventory, the Pornography Use Motivations Scale, and the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale . The findings indicated that problematic pornography users scored higher than non-problematic pornography users across all schema modes, except the Happy Child and Healthy Adult modes. In addition, the findings indicated that schema modes explained approximately 41% of the variance in PPU across all participants. The Impulsive Child and Detached Self-Soother modes alone accounted for 37% of the variance in PPU. This study provides additional insights into the motivational factors underlying PPU, which can inform the development of formulations, clinical interventions, and policymaking.
Relevance
Of the 966 pornography users in this study, 36% reported problematic pornography use (PPU).
“Early maladaptive schemas are maladaptive cognitive-emotional representations that often originate in childhood and incorporate thoughts, emotions, somatic sensations, and autobiographical memories.” Schema modes are “transient, situationally activated states that arise from triggering one or more schemas, along with an associated coping strategy.”
This study certain schema modes suggested that some individuals may use pornography as an “emotional escape” from anxiety, depression, stress, negative emotions, and emotional discomfort. But this pattern of “avoidance” can exacerbate the very emotions the user seeks to escape, “creating a cycle of emotional numbing and detachment.”
The study also found that the Impulsive Child, Detached Self-Soother, Bully and Attack, Undisciplined Child, Compliant Surrender, Angry Child, and Vulnerable Child schema modes most strongly predicted PPU. “These findings are in line with previous literature, particularly with the role of impulsivity and detached self-soothing behaviours” as well as anxious attachment, emotional dysregulation, difficulty managing distress, and insecure attachment on PPU.
“The main surprise in these findings was the role of the Bully and Attack mode as a predictor of PPU. Although there have not been any previous studies specifically examining the relationship between this schema mode (characterised by an internal state where an individual adopts a hostile, aggressive, or punitive stance towards themselves or others) and PPU,” other studies have found a positive correlation between pornography use and man’s sexual aggression, sexual harassment, and sexual coercion.
Citation
Vieira, C., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2026). Why do people watch pornography? The role of schema modes in problematic pornography use. Psychology & Sexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2026.2635458
