The following information is taken from testimony given by Dr. Jill C. Manning in front on the US Congress in 2005 . You can download her entire testimony here.

This website, sponsored by the Lighted Candle Society gives you quick access to the latest research and statistics around pornography.

 

---

Why is pornography bad?

 

• According to some research pornography has
  • (1) increased callousness toward women;
  • (2) trivialization of rape as a criminal offense;
  • (3) distorted perceptions about sexuality;
  • (4) increased appetite for more deviant and bizarre types of pornography (escalation and addiction);
  • (5) led to a devaluation of monogamy;
  • (6) decreased satisfaction with a partner’s sexual performance, affection, and physical appearance;
  • (7) doubts about the value of marriage;
  • (8) decreased desire to have children; and
  • (9) viewing non-monogamous relationships as normal and natural behavior.
    (Dolf Zillman and Jennings Bryan)

 

---

Pornography, agression, violence and rape

 

• "Results [from scientific studies] showed that the men who viewed either of the sexually explicit films displayed more dominance and anxiety, ignored the contributions of their partner more often, touched their partner for longer periods of time, and averted gaze more than the participants who had viewed the non-sexual film. The researchers concluded the impact of sexually explicit material on behavior is more compleresearch, but that a negative impact exists. "
  ( Mulac, A., Jansma, L. L., & Linz, D. G. (2002). Men’s behavior toward women after viewing sexually-explicit films: Degradation makes a difference. Communication Monographs, 69(4), 311–328. )
• Findings from an extensive study found:
  • There is a modest correlation between exposure to pornography and subsequent
    behavioral aggression.
  • Pictorial nudity reduces subsequent aggressive behavior (9 studies) while material
    depicting nonviolent sexual activity slightly increases aggressive behavior (24 studies).
  • The strongest correlation exists between depictions of violent sexual activity and
    aggression (7 studies).
    (Allen, M., D’Alessio, D., & Brezgel, K. (1995). A meta-analysis summarizing the effects of pornography II: Aggression after exposure. Human Communication Research, 22(2), 258–283. )
• "[Other research] has concluded there are reliable associations between frequent pornography use and sexually aggressive behaviors, and these associations are strongest when violent pornography is viewed and/or when men at high risk for sexual aggression are the consumers. " - Dr. Jill Manning
  ( Malamuth, N. M., Addison, T., & Koss, M. (2000). Pornography and sexual aggression: Are there reliable effects and can we understand them? Annual Review of Sex Research, 11, 26–94. )
• "The researchers suggest early contact with pornography affects female socialization by not only normalizing sexual aggression, but also portraying it as culturally desirable to women."
  ( Corne, S., Briere, J., & Esses, L. M. (1992). Women’s attitudes and fantasies about rape as a function of earlyexposure to pornography. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 7(4), 454–461. )
  

 

---

Pornography, the Internet and Sexuality

 

• "Personal inhibition levels, social controls, and the lack of willing partners and sexual
  scenes that may limit sexual activity in everyday contexts are obsolete in cyberspace. It
  is easy for latent desires to be realized in cyberspace. Internet sexuality may thus serve
  as a catalyst."
  (Leiblum, S., & Döring, N. (1998). Internet sexuality: Known risks and fresh chances for women. In Cooper, A. (1998). Sexuality and the Internet: Surfing into the new millennium. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(2), p.29. )
• "[Researchers] found that exposure to pornographic material puts one at increased risk for developing sexually deviant tendencies, committing sexual offenses, experiencing difficulties in one’s intimate relationships, and accepting rape myths. In terms of the
  degree of risk, the analysis revealed a 31 percent increase in the risk of sexual deviancy, a 22 percent increase in the risk of sexual perpetration, a 20 percent increase in the risk of experiencing negative intimate relationships, and a 31 percent increase in the risk of believing rape myths." - Dr. Jill Manning
  ( Oddone-Paolucci, E., Genius, M., & Violato, C. (January 2000). A meta-analysis of the published research on the effects of pornography. The Changing Family and Child Development, 48–59. )

 

---

How pornography affects families

 

• "Because the sex industry has an unprecedented proximity to the home and work environments, couples, families, and individuals of all ages are being impacted by pornography in new ways." - Dr. Jill Manning
• "The other unprecedented characteristic of Internet pornography is the ease with which
  children and adolescents have access to it – both solicited and unsolicited access. In the past, the adult bookstore or restricted movie theatre was a tangible gatekeeper or buffer to minors being exposed to this material, albeit not impenetrable. Currently, anyone can be a consumer and/or target of sexually explicit material. " - Dr. Jill Manning

 

---

Pornography a public health hazard

 

• "Several experts in the field of mental health contend online sexual pursuits are 'a hidden public health hazard exploding, in part, because very few are recognizing it as such or taking it seriously.'" - Dr. Jill Manning
  ( Cooper, A., Delmonico, D. L., & Burg, R. (2000). Cybersex users, abusers, and compulsives: New findings and implications. Sexual Addictions & Compulsivities, 7, 5–29 )
  

---

Pornography and the Internet



• "The Internet has become a highly effective and profitable means of distributing sexually explicit material, as well as a sophisticated conduit for compulsive sexual behavior, sex trafficking, and sex crime." - Dr. Jill Manning
  ( Galbreath, N. & Berlin, F. (2002). Paraphilias and the Internet. In A. Cooper (Ed.), Sex and the Internet: A guidebook for clinicians (pp. 187–205). New York: Brunner-Routledge. .)
• "Internet pornography is distinct from other forms of pornography because of the “Triple-A Engine” effect of accessibility, affordability and anonymity — a combination of traits unique to the virtual square... The “Triple-A Engine” effect, in particular, is widely accepted as the primary reason why many pre-existing problems with other forms of pornography have been exacerbated in the last decade, and why many individuals have been drawn into problematic pornography consumption that otherwise would not been involved with this material prior to the advent of the Internet" - Dr. Jill Manning
  (Cooper, A. (1998). Sexuality and the Internet: Surfing into the new millennium. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(2), 181-187)
• “'Cyberhex' of the Internet which includes intoxicating, isolating, integral, inexpensive, imposing and interactive as characteristics that make the Internet a unique and powerful medium."
  (Delmonico, D. L., Griffin, E. J., & Moriarty, J. (2001). Cybersex Unhooked: A workbook for breaking free from compulsive online sexual behavior. Center City: MN: Hazelden Educational Press. )
  
  

---

Pornography and crime

• "Across the seven studies in which sexual activity after viewing pornography was examined, a relatively strong effect was found. Results revealed that after viewing pornography, criminals were more likely than non-criminals to perform a sex act. " - Dr. Jill Manning
  ( Allen, M., D’Alessio, D., & Emmers-Sommer, T. M. (2000). Reactions of criminal sexual offenders to pornography: A meta-analytic summary. In M. Roloff (Ed.), Communication Yearbook 22, 139–169. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication)