Are you a pornosexual?

We live in a porn-saturated culture, but that doesn’t mean pornography or the enjoyment thereof is yet considered acceptable. In fact, people who rely on various media for their sexual release rarely admit to it for fear of being judged or shunned.

The truth of the matter is, according to Brigham Young University, that pornography is far more common than anyone lets on; approximately 25 percent of all search engine requests on the Internet a day are for some form of pornography. Both women (13 percent) and men (20 percent) view pornography, though women are more likely to keep it a secret.

SEE ALSO: Is watching porn bad for your sex life and sexual performance?

While most individuals who indulge in pornographic viewing also have real-life relationships, there is a group of individuals who solely rely on pornography for their sexual satisfaction. These people have adopted the name ‘pornosexual,’ and they are going through what some experts say is discrimination similar to that experienced by homosexuals.

“Actually I’m a Pornosexual. I rely entirely on porn for my sexual release. I have for years. At first I was ashamed, but I’ve come to accept myself,” stated an anonymous individual on Psychology Today. “It’s hard. Most people who know look down on me because of it. They assume I’m some sort of pervert or letch, like how people used to think homosexuals go around lusting after every guy they meet, trying to cop a feel or whatever, as though you could never be just friends with guys, as though his sexuality was all consuming.”

The individual went on to say his preference to porn doesn’t leak into his other day-to-day activities; it’s simply what he prefers when he needs to address his sexual desires.

“Maybe more pornosexuals will be coming out of the closet now because there’s less oppression. Like with homosexuals. Before society became more tolerant, fewer admitted they were homosexuals if they even knew they were,” he said. “I’m hopeful that society will eventually become more tolerant of pornosexuals once folks realize that we’re like everyone else, some good, some bad, just normal people. I bet folks don’t realize that they have friends and relatives who are pornosexuals. They’d be surprised how many are out there.”

SEE ALSO: Teens and porn: The psychology behind a new trend

Pornosexuality isn’t a formal term of classification yet, just more or less a way for a growing group of people to identify their personal preferences. No real investigations into this form of sexuality have been carried out, and it is unknown if someone can be a pornosexual yet eventually find themselves in a physical relationship with another person.

At the moment, most definitions of pornosexuality indicate it is a desire for sexual satisfaction through pornography as opposed to other means. As it becomes more mainstream and the psychological reasons for pornosexuality are investigated, the definition will likely need to be broadened or restructured.