Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or drive, pushes...

Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory

Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory

Self-Determination Theory (SDT), formulated by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, explains that human motivation is driven by three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are met, individuals experience personal growth, intrinsic motivation, and overall well-being.
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who is...

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory revolutionized psychology by introducing the idea that unconscious forces significantly shape human behavior. According to Freud, every psychological event is driven by deep-seated internal forces, often formed during early childhood. His theory, built on the premises of psychic determinism, symbolic meaning, and unconscious motivation, offers a unique perspective on the complexities of human behavior.
Freud's concept of psychic determinism asserts that...

Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation

Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation

Incentive theory, or the "pull theory" of motivation, suggests that external rewards primarily drive behavior. Individuals are motivated to engage in activities when they anticipate a desirable outcome. This is why people often work hard for promotions or study intensively to achieve high grades. These incentives can be tangible, physical rewards such as money or promotions, or intangible, non-physical rewards like praise and social recognition.
The theory differentiates between intrinsic and...

Carl Rogers' Humanistic Perspective on Personality

Carl Rogers' Humanistic Perspective on Personality

Carl Rogers, a key figure in humanistic psychology, believed that individuals possess an innate potential for growth and fulfillment. According to his model of personality, three significant components define an individual: the organism, the self, and conditions of worth.
The organism refers to an individual's inherent blueprint, which Rogers saw as innately positive and directed toward helping others, unlike Freud's view of the id as driven by base impulses. The self is a person's...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A hierarchical uncertainty framework of anxiety: Preregistered meta-analytic structural model of intolerance of uncertainty and worry across anxiety disorders.

Clinical psychology review·2026

Same author

Sequential Pathways to Suicidal Ideation: Refining the IMV Model in a Trauma-Exposed Iranian Sample.

Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·2026

Same author

Psychological and sociocultural patterns of cosmetic-procedure consideration: A machine-learning approach.

Body image·2026

Same author

The interplay of complex PTSD, intimate partner violence, and metacognitive beliefs in driving methamphetamine craving among women: A structural equation modeling study.

Addictive behaviors reports·2026

Same author

Are individual differences linked to perceived stress? Does positive cognitive reappraisal, anxiety sensitivity, or sex matter?

Acta psychologica·2026

Same author

Combined Effects of Low-Dose Kanamycin and Noise Exposure on Auditory Brainstem Response and Cochlear Microphonic Potential in Guinea Pigs.

Iranian journal of child neurology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Motivational pathways to problematic pornography use: A self-determination theory perspective.

Mehdi Akbari¹, Mohammad Seydavi¹, Sonay Sheikhi¹

¹Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

Addictive Behaviors Reports

|July 2, 2026

Summary

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is linked to negative psychological outcomes like distress and sexual dysfunction. Motivational pathways, while present, appear to have minor clinical significance, suggesting a need for further research.

Keywords:

Conditional mediation analysis Pornography use motivations Problematic pornography use Self-determination theory (SDT)

More Related Videos

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers

Published on: November 9, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers

Published on: November 9, 2019

Area of Science:

Psychology
Human Sexuality
Behavioral Science

Background:

Problematic pornography use (PPU) involves dysregulated and distressing engagement with pornography.
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) provides a framework for understanding motivation in relation to psychological well-being.
Understanding the psychological correlates of PPU is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate associations between PPU and psychological outcomes within the SDT framework.
To explore motivational pathways mediating the relationship between PPU and psychological well-being.
To identify potential clinical intervention targets for problematic pornography use.

Main Methods:

Exploratory study utilizing conditional process analysis.
Sample of 613 participants (75.7% male, mean age 25.14).
Assessed PPU, motivations, impulsivity, loneliness, distress, sexual function, relationship satisfaction, and sexual self-esteem.

Main Results:

PPU positively associated with motivations (stress reduction, distraction, fantasy), impulsivity, loneliness, distress, and sexual dysfunction.
PPU negatively associated with relationship satisfaction and sexual self-esteem.
Fantasy, lack of sexual satisfaction, and emotional distraction were mediators, but indirect effects were generally small and not practically significant.

Conclusions:

Motivational pathways identified are unlikely to be significant clinical intervention targets due to limited practical significance.
Further research into alternative pathways is warranted to better understand PPU mechanisms.
Findings are hypothesis-generating and require replication to understand PPU at various psychological vulnerability levels.