Nonviolent Pornography Research Articles

Access to non-violent pornography in a secure forensic hospital

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore non-violent pornography within secure hospital settings.Design/methodology/approachIt includes a systematic review (n = 40 papers), followed by a qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews (n = 24, 6 patients and 18 staff) and staff focus groups (n = 22 staff).FindingsThe systematic review identified six themes, as follows: pornography is inconsistently defined, pornography exposure can increase general aggression, pornography exposure may increase the risk for sexual aggression, pornography exposure can increase aggression supportive beliefs, pornography exposure impacts negatively on those with a violent predisposition and pornography is educational for men not identifying as heterosexual. The semi-structured interviews and focus groups revealed four themes as follows: staff members hold diverse beliefs about pornographic material, pornography is difficult to obtain and use for patients who do not identify as heterosexual, pornography is used for specific functions, and frequent exposure to pornography can have negative effects for staff members.Practical implicationsTrying to obtain consensus on the impacts of pornography on forensic patients is not possible; material access decisions should be on a case-by-case basis. Policy decisions should be based on fully represented views, including the LGBTI community. The impacts on staff of their occupational exposure to such material should be recognised and support provided. Clinical decision-making in this area should consider not only if access should be allowed but also how it can be managed safely, if at all. This includes for all those who could be exposed to such material, inadvertently or otherwise.Originality/valueIt addresses the under-researched area of patient access to pornography, capturing a poorly considered sample, namely, high secure psychiatric.

Experimental effects of degrading versus erotic pornography exposure in men on reactions toward women (objectification, sexism, discrimination)

There is considerable debate about the potential harmful impacts of pornography exposure and viewing among men. The current literature suggests that heterosexual men’s use of pornography may be associated with negative attitudes and behaviour toward women. However, little research has experimentally examined exposure to different types of nonviolent pornography, using a range of outcome variables, and differentiating effects for women generally versus the porn actress. In the current study, 82 undergraduate men were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (degrading, erotica, or control); within each condition they were randomly assigned to watch one of two approximately 10-minute clips: degrading pornography (i.e., nonviolent, debasing, dehumanizing), erotic pornography (i.e., non-degrading, nonviolent, consensual), or a news clip as a control condition. After watching the clip, measures of subjective sexual arousal, objectification of the specific woman in the clip, essentialism of women, ambivalent sexism, and discrimination against a fictitious woman were completed. Exposure to erotica ( vs. degrading) generated less objectification of the porn actress; exposure to erotica ( vs. control) also generated the greatest discrimination toward the fictitious woman, although the omnibus for the latter was non-significant. Exposure to degrading pornography ( vs. erotica or control) generated the strongest hostile sexist beliefs and the greatest amount of objectification of the woman in the clip. Thus, pornography use may not be generally harmful or harmless, but the effect of pornography exposure may depend on the type of pornography and the specific outcome. Implications for debates about the potential negative impact of pornography exposure are discussed.

Experimental effects of exposure to pornography: the moderating effect of personality and mediating effect of sexual arousal.

Using a randomly selected community sample of 200 Danish young adult men and women in a randomized experimental design, the study investigated the effects of a personality trait (agreeableness), past pornography consumption, and experimental exposure to non-violent pornography on attitudes supporting violence against women (ASV). We found that lower levels of agreeableness and higher levels of past pornography consumption significantly predicted ASV. In addition, experimental exposure to pornography increased ASV but only among men low in agreeableness. This relationship was found to be significantly mediated by sexual arousal with sexual arousal referring to the subjective assessment of feeling sexually excited, ready for sexual activities, and/or bodily sensations associated with being sexually aroused. In underscoring the importance of individual differences, the results supported the hierarchical confluence model of sexual aggression and the media literature on affective engagement and priming effects.

