I've heard and/or read interviews with incarcerated pederasts, rapists, etc., where they readily admit that if released, they would continue to commit the crimes for which they were incarcerated. And while that sounds incredulous (e.g., you mean, you didn't learn your lesson), it's not really beyond the pale when you consider that those crimes make up their sex drive, which is one of the strongest human impulses of all. Imagine how difficult it would be for the rest of us if garden-variety heterosexuality were criminalized?
Add to that the brain chemistry stuff that you discuss in your post, and the picture becomes a bit more clear: the combination of the natures of addiction and sex drive . . . talk about crossing the streams of some powerful forces.
Purely from an anthropological standpoint, it's going to be interesting to see what impact readily-available pornography has on today's children when they become adults.
I remember talking to a guy who was supposed to try to rehabilitate criminals. He said that there is no cure for pedophiles. He said they tried everything except exorcism, and nothing could get that drive/desire out of those people. That totally shook my world because I would like to believe that every person has a chance to become healthy and whole.
The longer I’ve lived, the more I realize how powerful the brain is. What goes into the brain and what comes out of the brain are both so critical. Whether social, psychological, chemical.... whatever.
What you described about incarcerated people who admit that they would go back to the same behavior when released reminds me of my former sister-in-law (a different one than I mentioned before). She was repeatedly sexually abused by her uncle and cousins as a kid and her adoptive mother physically abused her as well. When I knew her she was also bi-polar. Every time her mom would beat her she would go out and get laid. That was the one thing she could do “right” - one thing she could be a joy and satisfaction to somebody else on. She got pregnant while in college and when her pastor found out about it he refused to let her have communion until she would promise not to fornicate again. She said that she couldn’t say that, and his manner didn’t allow her to be comfortable enough to tell him that she ran to the guys because she was hurting inside so badly. She knew it was unreasonable for her to expect the gaping hole inside her heart and soul to stop crying to be filled, just like that, on demand. Some people reach for chocolate when they’re down; she knew she was using guys as a crutch but didn’t know how to live any other way. Her story also made me think that there was something spiritual going on in all that - that the thrill was a substitute for what she really hungered for. I really, really hurt for her.
I have a co-worker who is in a similar situation, and I also hurt for him. Both of them are really nice people, just trying to deal with the hand they’ve been dealt.
I also wonder what the impact of readily-available porn will be. Particularly on marriages and families. There are already so many influences that seem to minimize the need for a stable, lifelong relationship, but our nature is hungry for that, I believe.