Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Next revision 		Previous revision
effects_of_media_pornography_on_children [2015/07/28 21:21]
marri created 		effects_of_media_pornography_on_children [2022/03/23 16:14] (current)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +==========Effects of Media Pornography on Children==========
 +
 +The phenomenal growth of mass media during the late 20th century, and particularly the establishment of the Internet, has vastly increased accessibility to pornography and other sexually-related information. This creates a major obstacle to the [[effects_of_pornography_on_adolescents|healthy development of sexuality]], especially among youth.
 +
 +Though most U.S. parents (78 percent) are worried about their adolescents accessing Internet pornography, not all teenagers readily take to this sexualized culture. Most start out being ill at ease with any display of pornography: they tend to be upset or embarrassed,((C. Von Feilitzen and U. Carlsson, //Children in the New Media Landscape: Games, Pornography, Perceptions// (Goteburg: UNESCO/Nordicom, 2000).)) with reactions ranging from fear to shame to anger to fascination.((J. Cantor, M.L. Mares, and J.S. Hyde, “Autobiographical Memories of Exposure to Sexual Media Content,” //Media Psychology// 5, (2003): 1-31. The most common emotional responses to sexually explicit material (not necessarily online) were disgust (24.5 percent), shock or surprise (23.6 percent), embarrassment (21.4 percent), interest or curiosity (20.9 percent), anger (18.4 percent), amusement (15.3 percent), fear (11.2 percent), and sadness (9.2 percent).)) In one survey, about a quarter were “very” upset by this exposure,((Kimberly J. Mitchell, David Finkelhor, and Janis Wolak, “Victimization of Youths on the Internet,” //Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma// 8, (2003): 1-39 (9).)) but they tend not to report it.((K. Wigley and B. Clarke, "National Opinion Poll’s Kids.net" (2000). Available at [[http://www.nop.co.uk]]. Accessed January 2003. In S. Livingstone, “Children’s Use of the Internet: Reflections on the Emerging Research Agenda,” //New Media & Society// 5, (2003): 147-66 (156).))
 +
 +=====1. Unintentional Exposure to Pornography===== 
 +
 +Adolescents often come across pornography accidentally on the Internet. One study found that 70 percent of youth aged 15 to 17 accidentally came across pornography online.((Henry J. Kaiser, "Family Foundation Report," (2002). Available at [[http://www.kff.org/entmedia/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm& PageID=14095]]. Accessed October 19, 2009.)) A study of 1,501 youth aged ten to seventeen examined unwanted exposure incidents more thoroughly: In 26 percent of the cases, respondents reported that when they tried to exit an unwanted site, they were actually brought to an additional sex site.((Kimberly J. Mitchell, David Finkelhor, and Janis Wolak, “Victimization of Youths on the Internet,” //Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma// 8, (2003): 18.)) The same study showed that out of the total number of unwanted exposure incidents, 44 percent of the time the youth did not disclose the episode to anyone else.((Kimberly J. Mitchell, David Finkelhor, and Janis Wolak, “Victimization of Youths on the Internet,” //Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma// 8, (2003): 19.))
 +
 +=====2. Return to Pornography=====
 +
 +These initial reactions of disgust, however, rapidly dissipate so that older adolescents tend to use sexually explicit Internet material more often than younger adolescents((Jochen Peter and Patt M. Valkenburg, “Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Material on the Internet,” //Communication Research// 33, (2006):  591.)) and are twice as likely to report intentional pornography use as are younger adolescents.((Michele L. Ybarra and Kimberly J. Mitchell, “Exposure to Internet Pornography among Children and Adolescents: A National Survey,” //CyberPsychology & Behavior// 8, (2005): 483.)) [[effects_of_pornography|Repeated exposure to pornography]] eventually [[neurological_effects_of_pornography|wipes out any feelings of shame and disgust]] and gives way, instead, to unadulterated enjoyment.((James B. Weaver III, “The Effects of Pornography Addiction on Families and Communities,” presented before the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Washington, D.C. (November 18, 2004).))
 +
 +A 2005 survey showed that respondents who reported unintentional exposure to pornography were over 2.5 times as likely to then report intentional exposure as those who did not report any unintentional exposure.((Michele L. Ybarra and Kimberly J. Mitchell, “Exposure to Internet Pornography among Children and Adolescents: A National Survey,” //CyberPsychology & Behavior// 8, (2005): 473-86 (479).)) It seems the unintentional exposure has its [[neurological_effects_of_pornography|effect of bringing them back]] for more, which, of course, is one of the fears of parents.
 +
 +Several factors predict an [[effects_of_pornography_on_adolescents|adolescent’s use of pornography]]. Teenagers who watch pornography more frequently tend to be high sensation seekers, less satisfied with their lives, have a fast Internet connection, and have friends who are younger.((Jochen Peter and Patt M. Valkenburg, “Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Material on the Internet,” //Communication Research// 33, (2006): 178-204 (196, 200).)) Adolescents are at greater risk for intentionally seeking out sexual material when they have high levels of computer use. The more time spent on the computer, the more likely these adolescents will search for sexually explicit content.((Amanda Nosko, Eileen Wood, and Serge Desmarais, “Unsolicited Online Sexual Material: What Affects Our Attitudes and Likelihood to Search for More?” //The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality// 16, (2007): 1-10 (6-7).)) Not surprisingly, given all that has already been reported, viewers who masturbate while viewing sexually explicit material assess the material more favorably than those who do not masturbate.((Sylvain C. Boies, “University Students’ Uses of and Reactions to Online Sexual Information and Entertainment: Links to Online and Offline Sexual Behavior,” //The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality// 11, (2002): 86.)) 
 +
 +=====3. Reasons for Viewing Pornography=====
 +
 +There is a difference between boys’ and girls’ reasons for seeking pornographic sites, differences that parallel the different patterns of adult male and female use of pornography. Boys tend to seek pornography initially because they are curious or want sexual arousal, while girls tend first to go to non-pornographic but sexually oriented sites for sexual health or relationship-related information.((Kenzie A. Cameron, Laura F. Salazar, Jay M. Bernhardt, Nan Burgess-Whitman, Gina M. Wingood, and Ralph J. DiClemente, “Adolescents’ Experience with Sex on the Web: Results from Online Focus Groups,” //Journal of Adolescence// 28, (2005): 535-40.)) Also, the [[effects_of_pornography_on_men_versus_women|impacts are different for boys and girls]]: males report more positive memories of sexually explicit material than females,((Patricia M. Greenfield, “Inadvertent Exposure to Pornography on the Internet: Implications for Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Networks for Child Development and Families,” //Applied Developmental Psychology// 25, (2004): 741-50 (744-5).)) and report “more positive attitudes toward uncommitted sexual exploration” as their use of pornography increases.((Jochen Peter and Patti M. Valkenburg, “Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Internet Material, Sexual Uncertainty, and Attitudes toward Uncommitted Sexual Exploration: Is There a Link?” //Communication Research// 35, (2008): 579-601 (595).)) In one study, adolescents who watched the highest level of sexual content on television doubled the likelihood they would initiate intercourse.((Rebecca L. Collins, Marc N. Elliott, Sandra H. Berry, David E. Kanouse, Dale Kunkel, Sarah B. Hunter, and Angela Miu, “Watching Sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual Behavior,” //Pediatrics// 114, (2004): e280-9 (e284-5).
 +\\
 +\\
 +\\
 +This entry draws heavily from [[http://marri.us/research/research-papers/the-effects-of-pornography-on-individuals-marriage-family-and-community/|The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family and Community]].))