Well I cant give an answer based on anything other than personal experience but I'd say they are equally as bad. My counter says I'm on day 7-8 but I havent actually watched a porn video in months, every time I've relapsed its been to images, not even hardcore images, usually just a picture of a naked woman. Thats the rub though isnt it? I could try to justify that its OK because its nowhere near on the same level as what I used to consume, but that would be like an alcoholic saying one shot is ok because its not as bad as 10 shots. Either go hard or go home, thats my motto with regards to this.
It's a good answer If you are an addict, even fantasizing in your head will do damage. To the average "non addict" though, pics aren't as bad as videos as they dont generate enough dopamine.
You can just think about Vanna White in a fantastic dress counting the letters on wheel of fortune. Thats my advice to avoid harmful fantasizing.
Both are bad, but video is worse, since your brain is recording more pics per sec than just still pic. Both could be equally bad if you are a switcher, like I am. I used to view fast slide shows of porn pics. And also switch many videos over and over. There was a time when I used to have a slide show in the background and video switching together! I have also done multiple simultaneous videos!! Last I was hooked onto to slideshow, porn video and roulette chat simultaneously!!! So I can vouch that the more pics of porn, plus audio, plus text reading [from chat], per second for the brain, the worse the addiction. Don't get there though! Best wishes. ~Nick
I do not know if it was the same for you, but for me porn didn't work as well as some non-hardcore or images or even normal innocent pics of beautiful women many times. The mind has a saturation point of P after which it doesn't seem to like same old sick stuff. It prefers a flavour of innocence and impossibilities. The imagination of some unseen beautiful women doing porn acts seen earlier is the rub/ trigger. Overall, its quiet sickening if I think back! This psub is quite a strong addiction.
My imagination is my worst enemy in this case, I forgot to mention it in my post but erotic stories were one of the most addictive things for me, certain sentences or even words could send me over the edge in an instant.