Gary Wilson | Notion

Basic Info:

Gary Bruce Wilson (May 12, 1956 – May 20, 2021) a former massage therapy instructor in Oregon who died in 2021, published Your Brain on Porn (2014), and ran a website called yourbrainonporn.com (2010). While he was neither a medical doctor nor a Ph.D. scientist (he was an adjunct biology teacher at Southern Oregon University for a combined four months in 2005 and 2010). He gained prominence through his 2012 TEDx talk, “The Great Porn Experiment,” which has been viewed over 16 million times.

"With internet porn, a guy can see more hot babes in 10 minutes than his ancestors could see in several lifetimes. The problem is he has a hunter-gatherer brain. A heavy user's brain rewires itself to this genetic bonanza," Wilson told the audience in the video that has received more than 16 million views. The video now includes a disclaimer stating that several assertions made are not supported by academically respected studies in medicine and psychology.

McInnes also interviewed Wilson, who did the viral TEDx talk about porn addiction. White nationalist David Duke has recommended Wilson's presentation on his blog, where he made unfounded, antisemitic claims that “pornography is a Jewish plot to undermine white men."

His work has been labeled as pseudoscientific by experts in the field. For instance, historian Brian M. Watson noted that Wilson “with no scientific training or background… has made a career peddling pseudoscience” .

Wilson’s book heavily relies on anecdotal accounts to support his claims about porn addiction. However, investigations have revealed that these anecdotes lack proper documentation and verification. Dr Nicole Prause, a neuroscientist, highlighted that none of the 226 anecdotes in Wilson’s book were documented, and there is evidence suggesting that some may have been fabricated. Perhaps because despite presenting himself with scientific authority, he had no PhD or formal training in neuroscience or psychology and no clinical qualification to interview patients or gather anecdotes.

Wilson and his wife promoted Karezza, described in one of his wife’s books and public writings, as a spiritual/mystical practice. This belief system includes giving up orgasm, oral sex, passionate kissing - even lingerie - in heterosexual monogamy, in hopes of spawning a “holy foetus” or spiritual transformation (compared by critics to religious cult ideas).

Wilson died in 2021, rumours exist online that it was a covered up suicide, although official cause of death is chronic illness.

Known Connections:

In an online obituary posted in his honour, the writer makes clear Wilson’s link to Christian anti-porn groups like NCOSE and Fight The New Drug.