“Emotional Pornography” in my definition is any activity in which we willingly get involved that causes us to be drained, to have our energy siphoned, to set ourselves into an emotional tizzy in a way that is not helpful whatsoever.
The following list of addictions is not designed to shame anyone, but rather to bring awareness to unnecessary activities so that we may tune into the numbness and programs making the activity seem to be useful in some way.
I consider the following to be emotional pornography:
-Performing Self-Sabotaging actions repeatedly and then being disappointed with the result
-Being in a relationship requiring constant “processing”
-Evaluating political “rightness” or “wrongness”
-Actual pornography, of course
-Arguing to prove yourself right with any kind of stakes that feel “personal”
-Self-Hatred, self-gaslighting, self-abuse
-Being obsessed with whose “fault” something is
-Horror movies (particularly slasher/traumatizing content)
-Soap opera/Murder mystery dramas
-Writing or reading poetry or novels which “tug at the heart strings” which contribute no actual benefit or personal evolution
-Short-term flings with no intent for commitment
-Habitually needing anything from anyone
-Doom scrolling news and social media
-Indulging in vengeance fantasies
-Excessive rumination on past mistakes or traumas
-Engaging in circular debates with no intent to understand
-Chronic comparison to others (especially on social media)
-Deliberately seeking out content that triggers anxiety or anger
-Maintaining relationships primarily out of guilt or obligation
-Constantly seeking validation through social media engagement
-Habitual complaining without taking action to resolve issues
-Creating or participating in unnecessary drama to feel important
Organized by enneagram type as follows:
-Type 1 (Perfectionist): Ruminating on mistakes, excessively judging themselves and others, obsessing over “right” ways of doing things
-Type 2 (Helper): Martyrdom narratives, excessive people-pleasing, maintaining relationships that consistently drain them
-Type 3 (Achiever): Status obsession, compulsive achievement seeking, creating false personas for approval
-Type 4 (Individualist): Romanticizing suffering, wallowing in melancholy, identity-based conflicts
-Type 5 (Investigator): Information hoarding without application, detaching from emotions, then binging on intense experiences
-Type 6 (Loyalist): Catastrophizing, security theater (excessive precautions), loyalty to harmful groups/ideologies
-Type 7 (Enthusiast): Escapism through constant stimulation, avoiding emotional depth, superficial relationships
-Type 8 (Challenger): Power struggles, confrontation for its own sake, excessive need to control outcomes
-Type 9 (Peacemaker): Conflict avoidance that creates bigger problems, numbing through mindless activities, merging identity with others
That’s all for now. Feel free to add more below if you’d like 
Joshua