Pornography and Sexist Attitudes Among Heterosexuals

Using a probability-based sample of young Danish adults and a randomized experimental design, this study investigated effects of past pornography consumption, experimental exposure to nonviolent pornography, perceived realism of pornography, and personality (i.e.,agreeableness)onsexistattitudes(i.e.,attitudestowardwomen,hostileandbenevolent sexism). Further, sexual arousal mediation was assessed. Results showed that, among men, anincreasedpastpornographyconsumptionwassignificantlyassociatedwithlessegalitarian attitudes toward women and more hostile sexism. Further, lower agreeableness was found to significantly predict higher sexist attitudes. Significant effects of experimental exposure to pornography were found for hostile sexism among low in agreeableness participants and for benevolent sexism among women. These experimental exposure effects were found to be mediated by sexual arousal. doi:10.1111/jcom.12037 In the controversy about effects of pornography, attitudes have long held a central role, with concerns about exposure to such materials increasing sexist and related attitudes.Givenconsistentcross-culturalfindingsofhighprevalenceratesofpornography consumption among the general population (Hald, Seaman & Linz, 2012), investigating the extent to which pornography consumption may adversely affect sexistattitudesishighlyimportantinordertoqualifythedebateoneffectsofpornography and efforts being made to effectively reduce such or related attitudes. This study was specifically designed to investigate effects of exposure to pornography on sexism as it is present in current society (see also Glick & Fiske, 1996) and elucidate some of the mechanisms by which pornography may influence some individuals, thereby rectifying important shortcomings of available research in the area. In this introduction, we begin by presenting a definition of sexism and reviewing core relevant research on effects of pornography on sexist attitudes (for a more

Pornography and attitudes supporting violence against women: revisiting the relationship in nonexperimental studies

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether nonexperimental studies revealed an association between men's pornography consumption and their attitudes supporting violence against women. The meta-analysis corrected problems with a previously published meta-analysis and added more recent findings. In contrast to the earlier meta-analysis, the current results showed an overall significant positive association between pornography use and attitudes supporting violence against women in nonexperimental studies. In addition, such attitudes were found to correlate significantly higher with the use of sexually violent pornography than with the use of nonviolent pornography, although the latter relationship was also found to be significant. The study resolves what appeared to be a troubling discordance in the literature on pornography and aggressive attitudes by showing that the conclusions from nonexperimental studies in the area are in fact fully consistent with those of their counterpart experimental studies. This finding has important implications for the overall literature on pornography and aggression.

Attraction to Pornographic Stories on the Internet: A Commentary on “Clinical Encounters with Internet Pornography” by Thomas P. Kalman

As Thomas Kalman points out there are at least two kinds of potential negative effects of Internet pornography (and pornography in general)—influences on beliefs, attitudes, and values as well as effects on professional life, family life, and relationships. Publication in this Journal puts Dr. Kalman’s work firmly in the ther apeutic context. In my comments I would like to suggest that there is considerable potential for case studies and other studies on Internet pornography addicts to fill some important gaps in the understanding of pornography in media effects scholarship. For the most part media research has focused on the now considerable evidence that both nonviolent and violent pornography contributes to a wide variety of negative effects (Oddone-Paolucci, Genuis, & Violato, 2000). These include acceptance of rape myths (Allen, Emmers, Gebhardt, & Giery, 1995), encouragement of aggressive behavior (Allen, D’Alessio, & Brezgel, 1995; Malamuth, Addison, & Koss, 2000; Vega & Malamuth, 2007), desensitization of audiences to victimization of women (Linz, Donnerstein, & Penrod, 1988), greater acceptance of sexual permissiveness and recreational attitudes toward sex (Lo & Wei, 2005; Peter & Valkenburg, 2006), reduction of men’s esteem about their own bodies (Morrison, Ellis, Morrison, Bearden, & Harriman, 2006) as well as dissatisfaction with the physical appearance of sexual partners and sexual performance (Zillmann & Bryant, 1988). It also seems well established that pornography can damage relationships and family life. Repeated exposure to pornography decreases trust of and satisfaction with romantic partners, their sexual performance and appearance. It also decreases perceptions of the value of monogamy and decreases desire for children (Zillmann, 1989). The use of Internet pornography seems to be a significant stressor in marriage

