Can persistence in looking at what is forbidden lead to polytheism (shirk), and how would that be?

The guidance of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim is that unlawful looking may lead to attachment to images and infatuation with them, and this infatuation may lead to falling into shirk (polytheism). Looking and direct interaction, if a person persists in them, may turn into a major sin, and persistence in them may be greater than minor immoralities. Looking and direct interaction may end up leading the servant to shirk, for demonic infatuation stems from weak love for Allah and weak faith, and from taking rivals besides Allah. The infatuated lover becomes a slave to his beloved, submissive to him, and his heart becomes captive to him. Ibn al-Qayyim affirms that loving unlawful images and being infatuated with them are among the causes of shirk, for the closer a servant is to shirk and the further away from sincerity (ikhlas), the stronger his love for infatuation with images. This infatuation combines the four forbidden acts: apparent and hidden indecencies, sin, unjust aggression, associating partners with Allah, and speaking about Allah that which they do not know.