10 september 2024 : Porn consumption is often associated with sexual aggression, but the focus has traditionally been on how much porn is watched rather than the type of content. An American study published in the Psychology of Violence journal has shifted this focus, suggesting that the nature of the porn consumed is more crucial in understanding its link to sexual aggression.
The study found that viewers of violent porn are more likely to engage in sexual aggression, mirroring the violence they watch. The researchers identified three distinct patterns of porn use based on frequency and content type: “infrequent viewers,” who rarely watch porn; “average viewers,” who regularly watch non-violent porn and occasionally view violent porn; and “violent porn viewers,” who frequently consume violent and degrading content.
This last group is more prone to emulate the sexual violence they see, displaying higher levels of hostility towards women and believing in harmful rape myths, such as blaming victims for their attire. They also tend to struggle with serious relationships, opting for casual ones, and their perception of healthy relationships is often distorted. Additionally, they may exhibit psychopathic traits like manipulativeness, lack of empathy, and emotional dysregulation. According to the study, the type of porn consumed, particularly violent content, is a key factor in predicting these harmful behaviors.