This paper focuses on notions of “addiction” among users of online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) through a comparative analysis of two qualitative studies. The first is a 17-month anthropological ethnography (participant observation, interviews, and focus groups) in UK group programs for CSEM users, and the second is based on interviews with individuals in sexual offense treatment units of a US prison. We thematically analyze the narratives of 103 CSEM users at different timepoints and settings from pre-trial to incarceration. Those citing “addiction” focused on three areas. First was pornography progression. Second were perceived indicators of “addiction” and alignment/analogy to other addictions, including ideas about losing control; ignoring detrimental consequences and continuing; physiological signs similar to withdrawal; likening to substances; and progression from “softer” to “harder” material. Third, less common was rejecting the “addiction” label, citing choice and responsibility. We situate these results within debates and literature regarding pornography and Internet “addiction”; implications of the label; societal conceptions of sexual offending; harms of CSEM; and treatment/prevention considerations. Lastly, highlighting the merit of interdisciplinary comparative qualitative analysis, we demonstrate similarities in narratives despite differences in location, timeframe, setting, conviction status, intervention programming, and research methods.

本文通过对两项定性研究的比较分析，重点关注在线儿童性剥削材料 (CSEM) 用户的“成瘾”概念。第一个是针对 CSEM 用户的英国团体项目中为期 17 个月的人类学民族志（参与者观察、访谈和焦点小组），第二个是基于对美国监狱性犯罪治疗单位个人的访谈。我们对 103 名 CSEM 用户在从审前到入狱的不同时间点和环境下的叙述进行主题分析。那些引用“成瘾”的人集中在三个方面。首先是色情发展。其次是“成瘾”的感知指标和与其他成瘾的一致性/类比，包括失去控制的想法；忽略有害后果并继续；类似于戒断的生理体征；比作物质；以及从“较软”到“较硬”的材料的发展。第三，不太常见的是拒绝“上瘾”标签，引用选择和责任。我们将这些结果置于关于色情和互联网“成瘾”的辩论和文献中；标签的含义；性犯罪的社会观念；CSEM的危害；和治疗/预防注意事项。最后，强调跨学科比较定性分析的优点，尽管地点、时间框架、设置、信念状态、干预计划和研究方法存在差异，但我们证明了叙述的相似性。我们将这些结果置于关于色情和互联网“成瘾”的辩论和文献中；标签的含义；性犯罪的社会观念；CSEM的危害；和治疗/预防注意事项。最后，强调跨学科比较定性分析的优点，尽管地点、时间框架、设置、信念状态、干预计划和研究方法存在差异，但我们证明了叙述的相似性。我们将这些结果置于关于色情和互联网“成瘾”的辩论和文献中；标签的含义；性犯罪的社会观念；CSEM的危害；和治疗/预防注意事项。最后，强调跨学科比较定性分析的优点，尽管地点、时间框架、设置、信念状态、干预计划和研究方法存在差异，但我们证明了叙述的相似性。