Pornography Use and Attitudes: An Examination of Relational and Sexual Openness Variables Between and Within Gender

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine male and female pornography users' and nonusers' attitudes regarding sexual openness and inhibition as well as relational variables both between and within gender. Participants included 846 individuals, 355 men and 491 women, with 239 of the men and 117 of the women being pornography consumers. Results indicate that men are more sexual seeking and less relationally oriented than women. However, men are more sexually conservative than women. When comparing groups by pornography usage, both male and female pornography users are more sexually open and uninhibited and less relationally oriented than nonusers. Interestingly, when comparing female pornography users to male nonusers, pornography-using women are more sexually open and uninhibited than nonusing men and are less sexually conservative than nonusing men. Implications and future directions are discussed.