Pornographie und sexuelle Gewalt im Internet

Internet pornography has been regarded as either stimulating sexual aggression and abuse or as serving as a safety valve. This controversy is an important issue in health, media and legal politics. According to empirical studies on pornography in general, soft-core pornography and nonviolent pornography can be regarded as harmless, whereas non-violent hard-core pornography and violent pornography may increase aggression. Individuals with a high risk for sexual aggression show more interest in violent pornography and are stimulated more strongly through such material. Two case histories illustrate the characteristics of internet pornography and "cybersex": easy access, anonymity, affordability, wide range and deviation of the material, unlimited market, blurring the borders between consumer and producer, interactive communication, space for experimenting between fantasy and in real-life behavior, virtual identities, easy contact between offender and victim or among offenders, and low risk of apprehension. The phenomenon of "sexual addiction" (or paraphilia- related disorder) is particularly relevant for the problematic use of internet pornography. Preventive measures to protect possible victims are presented as well as treatment strategies for offenders. Beside limiting access to the internet, these include therapy of comorbid psychiatric disorders and psychological problems (social isolation, bereavement, stress- and anger-management, guilt and shame, childhood traumata, cognitive distortion, victim empathy), psychopharmacotherapy and the enhancement of a more integrative and relationship-oriented sexuality.

Degrading Content and Character Sex: Accounting for Men and Women’s Differential Reactions to Pornography

This study examines sex differences in arousal to non‐violent sexually explicit videos and viewers’ perceptions of the character traits that distinguish degrading from non‐degrading content. Men and women were exposed to either neutral, erotic or nonviolent pornographic video clips then administered a questionnaire assessing subjective arousal and perceptions of male and female characters. Nonviolent pornographic videos were characterized by perceptions of female degradation and male aggression. Comparably assertive male and female characters and male affection distinguished erotic videos. Whereas men reported more arousal to the degrading videos than did women, responses to the erotic videos were comparable. These findings support the feminist perspective that nonviolent pornography cultivates arousal to depictions of male aggression and female degradation among male viewers.

Can Liberals Support a Ban on Violent Pornography?

Previous articleNext article No AccessCan Liberals Support a Ban on Violent Pornography?Danny ScocciaDanny Scoccia Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Ethics Volume 106, Number 4Jul., 1996 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/233672 Views: 36Total views on this site Citations: 12Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1996 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Matteo Bonotti, Jonathan Seglow Freedom of expression, Philosophy Compass 16, no.77 (Jun 2021).https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12759Lori Watson Pornography and Obscenity, (Jun 2021): 1–10.https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee666.pub2Chenyang Wang The passivity of seeing: A Lacanian perspective on pornographic spectatorship in virtual reality, Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society 26, no.22 (May 2021): 217–233.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41282-021-00215-7Jeffrey W. Howard Free Speech and Hate Speech, Annual Review of Political Science 22, no.11 (May 2019): 93–109.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051517-012343Caroline West Freedom of Expression and Derogatory Words, (Oct 2016): 236–252.https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118869109.ch17Lorna Norman Bracewell Beyond Barnard: Liberalism, Antipornography Feminism, and the Sex Wars, Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 42, no.11 (Sep 2016): 23–48.https://doi.org/10.1086/686752Mary Kate McGowan, Ilana Walder‐Biesanz, Morvareed Rezaian, Chloe Emerson On Silencing and Systematicity: The Challenge of the Drowning Case, Hypatia 31, no.11 (Jan 2020): 74–90.https://doi.org/10.1111/hypa.12224Lori Watson Pornography and Obscenity, (Feb 2013).https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee666Lori Watson Pornography, Philosophy Compass 5, no.77 (Jun 2010): 535–550.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-9991.2010.00292.xRuwen Ogien Bibliographie, (Jun 2008): 173–180.https://doi.org/10.3917/puf.ogien.2008.01.0173Agnes Nairn, Cordelia Fine Who’s messing with my mind?, International Journal of Advertising 27, no.33 (Jan 2015): 447–470.https://doi.org/10.2501/S0265048708080062Caroline West The Free Speech Argument Against Pornography, Canadian Journal of Philosophy 33, no.33 (Jan 2020): 391–422.https://doi.org/10.1080/00455091.2003.10716549

Exposure to Pornography and Acceptance of Rape Myths

This paper quantitatively summarizes the literature examining the association between acceptance of rape myths and exposure to pornography. In this meta-analysis, nonexperimental methodology shows almost no effect (exposure to pornography does not increase rape myth acceptance), while experimental studies show positive effect (exposure to pornography does increase rape myth acceptance). Although the experimental studies demonstrate that violent pornography has more effect than nonviolent pornography, nonviolent pornography still demonstrates an effect.

