‘Horny and wanting to watch something’: an exploratory qualitative analysis of heterosexual men’s pornography viewing preferences

ABSTRACT

The current study qualitatively explores the pornography viewing preferences of a non-university-based male sample from the United States. Cisgender heterosexual men (N = 34) completed an online structured interview about their viewing preferences of pornographic material. Responses were grouped into two main categories, motivations to view pornography and viewing preferences. Unlike some previous pornography studies, a wide range of preferences for sexual activity was shared by the participants. The current study replicates findings from previous research and adds to the literature on male viewing preferences of pornography by highlighting several unique themes that emerged from the sample, including the reticence of heterosexual men to disclose having preferences for male actor characteristics and men viewing pornography to alter their current mental states.

KEYWORDS:

• Heterosexual men’s sexuality
• pornography
• viewing preferences

Author declaration

The views represented here do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Air Force, or the United States Department of Defense.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew J. Sharkey

Matthew J. Sharkey is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program, housed in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Joseph M. Currin

Joseph M. Currin is an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Air Force Academy. Areas of expertise include use of technology for sexual partner seeking, mental health disparities among men who have sex with men (MSM), and outcomes associated with stigma and minority stress for rural and peri-urban MSM.

Kassidy Cox

Kassidy Cox is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program, housed in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Brittney L. Golden

Brittney L. Golden is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program, housed in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Amelia E. Evans

Amelia E. Evans is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program, housed in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Sheila Garos

Sheila Garos is an associate professor of counseling psychology at Texas Tech University.  Her research interests include human sexual behavior, behavioral addictions, women's sexual health, and women's objectification of other women.