Research on effects of sexually-explicit media
"A meta-analysis of the published research on the effects of pornography", Elizabeth Oddone- Paolucci, Mark Genuis and Claudio Violato, University of Calgary. Medicine, Mind and Adolescence, 1997
Method: A meta-analysis of 46 previous studies (from 1965 to 1995), undertaken to determine whether exposure to pornographic stimuli over the lifespan has any effect on sexual deviancy, sexual offending, intimate relationships and attitudes regarding the rape myth (i.e. women cause rape, should resist or prevent it, and rapists are normal).
It deals with the whole range of pornographic material, from "mild pornography" (nudes, persons engaging in petting and non-violent acts of sexual intercourse without genitalia visible), through "erotica or explicit porn" (consensual non violent sexual acts with genitalia visible), to "violent porn" (depictions of rape, degradation, sexual aggression or sadism).
Results: The 46 studies included 12,323 people. "The results are clear and consistent; exposure to pornographic material puts one at an increased risk for developing sexually deviant tendencies, committing sexual offences, experiencing difficulties in one's intimate relationships, and accepting the rape myth. In order to promote a healthy and stable society, it is time that we attend to the culmination of sound empirical research..The rise in sexual crimes, sexual dysfunction and family breakdown may be linked to increased availability and use of porn."
