Violence and pornography

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The connection between violence and pornography has been the subject of scientific research and political literature for decades; violence is often understood to be prohibited sexual violence. The existence of a connection between pornography and sex crimes is considered by some scientists as likely, to what extent and in which direction (i.e. whether the crimes are increasing or decreasing) both influence each other, but is controversial.

Methodical principles

If one wants to study the effects of pornography, one has to consider the extent of the depiction of violence and differentiate between softcore, hardcore, violent pornography and rape pornography . To clarify the connection between pornography and violence, (a) experimental studies, often with inconspicuous student populations, (b) investigations into sex offenders, and (c) epidemiological studies on large population groups are used. Almost always only men are examined.

Empirical meta-analyzes

In a meta-analysis of 33 experimental studies with a total of 2040 test subjects, it could be shown that softcore pornography (simple nude representations) reduces aggressiveness, while nonviolent hardcore pornography and violent pornography increase it, but only in the test subjects who were previously provoked and in an irritated one State had been moved ( addressed ). This unspecific, irritable initial mood is obviously an important prerequisite for the negative effects of pornography.

In a further meta-analysis of 46 experimental studies with a total of 12,323 test subjects, Oddone-Paolucci et al. Found correlations between pornography and deviant sexuality , with sexual violence, with a negative attitude towards intimate relationships and with the rape myth .

According to Berner and Hill, it can be concluded from this that pornography is only one of many influencing factors on the development of sexual violence. In addition to the type of pornography (level of violence) and the current emotional state of the consumer (anger, anger, sadness), the cultural (e.g. gender equality, permissiveness for the use of violence) and family milieu (e.g. family life) are moderating factors influencing the effect of pornography E.g. dealing with sexuality , trauma), personality factors (e.g. attachment style, hostility, impulsiveness, intelligence, sexual preferences) and the influence of psychotropic substances (alcohol, drugs) in question. It is therefore important to distinguish between different risk groups with regard to the effects of pornography.

In a meta-analysis of 13 studies on the influence of pornography on sex offenders (total number 2542) there was no difference between sex offenders and control groups with regard to the frequency and age of first pornography consumption, but sex offenders were significantly more frequently sexually active after pornography consumption, be it in the form of Masturbation , consensual or forced sexual contact. They were also more sexually aroused by consuming pornography, especially violent pornography. Interestingly, the sex offenders were less aroused by consensual pornography than the control subjects.

Experimental studies

In an experimental study with 1,713 college students, there was a connection between the frequency of pornography consumption and sexual aggression in all risk groups (classified according to the characteristics of hostile masculinity and promiscuity). However, this effect was most pronounced in the highest risk group (13% of the sample): People with the most frequent pornography consumption showed sexual aggression 7 times as often as those who never consumed pornography. A causal relationship is conceivable in both directions:

  • People with a particular propensity for sexual aggression are more likely to consume pornography.
  • Pornography consumption promotes sexual aggressiveness.

Behavioral models and psychoanalytic explanations

According to the arousal transfer model, pornography leads to unspecific physiological arousal, which is transformed into anger after provocation. The model of social learning postulates that the consumer identifies with the perpetrator or the dominant partner in the pornographic depiction and imitates him. According to the desensitization theory, the consumer gets used to the connection between sexuality and violence, as it is often portrayed in pornography. Frequent pornography consumption can also lead to numbness and boredom in relation to non-violent pornography and a desire for a stronger stimulus, i.e. H. more deviant, possibly more violent stimuli grow. According to psychodynamic theories, pornography consumption can serve as a narcissistic seal to compensate for feelings of inferiority and powerlessness, for self-consolation and to ward off fear, and in its more deviant forms it represents an "erotic form of hostility". What is important here is the fetishization of the object inherent in pornography.

Connection with criminal offenses

In the direct context of sexual offenses , pornography can serve different purposes:

  • the offender's self-stimulation before the offense,
  • seducing the victim, especially children and adolescents, who often have a special curiosity for material that is otherwise not easily accessible to them,
  • the later self-stimulation after an act,
  • commercial purposes (e.g. selling child pornography ).

