It would be helpful if you were to define the word superstimulus (in the sense of “rationalist taboo”).
I would define a human superstimulus as something that resembles a stimulus that existed in the human EEA—i.e. a distinct object or phenomenon that elicits a distinct evolved response in (a region of) the human mind—but which is much greater in extent that the stimulus as it existed in the EEA, and which brings about a response in the human mind that is commensurately great, such that the response would very probably have been maladaptive in the EEA (and may be harmful to some of an individual human’s personal interests in the present day too).
Under this definition, pornography of whatever kind is certainly a superstimulus; for example, extremely few humans in the EEA would have seen anywhere near the number of many females “presenting” that a porn-addict is liable to see. Note however that you didn’t define “pornography” either—given the wide variety of preferences in pornography that exist, that is a serious omission. You mention “non-fetishistic sexual pleasure”, but plenty of porn is perfectly normal in a sense (remember that not all pornographic or quasi-pornographic material on the internet is of commercial origin).
Also note that under my definition, a vast range of socially acceptable and normal human experiences are also superstimuli. Nightclubs are superstimuli—never mind the music, just the number of girls of fertile age in one place. Walking on a city street is a superstimulus—seeing and walking past a stranger is surely a stimulus in the EEA. Driving a car is a superstimulus, given that fast motion is a stimulus. Und so weiter. This sheds an unfortunate light on your idea that all superstimuli are bad (rather than merely having good and bad sides) - unless your definition of superstimulus is substantially different to mine.
Finally, what about men who are genuinely hopeless with or repulsive to women? For them, in general does not “greater motivation” imply merely greater frustration?
Perhaps it would be good to add “chronic use of superstimuli” to the author’s definition. The human brain evolved to handle some radical fluctuations, and even frequent temporary habituation. But chronic superstimulation appears to change brains, causing addiction processes.
Can’t see that a definition of pornography would be relevant in the least. Superstimuation is in the eye of the beholder. If it jacks up your dopamine such that your brain begins to dysregulate its standard dopamine response, then it’s a superstimulus for you, even if your neighbor can watch with no lasting brain changes.
Given the fact that heavy porn use is beginning to cause sexual performance problems in some guys, unattractive men may soon be in just as much demand as anyone else...provided they can get it up. Confidence and social presence are what make men attractive, and heavy porn use dampers both in many men. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/201107/porn-induced-sexual-dysfunction-is-growing-problem
It would be helpful if you were to define the word superstimulus (in the sense of “rationalist taboo”).
I would define a human superstimulus as something that resembles a stimulus that existed in the human EEA—i.e. a distinct object or phenomenon that elicits a distinct evolved response in (a region of) the human mind—but which is much greater in extent that the stimulus as it existed in the EEA, and which brings about a response in the human mind that is commensurately great, such that the response would very probably have been maladaptive in the EEA (and may be harmful to some of an individual human’s personal interests in the present day too).
Under this definition, pornography of whatever kind is certainly a superstimulus; for example, extremely few humans in the EEA would have seen anywhere near the number of many females “presenting” that a porn-addict is liable to see. Note however that you didn’t define “pornography” either—given the wide variety of preferences in pornography that exist, that is a serious omission. You mention “non-fetishistic sexual pleasure”, but plenty of porn is perfectly normal in a sense (remember that not all pornographic or quasi-pornographic material on the internet is of commercial origin).
Also note that under my definition, a vast range of socially acceptable and normal human experiences are also superstimuli. Nightclubs are superstimuli—never mind the music, just the number of girls of fertile age in one place. Walking on a city street is a superstimulus—seeing and walking past a stranger is surely a stimulus in the EEA. Driving a car is a superstimulus, given that fast motion is a stimulus. Und so weiter. This sheds an unfortunate light on your idea that all superstimuli are bad (rather than merely having good and bad sides) - unless your definition of superstimulus is substantially different to mine.
Finally, what about men who are genuinely hopeless with or repulsive to women? For them, in general does not “greater motivation” imply merely greater frustration?
In case anyone else is in the dark, I added the definition of EEA to the Jargon page of the wiki.
(What’s the etiquette for this kind of thing, anyway?)
Perhaps it would be good to add “chronic use of superstimuli” to the author’s definition. The human brain evolved to handle some radical fluctuations, and even frequent temporary habituation. But chronic superstimulation appears to change brains, causing addiction processes. Can’t see that a definition of pornography would be relevant in the least. Superstimuation is in the eye of the beholder. If it jacks up your dopamine such that your brain begins to dysregulate its standard dopamine response, then it’s a superstimulus for you, even if your neighbor can watch with no lasting brain changes. Given the fact that heavy porn use is beginning to cause sexual performance problems in some guys, unattractive men may soon be in just as much demand as anyone else...provided they can get it up. Confidence and social presence are what make men attractive, and heavy porn use dampers both in many men. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/201107/porn-induced-sexual-dysfunction-is-growing-problem