Jul 3, 2008 11:58 pm US/Eastern
When Does Porn Become A Problem In Relationships?
Doctors Say Adult Videos Are OK, Until They Get In The Way
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Christie Brinkley's estranged husband Peter Cook has admitted to spending $3,000 a month on Internet pornography.
But when does porn become a problem in a relationship?
There are more than 4 million pornographic Web sites, and everyday, there are 68 million searches for pornographic material.
New Yorker Eli Rosenblum openly admits to having done a search before himself.
"I've looked online before, sure, everyone has. But it's not a habit, and I certainly haven't spent $3,000," he says.
And Rosenblum's wife? She has no problem with it.
But others aren't as forgiving.
"I would hope that my husband would be satisfied at home and would never have to turn to any other, I sort of consider that cheating," says Upper West Side resident Micheline Schwartz.
Dr. Brenda Shoshanna is a psychologist who says porn becomes a problem when it starts interfering with the relationship.
"For many men, they begin to withdraw from sex completely. They just don't want the real person who needs that with all the reality and all the trouble when I can have all my fantasy pleasure," says Shoshanna.
Shoshanna says another sign of too much porn is when you a person compares their real partner with the fantasy.
"Many of the men do begin to make remarks, 'You're a little too heavy, thats why I'm not attracted to you; I don't like the way you dress; I don't like the way you look,'" says Shoshanna.
Claire Cavanah, who owns the adult store Babeland, says the problem isn't just with men.
"More and more women are finding pornography that they really like, so they are watching it because they like it and not for their husbands or their relationships," she says.
Dr. Shoshanna says it's fine to watch porn, especially when both parties are on board, but when it becomes an addiction one needs to seek help.
"Nobody should feel bad or ashamed – neither the men or the women," she says. "Just recognize, 'OK, I've gotten caught in a problem and I'm going to correct it."
She says that attitude can save a relationship.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WCBSTV.com's Most Popular Pages