Self-stimulation before the sexual offense occurs relatively rarely (13%) in incest offenders , but at least a third in heterosexual (36%) and homosexual (38%), extra-family abusers and rapists (35%). In two surveys of sex offenders, 16% and 27% respectively stated that pornography consumption contributed to their deviant sexual behavior. According to a study by Langevin and Cornoe, 13% of the sex offenders studied used pornography for self-stimulation before the crime, half showed the victim pornographic material in the act (mostly for seduction, sometimes for intimidation) and a third took pictures of their victim.

Sociological arguments

Those who deny the correlation list Japan , a country that is known for its extensive rape, BDSM and bondage pornography (see Japanese pornography ), but has the lowest sexual violence crime rate of any industrialized nation.

With regard to Japan, there are numerous studies to be taken into account that show, for example, that 69% of the Japanese high school students surveyed were immorally touched in the subway and that, according to a study by the Justice Ministry Research Group from 2000, it must be assumed that only 11 percent of all sexual offenses are reported as rape victims are accused rather than protected in Japan.

Those who denied the correlation listed a longitudinal study in 1991 which, despite the increase in the amount and availability of sadomasochistic pornography in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the USA between 1964 and 1984 also found no connection with the respective rape rate. The rape rate in European countries remained constant. The same study found that despite the legalization of pornography in Germany in 1973, the numbers of rape by strangers and group rape fell steadily between 1971 and 1987. The results of the study for Denmark and Sweden also correspond to this; she states:

"Overall, there was no increase in the actual number of rapes committed in West Germany in the years when pornography was legalized and widely available."

While non-sexual violent crimes increased by around 300% in Denmark, Sweden and Germany between 1964 and 1984, the number of sexual crimes clearly declined despite the increased availability of sexual materials.

The statistics and studies listed have led some scholars to speculate that an inverse correlation might not come much closer to the truth, that is, that the widespread dissemination of pornographic material might offer potential criminals a generally socially acceptable way to control their own sexuality.

Proponents of the correlation between pornography and violence particularly oppose a publication by WL Marshall on the use of sexually explicit depictions by rapists, which is often heavily criticized in its scientific methodology, which shows the connections between pornography and violence.

