SEXUAL OBJECTIFICATION AND EARLY EXPOSURE TO PORNOGRAPHY HARMS CHILDREN

1. "Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualisation of Girls", E.L. Zurbriggen et al (2007), Washington DC, American Psychological Association

   Full report here

   Summary: The media's portrayal of young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health.

2. "Warning over Children Who Abuse", Nick Triggle, BBC News

   Article here

   Summary: Early exposure to pornography is adversely affecting the behaviour and sexual development of young boys.

3. "No excuses: televised pornography harms children", Benedek EP, Brown CF Harv Rev Psychiatry 1999 Nov-Dec, 7:236-40

   Abstract: All youngsters are at some risk from exposure to televised pornography, as described above. At particular risk for harm, however, are the most vulnerable children in our society--children in single-parent homes, children with mental and emotional disturbances, mentally challenged children, children who have been physically and/or sexually abused, and children in dysfunctional families. Youngsters for whom television serves as a babysitter or parental surrogate unfortunately are exposed to few competing influences to television viewing. In addition, parents in such homes are least likely to know what their children are viewing and to be able to pass on their own values about sex and sexual behavior. The main possible effects of televised pornography that must concern us as clinicians, educators, and parents are modeling and imitation of language heard and behaviors observed in televised pornography; negative interference with children's normal sexual development; emotional reactions such as nightmares and feelings of anxiety, guilt, confusion, and/or shame; stimulation of premature sexual activity; development of unrealistic, misleading, and/or harmful attitudes toward sex and adult male-female relationships; and undermining of family values with resultant conflict between parents and children. Much more research is clearly needed on this topic. Because of the ethical and procedural problems surrounding research on children exposed to pornography, ideal research designs may never be possible. Nonetheless, we hope that this article will stimulate further discussion and work. To devise public policy that protects children from potentially harmful material while at the same time respecting the media's First Amendment rights, such public discourse and responsible research are essential.

   Summary: Early exposure to pornography is adversely affecting the behaviour and sexual development of young boys.

PORNOGRAPHY HARMS MEN

1. Sex Addiction

   Summary: Sexual addiction is becoming increasingly common, and 80% of such addicts are men. Sufferers can experience a variety of problems such as relationship difficulties, missing career opportunities, getting into debt and attempting or committing suicide.

   [This probably goes some way to explain the recent escalation in suicides amongst young men.]

2. "Effects of Massive Exposure to Pornography", Zillman D and Bryant J, in Neil Malamuth and Edward Donnerstein (eds) "Pornography and Sexual Aggression", Academic Press, London, 1984, pp 115-138

   Summary: Prolonged consumption of pornography ( one hour per week for six consecutive weeks) has a powerful adverse effect on the consumers view of the desirability and viability of marriage and on the desire to have children, especially female children. It also greatly reduces sexual satisfaction and sex-related personal happiness.

3. "Sex 'third most common reason for debts'", Press Association, guardian.co.uk

   Full article here

   Summary: A report has shown that one in four people who contacted a debt helpline in 2007 admitted that some of their financial problems were caused by spending money on sex. The UK Insolvency Helpline has said sex industry spending is now the third most common reason for people to get into debt after spending on drugs and alcohol, and shopping.

PORNOGRAPHY REDUCES SEXUAL SATISFACTION AND HAPPINESS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN

1. "Pornography's Impact on Sexual Satifaction", Zillmann D and Bryant J, (1988) J. Appl. Social Psychology, 18(5), 438-453

   Abstract: Male and female students and nonstudents were exposed to videotapes featuring common, nonviolent pornography or innocuous content. Exposure was in hourly sessions in six consecutive weeks. In the seventh week, subjects participated in an ostensibly unrelated study on societal institutions and personal gratifications. On an especially constructed questionnaire, subjects rated their personal happiness regarding various domains of experience; additionally, they indicated the relative importance of gratifying experiences. Exposure to pornography was without influence on the self-assessment of happiness and satisfaction outside the sexual realm (e.g., satisfaction deriving from professional accomplishments). In contrast, it strongly impacted self-assessment of sexual experience. After consumption of pornography, subjects reported less satisfaction with their intimate partners—specifically, with these partners' affection, physical appearance, sexual curiosity, and sexual performance proper. In addition, subjects assigned increased importance to sex without emotional involvement. These effects were uniform across gender and populations.