Pornography and sexual aggression: Associations of violent and nonviolent depictions with rape and rape proclivity

The current research on the relationship between pornography and sexual violence has produced mixed findings. Some studies show a connection between violent depictions and rape, while others examining nonviolent sexual material report inconsistent findings or no effects. This paper examines the potential connection between rape and rape proclivity and use of soft‐core pornography and three types of hard‐core pornography: nonviolent pornography, violent pornography, and rape pornography. Data collected from a sample of 515 college men indicated strong bivariate associations of rape and rape proclivity with use of almost all forms of pornography. Multivariate analysis indicated that the strongest correlates of sexual coercion and aggression, as well as rape proclivity, were exposure to hard‐core violent and rape pornography. Exposure to nonviolent hard‐core pornography displayed no association net of the other variables. Exposure to soft‐core pornography was positively associated with likelihood of sexual f...

Sexually Violent Pornography, Anti-Women Attitudes, and Sexual Aggression: A Structural Equation Model

Using data provided by male university students, several structural equation models were developed and tested to assess the interrelationship of pornography use, anti-women attitudes, and propensity for sexual violence. The model best fitting the data is one in which use of Sexually Violent Pornography and Anti-Women Attitudes are exogenous latent variables predicting self-reported Likelihood of Rape and Likelihood of using Sexual Force, as well as self-reported history of having achieved sexual intercourse by use of Coercion and Force. A variation of this model which includes use of Nonviolent Pornography as an exogenous variable was also tested. Consistent with previous research, use of nonviolent pornography was not uniquely associated with potential or actual sexual aggression. The findings suggest the potential roles of both attitudes and sexually violent pornography in the occurrence of sexual aggression. Further, they support other research findings that suggest it is not merely exposure to sexually explicit materials, per se, but the combination of sex and violence in pornographic materials that encourages or facilitates sexual aggression.

Violence and Degradation as Themes in “Adult” Videos

Videocassettes have become the dominant medium for pornography. One previous content analysis examined the prevalence of violence in such videos. The Attorney General's Commission on Pornography (1986) has asserted that nonviolent pornography depicting degradation produces harm similar to that from violent pornography. Content analysis of a 10% random sample (n = 50) of the videos displayed in the "adult" section of a video store showed that 13.6% of the scenes in the videos contained violent acts and 18.2% contained degrading acts.

Women's Evaluations of and Affective Reactions to Mainstream Violent Pornography, Nonviolent Pornography, and Erotica

Women's reactions to three types of sexually explicit materials were examined. Ninety-six female undergraduates completed questionnaires measuring previous exposure to pornography, past history of coercive sexual experiences, attitudes toward feminism, hostility toward men, adversarial sexual beliefs, and rape myth acceptance. They were then randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) erotica, (b) nonviolent pornography, (c) violent pornography, and (d) control. They viewed 50 slides during each of two 30-minute sessions, completed a measure of mood disturbance, and evaluated each slide. The erotica was evaluated positively, while the pornography was evaluated negatively, and the violent pornography was evaluated more negatively than the other three conditions. Mood disturbance increased significantly from pre- to postexposure in the violent and nonviolent pornography conditions only. In addition, women with past coercive sexual experiences evaluated pornography more negatively and erotica more positively than women who had no such experience.

Treating Women as Sexual Objects

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that exposure to nonviolent pornography would prime a heterosexuality subschema in gender schematic males and thus lead these males to view and treat a woman as a sexual object. In a 2 × 2 design, 60 male subjects, half gender schematic and half gender aschematic, watched either a pornographic or a control video prior to being interviewed by a female research assistant. Although she was blind to condition, the female experimenter found the gender schematic males who had viewed the pornographic video to be significantly more sexually motivated than subjects in the three other conditions. Further, in the first minute of a free recall task given after the interview, 72% of the information recalled by this group of males concerned the physical features of the female experimenter, as compared with 49% for the males in the other conditions. The implications of these findings for real-world settings are discussed.