Lectures

Individual evidence

  1. ^ W. Berner, A. Hill: violence, abuse, pornography. In: R. Hornung, C. Buddeberg, T. Bucher (Eds.): Sexuality in Change. vdf, Hochsch.-Verlag, Zurich 2004, pp. 141–157.
  2. ↑ SB Boeringer: Pornography and sexual aggression: associations of violent and nonviolent depictions with rape and rape proclivity. In: Deviant Behavior: an Interdisciplinary Journal. Volume 15, 1994, pp. 289-304.
  3. ↑ a b Helena Barwick: A guide to the research into the effects of sexually explicit films and videos. Office of Film & Literature Classification, Wellington (Australia) 2003.
  4. ^ M. Allen, D. D'Alessio, K. Brezgel: A meta-analysis summarizing the effects of pornography II. In: Human Communication Research. Volume 22. pp. 258-283
  5. ^ E. Oddone-Paolucci, M. Genius, C. Violato: A meta-analysis of the published research on the effects of pornography. In: C. Violato, E. Oddone-Paolucci, M. Genius (Eds.): The changing family and child development. Ashgate, Aldershot (UK) 2000, pp. 48-59
  6. ^ W. Berner, A. Hill: violence, abuse, pornography. In: R. Hornung, C. Buddeberg, T. Bucher (Eds.): Sexuality in Change. vdf, Hochsch.-Verlag, Zurich 2004, pp. 141–157
  7. ↑ M. Allen, D. D'Alessio, TM Emmers-Sommer: Reactions of criminal sexual offenders to pornography: a meta-analytic summary. In: M. Roloff (Ed.): Communication yearbook 22. Sage, Thousand Oaks (CA) 2000, pp. 139-169
  8. ↑ NM Malamuth, T. Addison, M. Koss: Pornography and sexual aggression: are there reliable effects and can we understand them? In: Annual Review of Sex Research. Volume 6, 2000, pp. 26-91
  9. ↑ MC Seto, A. Maric, HE Barbaree: The role of pornography in the etiology of sexual aggression. In: Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume 6, 2001, pp. 35-53
  10. ↑ RJ Stoller: Perversion - The erotic form of hatred. Psychosozial-Verlag, Giessen 1975/1998
  11. ^ RJ Stoller: Porn - myths for the twentieth century. Yale University, Yale 1991
  12. ^ JS Levenson: Sex offender polygraph examination: an evidence-based case management tool for social workers. In: Journal of evidence-based social work. Volume 6, 2009, pp. 361-375.
  13. ^ WL Marshall: The use of sexually explicit stimuli by rapicts, Child molesters and non-offenders. In: The Journal of Sex Research. Volume 25, pp. 267-288
  14. ↑ CM Kearns, DE Nutter: A preliminary examination of the pornography experience of sex offenders, paraphiliacs, sexual dysfunction patients, and controls based on meese commission recommendations. In: J Sex Marit Ther. Volume 14, 1988, pp. 285-298
  15. ↑ DE Nutter, ME Kearns: Patterns of exposure to sexually explicit material among sex offenders, child molesters and controls. In: Journal of sex & marital therapy Volume 19, 1993, pp. 77-85
  16. ^ R. Langevin, S. Curnoe: The use of pornography during the commission of sexual offenses. In: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. Volume 48, 2004, pp. 572-586
  17. ↑ See Milton Diamond and Ayako Uchiyama in Pornography, Rape and Sex Crimes in Japan. In: International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. Volume 22, 1999, pp. 1-22. Online under "Pornography, Rape and Sex Crimes in Japan" ( Memento from June 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive ):

    Our findings regarding sex crimes, murder and assault are in keeping with what is also known about general crime rates in Japan regarding burglary, theft and such. Japan has the lowest number of reported rape cases and the highest percentage of arrests and convictions in reported cases of any developed nation. Indeed, Japan is known as one of the safest developed countries for women in the world (Clifford, 1980). (...) ...: Despite the absence of evidence, the myth persists that an abundance of sexually explicit material invariably leads to an abundance of sexual activity and eventually rape (e.g., Liebert, Neale, & Davison, 1973). Indeed, the data we report and review suggest the opposite. Christensen (1990) argues that to prove that available pornography leads to sex crimes one must at least find a positive temporal correlation between the two. The absence of any positive correlation in our findings, and from results elsewhere, between an increase in available pornography and the incidence of rape or other sex crime, is prima facie evidence that no link exists. But objectivity requires that an additional question be asked: "Does pornography use and availability prevent or reduce sex crime?" Both questions lead to hypotheses that have, over prolonged periods, been tested in Denmark, Sweden, West Germany and now in Japan. Indeed, it appears from our data from Japan, as it was evident to Kutchinsky (1994), from research in Europe, that a large increase in available sexually explicit materials, over many years, has not been correlated with an increase in rape or other sexual crimes. Instead, in Japan a marked decrease in sexual crimes has occurred.
  18. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from September 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.japantoday.com
  19. ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/02/world/main571280.shtml
  20. ↑ Berl Kutchinsky: Pornography and Rape: Theory and Practice? In: International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. Volume 14, 1991, pp. 47-66
  21. ↑ ibid. "Overall there was no increase in the actual number of rapes committed in West Germany during the years when pornography was legalized and became widely available."
  22. ^ WL Marshall, Ph. D .: The Use of Sexually Explicit Stimuli by Rapists, Child Molesters, and Non-offenders. In: Journal of Sex Research. Volume 25, No. 2, May 1988