Seeing pornography is not inherently harmful to men or women. But I would offer some caveats. There are people who most likely should not see pornography, like those with poor body image or those who have been sexually victimized. Depending on your choice in watching, you can establish impractical expectations about sex or what individuals like or how you'll be expected to "perform." And viewing with someone requires real authorization.
When none of these warnings are up, pornography can certainly have benefits. Counselors often recommend it to help people become comfy with a specific dream they or their partner may have. Pornography can reboot a couple's sex life. It can give you ideas, or help you get in touch with what turns you on.
Pornography can reboot a couple's sex life. It can give you concepts, or help you contact what turns you on. Porn can provide you there at best, or disgust you at worst. It all depends upon what you choose to see. With the availability of pornography online, it's possible to sample sufficient pornography quickly that you do not have to find yourself seeing wall-to-wall hard-core sex if it's plot driven erotica that appeals to you. You're just a victim of bad porn if you let yourself be.
And a word about sex or pornography addiction. I do not believe in it. Unlike a chemical substance, like opiates, you can't end up being "addicted" to sex or porn; you can end up being a compulsive viewer. In this case, it's not the pornography that's the problem; it's the Additional resources compulsive personality. If it weren't porn being utilized to act out one's compulsive nature, it might be food or some other behavior.
As for whether it's damaging or beneficial to the performers, let's take ladies first. There are some who select to carry out since they like sex a lot and they consider it an excellent way to earn money. Then there are those who are drawn to porn as a way of acting out subconscious mental issues-- trying to find daddy's love or punishment for being a bad lady. For many, it's most likely a little of each. Even females with the best psychological health will face some disadvantages from this work. Our culture consumes pornography at record numbers, however the ladies who carry out are still judged roughly.
I'm not sure the male entertainers go out completely untouched either. While they may not be evaluated as harshly as the ladies, ultimately they're deemed freaks who make their living with their anatomy. John Holmes's fate is the supreme cautionary tale.
Perhaps if we weren't still so taken in with guilt and pity about sex, neither seeing nor performing in these movies would carry the weight it does. However then, maybe we wouldn't be so thinking about them, either. If the fruit were not forbidden, would anyone care to take a bite?