Pornographic Video Games and Sexuality
Last Monday, I received screenshots of a game my client was playing, but it wasn’t a traditional game. He indulged in the ever-expanding genre of pornographic video games.
Some of you who read my blog regularly may know, a person on federal supervised release for an internet crime of a sexual nature must have monitoring software on their devices.
The software blocks you from sites based on probation regulations and takes screenshots of what they’re doing. When one of my clients looks at questionable things, their probation officer will contact me and send me screenshots of the content.
I’m Not Going to Moralize About Pornographic Video Games
Nor will I discuss whether or not this is an appropriate expression of sexuality for people whom partnered sex is not an option. This is just a, “Hey it’s out there if you didn’t know about it,” post.
Adult video gaming is legal and the people playing them are making a conscious choice to do so.
So why does it matter? In my work, it matters for a few reasons.
Do you believe you have an online pornography addiction? Take the free Cyber Pornography Addiction Test (CYPAT) and have the results to speak with your therapist.
Pornographic Video Games and
Adolescents
We all know that most kids today game. It is super common and can be as much of a lifestyle as a hobby to kill some time. Games have come a long way from the Frogger of my youth.
Adult video games can be problematic for youth the same as pornography.
Physical and emotional development of teens does not happen along the same trajectory. Bodies might find these games exciting, but minds don’t always know how to process what goes on.
In most pornographic video games, as in pornography, there is not a discussion of consent, boundaries, or anything else. And the themes or topics are similar to pornography.
I braved a google search and adult video games are promoting themes like anal sex with your stepsister and sex with your stepmom the same as live pornography is.
Not the best themes for a growing mind to be masturbating to.
Do you believe your sexual behaviors are compulsive or harmful to you or others? Then you should take the CSBD-19 free, validated self-assessment tool.
Individuals with Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB)
Pornographic video games can fall into a grey area for those with pornography addictions or PSB.
They are not pornography, as many will define it in terms of live humans, but it still falls into the category of sex acts or simulated sex acts.
Using adult video games may be a gray area that a person struggling with pornography addiction can use as a means to act out while thinking they are not violating their bottom-line behaviors.
Individuals on Supervised Release
Playing these games could be a violation of the stipulations of supervision for individuals on probation, parole, or federal supervised release for crimes of a sexual nature.
Many of these probation stipulations prohibit viewing pornography. I’ve found most probation/parole officers consider adult video games to be pornography.
Playing pornographic video games and not disclosing it could cause problems with supervision and result in a freedom-losing violation.
What’s the Lesson About Pornographic Video Games?
For me, it was to be more specific. My client had permission to play video games. We had worked on that, and it was approved by treatment and probation. Clearly, I needed to be more specific about what types of video games were okay to play.
I needed to have more conversations about exactly what was okay to do and what was not.
Again, not here to have a philosophical discussion about adult sex games. I want to help our guys stay compliant with their conditions.
What’s the Lesson for Non-Supervised Folks?
Particularly if you are a parent of a gaming adolescent, you need to know what games your child is playing.
Be involved in their lives. Ask about their gaming. Ask if they have seen or played these games. Talk about it.
If your child is a gamer and young, learn how to block those sites or games from their gaming device.
Ultimately, the lesson is to be aware.
Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
