Predicting Internet Pornography Use and Arousal: The Role of Individual Difference Variables

Abstract

This study considers the relation between a number of theoretically relevant individual difference variables and individuals' online pornography use and arousal patterns. In doing so, an attempt is also made to determine whether self-reports of arousal can be collapsed into meaningful empirically derived content groupings. An exploratory factor analysis produces 3 factors for men: standard fare, specialized, and male-focused; and two factors for women: standard fare and specialized. Findings indicate that sexual disposition is a strong predictor of standard fare use and arousal for both genders. Men and women higher in psychopathy were more likely to use all forms of content. For those high in psychopathy, however, men were only slightly, and women not at all, more likely to find standard fare content arousing. Results are discussed in terms of their potential value for understanding an often overlooked first step in the process of pornography consumption.

Notes

Note. n = 158. SEM = sexually explicit materials. Extraction method used principal components analysis, and the rotation method used varimax with Kaiser normalization.

Note. n = 179. SEM = sexually explicit materials. Extraction method used principal components analysis, and the rotation method used varimax with Kaiser normalization.

¹Due to the large number of statistical tests undertaken in this study, a Bonferroni correction was calculated to determine the adjusted acceptable levels of statistical significance. As a result, only p values of .001 or less were accepted as statistically significant throughout the study.

Note. Men, n = 146; women, n = 171. Responses for self-reported arousal were made on 7-point scales ranging from 1 (not at all sexually arousing) to 7 (extremely sexually arousing). Responses for consumption frequency were made on 7-point scales ranging from 1 (not at all), 2 (one or two times), 3(three or four times), 4 (five or six times), 5 (seven or eight times), 6 (nine or ten times), to 7 (more than 10 times). Means for self-reported arousal in the same row that do not sharecommonsuperscripts differ at the p < .001 level. Means for consumption frequency in the same row that do not share common superscripts differ at the p < .001 level.

Note. n = 179.

*p < .05. **p < .001 (all 2-tailed).

Note. n = 158.

*p < .05. **p < .001 (all 2-tailed).

Note. n = 158. Coefficients are standardized beta coefficients. TAS = thrill and adventure seeking; ES = experience seeking; D = disinhibition; BS = boredom susceptibility; ITS = impulsive thrill seeking; ASB = antisocial behavior; IPM = interpersonal manipulation.

*p < .01. **p < .001.

Note. n = 179. Coefficients are standardized beta coefficients. TAS = thrill and adventure seeking; ES = experience seeking; ITS = impulsive thrill seeking; ASB = antisocial behavior; IPM = interpersonal manipulation.

*p < .01. **p < .001.

This article was submitted for publication under the Editorship of John DeLamater.