Exposure to sexually explicit materials and attitudes toward rape: A comparison of study results

This article reviews experimental studies conducted since the 1970 pornography commission that have tested the effects of exposure to sexually explicit materials on attitudes and perceptions about rape. Studies of short‐term exposure to nonaggressive sexually explicit communications have yielded mixed results. When effects do exist for this material, they are both fewer and weaker than antisocial effects from sexually violent material. Studies of the effects of long‐term exposure to nonviolent pornography have also yielded mixed results—some experiments finding increases in negative attitudes about rape, others showing no effects. However, one finding is consistent for both long‐ and short‐term studies. Those that have included violent (slasher) film conditions have consistently found less sensitivity toward rape victims after exposure to these materials. The remainder of the paper is devoted to contradictions between the outcomes of long‐term studies and their possible solution.

Effects of Prolonged Consumption of Pornography on Family Values

Male and female students and nonstudents were exposed to videotapes featuring common, nonviolent pornography or innocuous content. Exposure was in hourly sessions in six consecutive weeks. In the seventh week, subjects participated in an ostensibly unrelated study on societal institutions and personal gratifications. Marriage, cohabitational relationships, and related issues were judged on an especially created Value-of-Marriage questionnaire. The findings showed a consistent impact of pornography consumption. Exposure prompted, among other things, greater acceptance of pre- and extramarital sex and greater tolerance of nonexclusive sexual access to intimate partners. It enhanced the belief that male and female promiscuity are natural and that the repression of sexual inclinations poses a health risk. Exposure lowered the evaluation of marriage, making this institution appear less significant and less viable in the future. Exposure also reduced the desire to have children and promoted the acceptance of male dominance and female servitude. With few exceptions, these effects were uniform for male and female respondents as well as for students and nonstudents.

Violent pornography and self-reported likelihood of sexual aggression

Two hundred twenty-two undergraduate males were administered an “attitudes survey” examining pornography use, attitudes, and self-reported likelihood of rape (LR) or using sexual force (LF). Nonviolent pornography was used by 81% of subjects within the last year, whereas 41 and 35% had used violent and sexually violent pornography, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of subjects indicated some hypothetical likelihood of raping or using sexual force against a woman. Discriminant function analysis revealed that use of sexually violent pornography and acceptance of interpersonal violence against women were uniquely associated with LF and LR. It is hypothesized that the specific fusion of sex and violence in some pornographic stimuli and in certain belief systems may produce a propensity to engage in sexually aggressive behavior. Results are interpreted in terms of Malamuth and Briere's (1986, Journal of Social Issues, 42, 75–92) model of the effects of sexually violent media.

Pornography's Impact on Sexual Satisfaction1

Male and female students and nonstudents were exposed to videotapes featuring common, nonviolent pornography or innocuous content. Exposure was in hourly sessions in six consecutive weeks. In the seventh week, subjects participated in an ostensibly unrelated study on societal institutions and personal gratifications. On an especially constructed questionnaire, subjects rated their personal happiness regarding various domains of experience; additionally, they indicated the relative importance of gratifying experiences. Exposure to pornography was without influence on the self‐assessment of happiness and satisfaction outside the sexual realm (e.g., satisfaction deriving from professional accomplishments). In contrast, it strongly impacted self‐assessment of sexual experience. After consumption of pornography, subjects reported less satisfaction with their intimate partners—specifically, with these partners' affection, physical appearance, sexual curiosity, and sexual performance proper. In addition, subjects assigned increased importance to sex without emotional involvement. These effects were uniform across gender and populations.

SHIFTING PREFERENCES IN PORNOGRAPHY CONSUMPTION

Male and female students and nonstudents were exposed to one hour of common, nonviolent pornography or to sexually and aggressively innocuous materials in each of six consecutive weeks. Two weeks after this treatment, they were provided with an opportunity to watch videotapes in a private situation. G-rated, R-rated, and X-rated programs were available. Subjects with considerable prior exposure to common, nonviolent pornography showed little interest in common, nonviolent pornography, electing to watch uncommon pornography (bondage, sadomasochism, bestiality) instead. Male nonstudents with prior exposure to common, nonviolent pornography consumed uncommon pornography almost exclusively. Male students exhibited the same pattern, although somewhat less extreme. This consumption preference was also in evidence in females, but was far less pronounced, especially among female students.