The Psychology of Porn: Essays on Pornography, Objectification & Healing

by Andrew J. Bauman

Are you a Christian looking to be free from your regular use of pornography? Shame and self-hatred are terrible motivators for transformation. There must be a better way to outgrow our unhealthy dependence on pornography. Religious communities often fall short engaging pornography in a meaningful way, quality resources are scarce. We must get beneath to what is driving our hunger to use each other as objects of our pleasure, and learn how to honor not objectify. This book is an in-depth collection of essays engaging our behaviors both conscious and unconscious involving pornography. May this be a rich resource in helping you or those you love know liberation. May you find this resource helpful in your continued fight for sexual health. "In a western Christian world where so many conversations in the church about sexuality and the porn-addiction crisis are shrouded in darkness and a primitive view of the relationship that humankind has with the Divine, Andrew’s latest book is a lighthouse. Those that choose to follow its light will find themselves holding profound tools for a pilgrimage towards a more beautiful understanding of who God is, who we are, and the untold freedom and beauty that lives within our sexuality. As the mystery of the Grace of God still seems to have so many Christians stumped, the Church must make more room on its shelves for books like “The Psychology of Porn” or risk being suffocated by this growing crisis." Seth Alan Taylor, Author of Feels like The Pilgrimage To Health and Healing Testimonials from “I love your book so much, I am really beginning to see a change in myself and how I am beginning to view women differently.” - John R. “Truly words of life were being spoken to me through you and your book. Incredible clarity and healing were fostered as I have been going through my own journey, every single chapter hit home.” -Steve W.

Genres: Sexuality, Psychology, Pornography, Counselling, Addiction, Nonfiction

94 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2017

About the author

Co-Founder & Director of the Christian Counseling Center: For Sexual Health & Trauma (CCC), Andrew J. Bauman is a licensed mental health counselor with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. He spent 10 years studying under Dr. Dan Allender. Andrew is the author of Floating Away, Stumbling Toward Wholeness, The Psychology of Porn, and (with Christy) A Brave Lament.

Reviews

[Jason Kanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bauman's The Psychology of Porn is a short accessible book about a big problem. I appreciated the compassion in his essays. It seems to me that so many of the books that I have read on the topic of porn--even those claiming "grace"--tend toward a heavy-handed, shaming approach. Not so with this book. Bauman writes about the beauty of sexuality and how we must come to see its goodness. He encourages us to have compassion upon ourselves, and explore issues around bodily hatred.

Perhaps what this book did most for me was encourage me to ask questions of my own sexuality. Where do I find intimacy? How do I express it?

Bauman doesn't offer 3 steps to a porn-free life. If you find a book that does, toss it in the trash. He will encourage curiosity, which is perhaps precisely what you need.

[Nicholas Varady-szabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is profound! The most helpful book i've read on the topic and perfect for helping me in this stage of my journey.

It goes deep QUICK - it is a collection off essays so that makes sense. But after a couple of chapters I needed to just stop and meditate (and discuss with my wife) on some of the concepts for a week or so. Bauman talks about porn in a way i've not heard anyone else do. Rather than just focus on strategies to stop lookign at it, he explores the role Porn has played in an addicts life, in order to understand the drivers to engage in it. He also discusses the beauty and power of sexuality of which porn is a distortion, and how the way we function in relationships and identity all intermingle and need to be untangled before we can really understand how to change our behaviour.

This very short book provided some really helpful keys for me in understanding whats going on for me when i'm tempted to look at porn, and also a doorway towards a different future. Highlighy recommend it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a more in-depth book based on the title, but this is actually a loose collection of essays on the topic. It feels a bit stream-of-consciousness at times because the essays can be quite short and I’m not always sure why they’re in this order.

I’m not the target audience but I’m trying to find resources that are helpful for different situations we are running into, and though I think Bauman’s overall point about curiosity regarding wounds that need healing is good, I don’t think this is quite the resource we are looking for right now.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bauman provides some crucial content on the major issues of pornography and what it does to the mind. His perspective focused primarily on male users in the church and he rightly articulates how usage impacts marriage and friendship with females. There are certain sections that seem out of touch with biblical calls for purity and self control, this, alongside the enticing language about a sensitive and graphic topic make the essay difficult to read.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author explores some of the nuanced complexities of pornography use with a clever combination vulnerability and research. Some essays are written from his own story, education and experience, and others are written with a heavy reliance on the research of others. It’s well done. Thank you, Andrew.

[Patrick Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly insightful and refreshing

I loved the connection with using porn to soothe different types of neglect from our parents, especially our mother. So much of our children's ability to function is wrapped up in the parents relationship.

[Lauren Scharmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a 5 star for me if it weren’t for his problematic views on masturbation. That aside, this is approachable and enlightening . . . Something I’d recommend to anyone (with the caveat of disregarding one chapter)

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource. The author shares his healing journey. First heard Andrew Bauman on Adam Young's podcast, The Place We Find Ourselves. This book should be on every therapist's bookshelf.