Pornography: Perpetuator of Rape?

Pornography: Perpetuator of Rape?

The debate regarding whether pornography is a substantial cause of rape is and has been a leading topic in psychological research. The articles, Pornography as a Cause of Rape by Diana E.H. Russell and The Role of Pornography in the Etiology of Sexual Aggression by Seto, Marc, and Barbaree illustrate a spectrum of oppositional viewpoints that highlight and promote each author’s opinion regarding whether violent pornography is in direct correlation with adult female rape victims. This paper seeks to outline the core content of both arguments and express each author’s analysis and judgment.

Pornography as a Cause of Rape

According to sociologist David Finkelhor, there are four conditions that are present when an act of sexual violence occurs. Although his theory is specific to child sexual abuse, Diana Russell utilizes these criteria to influence and apply her theory on sexual assault. In her book Sexual Exploitation, she suggests a variety of factors that can predispose males towards committing an act of rape. Pornography is a large component of the social and internal factors that contribute to males desire to violently dominant another. Thus, she outlines three variables by which pornography: (1) intensifies an pre-existing condition for such violent behavior and creates an environment where others become susceptible to developing a desire to rape; (2) those who are already expressing an internal conflict towards rape, will experience a decrease in inhibitions when exposed to pornographic material; and (3) reduces social inhibitions and in turn allows the individual to disregard social constrictions (p. 338). Although pornography is vital in influencing and exaggerating a male’s desire or predisposition to rape, it is no regard in direct causation. The concept of multiple causation is used to define the relationship between pornography and rape.

With the concept of MULTIPLE CAUSATION, various possible causes may be seen for a given event, any one of which may be sufficient but not necessary condition for the occurrence of the effect, or a necessary but not sufficient condition… (Finkelhor, P.339).

This quote explains that while a variety of variables are useful in depicting a cause, no one variable is responsible or sufficient in explaining a particular occurrence. Thus, according to models of “classical conditioning, instrumental conditioning, and social modeling” (p. 339), when a sexual stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus, the mind will automatically project a conditioned response. Thereby, concluding an association of sexual arousal with a neutral stimulus. “A simple application of the laws of social learning suggests that viewers of pornography can develop arousal responses to depictions of rape, murder, child sexual abuse, or other assaultive behavior” (p. 339).

Are men naturally attracted towards having non-consensual sex? In generating rape fantasies from pornographic videos, the question whether or not sex is mutually consensual is vital towards influencing male’s perception on violent sexual behaviors. These videos openly validate and excite repressed desires to dominate; creating acceptability that violent sexual control is not only tolerable but also encouraged. In the Zilman and Bryant (1984) report it was shown that males who no longer enjoyed watching standard versions of porn would consequently graduate to more extreme versions of porn that would generally promote female abuse (p.344). The desensitization that occurs as a result of viewing more abusive types of pornography, invokes a predisposition in their attitudes against women.

Diana Russell states that there are seven ways in which pornography can undermine some males’ desires (p. 342). These seven factors are able to motivate a man who would normally not be inclined to rape to escape the restrictions of his internal and external inhibitions. This idea builds on the premise that all men can somewhat easily become at risk to rape as shown by Russell’s examples and research. One of these factors is centered on female objectification. It is emphasized that objectification plays a large role in rape occurrence. Social conditioning continually reinforces the notion that a women’s value lies in her ability to be sexually desired by men and in turn creates a mentality of dehumanization. She is viewed, as a “thing” who’s projected role is solely to serve a man’s need of instant sexual gratification.

Another critical factor in undermining a man’s inhibitions is the perpetuation of false beliefs disseminated largely by pornographic media. The effects of exposure to these false beliefs increases acceptance of violent rape myths. In explaining examples of this, Russell quotes Briere:

• Being roughed up is sexually stimulating to many women

• Sometimes the only way a man can get a “cold” woman turned on is to use force

• Many times a woman will pretend she doesn’t want to have intercourse because she doesn’t want to seem loose, but she’s really hoping the man will force her (Briere et al., 1985, p. 401).

The most difficult part of these beliefs is that they are not isolated to persons who are affected by viewing pornographic media, but an ingrained belief system of many cultural blocs within our society.

The Role of Pornography in the Etiology of Sexual Aggression

This article critically examines the definitions and perceptions of pornography as well as major theoretical perspectives. These perspectives analyze the various methods used to determine whether pornography exposure was a significant factor in rape occurrences, exposing the flaws in the subjecting testing methods used throughout rape causation studies.

Seto, Marc, and Barbaree discuss the operational definitions of pornography and related terms, illustrating an important distinction between pornography and erotica. Erotica is explicit material that contains consensual sexual activity that is generally pleasurable, non-violent, and non-degrading. Pornography