Lecture on the Effects of Internet Pornography

Introduction

• The internet connects people globally and houses information on numerous topics, including pornography.
• There is a debate about the proportion of pornographic content on the internet.
• The effects of pornography on brains, attitudes, and behaviors are complex and not fully understood.
• Research on the subject is largely correlational.

Challenges in Research

• Correlational Nature:
  • Studies often use surveys to assess behaviors and traits linked to porn consumption.
  • Participants self-select into these studies, potentially skewing results.
• Limitations:
  • Findings might not be universally applicable.

Brain and Addiction

• Striatum's Role:
  • Involved in reward processing and activated during sexual arousal.
  • Studies show more activity in the ventral striatum in those who feel porn use is problematic.
• Negative Correlation:
  • More porn usage linked to smaller right caudate size and altered connectivity in the brain.
  • Possible brain rewiring due to frequent stimulation.

Pornography and Aggression

• Cathartic Properties:
  • General patterns show decreased violent crime rates with increased porn accessibility.
  • Correlations, not causal relationships.
• Contradictory Data:
  • A 2016 meta-analysis found a link between porn viewing and sexual aggression, especially with violent content.

Timing and Aggression

• Adolescent Porn Use:
  • Linked with more severe adult crimes.
• Pre-offense Viewing:
  • Linked with less severe crimes, suggesting possible catharsis.

Pornography and Sexism

• Egalitarian Views:
  • Studies show porn use is associated with more egalitarian views regarding gender roles.
• Rape Myths:
  • More prevalent among viewers of violent porn.

Well-being and Morality

• Depression:
  • Linked to porn use, particularly among those morally opposed to it.
• Coping Mechanism:
  • Frequent viewers not opposed may use porn to cope with existing depression.

Conclusion

• There are risks associated with high porn consumption, but potential benefits exist.
• More research is needed to fully understand its effects.

Additional Information

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