Internet Pornography Exposure and Women's Attitude Towards Extramarital Sex: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Pornography research has primarily focused on male sexuality. This exploratory study assessed the association between adult U.S. women's exposure to Internet pornography and attitude towards extramarital sex using data provided by the General Social Survey (GSS). The glamorization of uncommitted, recreational sex in general and extramarital sex in particular is common in pornography. A positive association between Internet pornography viewing and more positive extramarital sex attitudes was found. In alignment with Wright's (2011a) ₃AM model of media sexual socialization, this association was moderated by women's media confidence, religiosity, and educational attainment. Specifically, Internet pornography exposure was associated with more positive attitudes toward extramarital sex only for women who had more media confidence, were less religious and were less educated.

Keywords:

• ₃AM Model
• Extramarital Sex
• Internet Pornography
• Sexual Socialization
• Women's Sexuality

Notes

^a White = 0, Nonwhite = 1.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

The word “pornography” is often seen as pejorative. This study associates no derogatory connotation with the term, using it only as shorthand for mediated content depicting nudity and explicit sexual acts (Wright et al., 2012).

The reasoning presented is indicative of the perspective that education (for those fortunate enough to receive it) enhances critical thinking skills, not that the less educated are inherently unable to think critically. Education is posited to develop and hone critical thinking skills. Education is not posited as an indicator of intrinsic intellectual capacity.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul J. Wright

Paul J. Wright is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Telecommunications at Indiana University.