The Role of Pornography in Sexual Offending

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the literature pertinent to the link between exposure to pornography and sexual offences. Research concerning the use of pornography as a precursor to sexual offending has yielded mixed results. Inconsistent findings can be attributed to differing research methodologies, including sampling strategies, measures, and genre(s) of pornography included. While the debate rages on regarding the potentially damaging effects of pornography, there is a consensus on one point: the availability and consumption of pornography does nothing to mitigate the likelihood that consumers will sexually offend. Very little research has been devoted to examining the impact of pornography consumption on incarcerated individuals. This is an important avenue of investigation for future studies.

Notes

¹In cases where research is conducted in a correctional institution, particularly on sex offenders, it is very much in the inmate's interest to participate. As with participation in programs, any refusal is automatically recorded in a report, which will be submitted for consideration by members of the National Parole Board.

²Classical theory from the 1950s that suggested that pornography offered catharsis and an outlet through sexual release.

³ Goldberg (1996) has adapted this classification of addictions found in the DSM-IV with his Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) scale. Dependence on Internet sites is assessed in the presence of at least three of the seven criteria, ranging from increased tolerance (with a corresponding reduction in the desired effects, which leads the subject to spend more time browsing Internet sites) up to withdrawal syndrome, with all of the associated physiological and psychological symptoms.

⁴This kind of pornography may seem extreme, but it still falls into the category of “soft” porn. “Fist fucking” is a proper term used in various legal texts to indicate a specific form of sexual aggression towards women (European Parliament, 2001; Swedish Government Office, 1999). In addition, we find this term used to describe medical injuries (Biology Daily, 2005), and it appears in the Oxford English Dictionary (1989).

⁵Offenders have been observed to exhibit a change or strengthening in their beliefs and values, if only in the freedom to go where they like, with no kind of restrictions and outside any conventional framework (Amichai-Hamburger, 2005; Granic & Lamey, 2000; Turkle, 1995). Griffiths (2004) refers to this as functional intoxication, with all that this entails in terms of significance and strengthening of attitudes.

⁶In the case of child pornography, since 1997 and with the help of the United States, the Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe (COPINE) initiative focuses on three types of information: 1) sex tourism; 2) databases and wanted posters with regard to child pornography; and 3) evaluation of how dangerous pedophiles are in relation to the materials viewed, sold or traded on Internet sites. In addition to cooperation with police forces such as Interpol and Europol, a number of agreements and treaties have been signed to further the fight against cybercrime in the past three years and have led to the arrest and conviction of members of many networks in 12 different countries.

⁷Francesco Secondi, Investigator, Special Operations Division, Montreal Police.

⁸Tactile Vision Substitution System (TVSS) (Bach-Y-Rita, 1972; Brindley & Lewin 1968).