Summarize the current state of the evidence supporting a link between pornography consumption and sexual aggression. What is the sexual callousness model and what evidence is there supporting or conflicting with it? Describe both correlational and experimental evidence in your response.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The evidence surrounding the relationship between pornography consumption and sexual aggression produces mixed conclusions. The sexual callousness model argues that repeated exposure to pornography desensitizes and habituate your viewers leading to more callous attitudes toward sex. The model argues that this desensitization can disinhibit viewers’ sexual aggressive tendencies and undermine men’s inhibitions against acting on rape desires. In support of this theory, a meta-analysis of correlational studies found that greater exposure to pornography predicted more real-life sexual aggression among men and women. In contrast, studies also show that the availability of pornography does not consistently relate to increases in sexual assault rates. Results from experimental studies also provide mixed results, with some reviews concluding that causal relationships exist between exposure to pornography and aggressive behavior, while others conclude there is slim evidence for such a causal relationship. These inconsistencies however may be partly explained by the type of pornography consumed (i.e., how aggressive it is) and the aggressive tendencies among the men studied. Overall, researchers have not reached a consensus on the impact of exposure to pornography upon sexual aggression.