7/3/07
Junk science and abandoned pseudo-psychoanalytic gooblededgook.” Is that any way to describe the works of a Yale psychiatrist who has testified before congress about so called “porn addiction”?
It gets worse. “Most psychiatrists would hesitate at sending their dogs to Satinover for toilet training.”
And, much worse. “Satinover doesn’t have a clue about what science is or how it works. His books are full of lies and calculated distortions.”
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for criticism of Dr. Jeffrey Satinover whose critics have filled up a six page print out of negative comments on him.
But, the criticism, posted on his own web site, doesn’t slow down Dr. Satinover.
He’s right back at it now with more of his questionable “porn addiction” comments. This time he’s consulting for the Ohio based Citizens for Community Values (CCV).
“An addiction to pornography is chemically nearly identical to heroin addiction,” Dr.Satinover says in support of a new Ohio anti- adult entertainment law.
There is only one thing wrong with that statement.
The Adult Freedom Foundation is learning there is no such thing as “porn addiction.”
So says Dr. Stuart Gitlow, an expert on addiction and a respected member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
“Addiction is a medical term,” said Dr. Gitlow who is board certified in addiction and forensic psychiatry
“And there is no research to indicate anyone suffers from porn addiction. There is nothing to suggest that this is a complex physiological disease state akin to alcoholism or other substance use disorders,” he explained.
Dr. Marty Klein agrees.
“The idea of “porn addiction” has never been accepted by the psychiatric, psychological, marital counseling or sexological professions.
“There is no DSMIV or ICD9 (that is professional) diagnosis of “porn addiction.” Just because people feel they are addicted doesn’t mean they are,” said Dr. Klein, a certified sex therapist and sociologist who has written six books and 100 articles.
“Dr. Satinover’s ‘research’ is proof that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. His testimony to Sen. (Sam) Brownback’s committee is a startling brew of assumptions, unverified assertions, commonplace observations about contemporary social problems and just enough scientific jargon to sound as if he ties these all together in a logical framework. He doesn’t.” Dr. Klein noted.
Sen. Brownback called the hearing in the hopes that scientific evidence will show adult entertainment might be damaging as a way around First Amendment protections.
Dr. Satinover testimony on so called “porn addiction” also has a strange ring to Dr. Robert Prentky, a noted forensic psychologist for the past 20 years.
“I’m completely perplexed. I didn’t understand it. I talked to a colleague about it and he was perplexed too,” Dr. Prentky explained.
“I don’t know what to make of it. It (the testimony) is certainly not informed with empirical information on pornography,” he said.
“There is no evidence, no literature (by Dr. Satinover) that indicates a link between pornography and addiction,” he noted.
“He’s a mystery to me,” Dr. Prentky said in acknowledging Dr. Satinover’s “excellent credentials” from Yale, Harvard, Princeton and professional endeavors.
And, Dr. Satinover’s own web site does nothing to clear up his claims of “porn addiction.”
A search of his web site reveals no indication of research or writings about “porn addiction,” by Dr. Satinover.
So why is he promoting “porn addiction” to
Congress and Christian groups?
Paul Cambria, AFF general counsel, has some ideas about that.
“We are seeing more and more of this. Bald statements with no support which the anti-adult entertainment folks are feeding to politicians eager to get re-elected.
“These people have no concept of what constitutes proof and what simply masquerades as a cover for their desire to control other adult’s choice of entertainment,” Cambria explained.
“Any politician who relies on this drool should be voted out of office for being irresponsible,” he concluded
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