A recent study found individuals with a history of heavy pornography use are more likely to support violence against women.
The study surveyed 200 Danish young adults about their history of pornography use, attitudes about sexual violence against women, and certain personality traits. Researchers found that the individuals in the study who had a history of heavy pornography use were more likely to support violence against women.
There are several interesting aspects of this study. First, Denmark is known for extremely liberal pornography legislation and is often held up as an example of a society that has supposedly benefited from pornography use. Linking pornography use to support of violence against women indicates that, to paraphrase Shakespeare, something is indeed rotten in the state of Denmark. The genders of the participants are also noteworthy. While many studies on the effects of pornography use focus on men, this study includes both men and women. Lastly, the study convicts both violent and nonviolent pornographic content. Individuals who merely experimented with nonviolent pornography were also more likely to support violence against women if they also scored lower on a trait termed in the social sciences as “agreeableness” (Agreeableness is a term used in academic literature that normally encompasses tact, warmth, friendliness, optimism, and the ability to get along well with others). While some hold up “ethical” pornography as harmless, this study indicates no pornography is innocent.
You can read the original study here.
Pornography brings out the worst in viewers. While violent pornography is obviously destructive, even nonviolent pornography can desensitize users until they support atrocities against women– even if the users themselves are female! Such disorientation of ethics and personal values would be especially destructive to children and teens. For the sake of communities, families, and individuals, we must teach our children to shun pornography.
Pornography has no place in our homes.