Joshua Bretherton

Blackburn College | | Degree: FdA Criminology and Criminal Justice
Can the viewing of sexual explicit material distort the perception of a 'healthy' sexual relationship?

Abstract

Information about the pornography-viewing habits of individuals who come from a variety of multi-cultural backgrounds and the effects this is having on relationships and deviance is lacking (Segal, 1990; Hald and Štulhofer, 2016). This study was designed to answer questions regarding the use of sexually explicit material (SEM) and the potential impact this could have on the perception of healthy sexual relationships. The following themes emerged from the use of pornography according to the sample of individuals (a) individuals had replaced sexual intimacy with a partner for pornography; (b) approximately half of individuals experienced shame or regret after viewing pornography; (c) Most people believed that pornography could disturb intimacy within a sexual relationship. The study has demonstrated that individuals do believe that pornography can have an impact on sexual relationships; however, the extent of how impactful pornography is on deviance and criminality is inconclusive, and further interdisciplinary research should be developed.

Bibliography

Hald, G.M. and Štulhofer, A., (2016). What types of pornography do people use and do they cluster? Assessing types and categories of pornography consumption in a large-scale online sample. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(7), pp.849-859.

Segal, L., (1990). Pornography and violence: What the 'experts' really say. Feminist Review, (36), p.25.

Joshua Bretherton