Pornography destabilizes marriage. It is desensitizing and affects “normal people” whether or not they realize it. It is addictive. And it is “the literature of the sex offender.” These are all conclusions reached by psychotherapist and author, David Scott, in a recently-published U.S. study.
“Pornography and its Effects on Family, Community and Culture” was funded by the Washington-based Free Congress Foundation. It analyzes latest research findings world-wide and discusses the harm done to all by pornography.
At one time, some people thought that pornography was harmless; indeed, that it had potential therapeutic and cathartic value with no negative impact on adults or children. This theory is conclusively disproven by this study.
Scott discusses how pornography leads to a dissatisfaction with marriage when habitual users come to see deviant behaviour and non-monogamous relationships as the norm. Research proves that child molesters, killers and rapists all turn to pornography before seeking out their victims.
“Pornography,” Scott says, “is the literature of sexual deviance.”
Scott shows that the content of pornography is immaterial. That is, “hard-core” deviant depictions (including graphic violence without sexual content), “soft-core” depictions of consensual sex between heterosexual couples even “neutral” (such as sex education) material, all, in different ways, desensitize and habituate the viewer.
The effects on the viewer of sexually-explicit material, with or without violence, and the effect of violent material, with or without sexual content, are clearly similar. One chapter of the study is devoted to discussing the findings of researchers concerned with the effects of violent television programming.
“Pornography and its Effects on Family, Community and Culture” is an invaluable study for those concerned with the effects of pornography on society. Mimeographed copies are available through The Interim at $6 a copy, plus $1.50 postage and handling. It can also be obtained from the Free Congress Foundation, 721 Second Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 at $5 U.S. a copy.
