Withdrawal-Motivated Behavior Does Not Connect Internet Sex Addiction and Sexual Objectification, but Craving Does

Abstract

Men who score higher on internet sex addiction are more likely to objectify women. In this study, we examined whether withdrawal-motivated behaviors (e.g., seeking sexually stimulating environments after cutting off online pornography consumption) connect behaviors typical for sexual objectification with internet sex addiction symptomatology, as suggested by Roza et al.’s symptomatology chain (2023). We analyzed a network of 1,272 heterosexual men (Mage = 32.93, SDage = 9.44). The results went against our expectations – no withdrawal-motivated behaviors laid on a direct path between addictive symptomatology and objectifying behaviors. Instead, we found frequent preoccupation with thoughts of online pornographic content and the lack of ability to limit one’s exposure to online pornography were associated with objectifying behaviors, and may, therefore, strengthen or sustain sexual objectification in sexually addicted men. Our results highlight the complexity of the relationship between sexual objectification and addictive symptomatology and provide a basis for further causal study of this relationship.