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Pornography, Sexual Socialization, and Satisfaction Among Young Men

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Abstract

In spite of a growing presence of pornography in contemporary life, little is known about its potential effects on young people’s sexual socialization and sexual satisfaction. In this article, we present a theoretical model of the effects of sexually explicit materials (SEM) mediated by sexual scripting and moderated by the type of SEM used. An on-line survey dataset that included 650 young Croatian men aged 18–25 years was used to explore empirically the model. Descriptive findings pointed to significant differences between mainstream and paraphilic SEM users in frequency of SEM use at the age of 14, current SEM use, frequency of masturbation, sexual boredom, acceptance of sex myths, and sexual compulsiveness. In testing the model, a novel instrument was used, the Sexual Scripts Overlap Scale, designed to measure the influence of SEM on sexual socialization. Structural equation analyses suggested that negative effects of early exposure to SEM on young men’s sexual satisfaction, albeit small, could be stronger than positive effects. Both positive and negative effects—the latter being expressed through suppression of intimacy—were observed only among users of paraphilic SEM. No effect of early exposure to SEM was found among the mainstream SEM users. To counterbalance moral panic but also glamorization of pornography, sex education programs should incorporate contents that would increase media literacy and assist young people in critical interpretation of pornographic imagery.

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Notes

  1. The original measure had a 4-point response scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, I. Lučića 3, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia

    Aleksandar Štulhofer & Ivan Landripet

  2. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Vesna Buško

Authors
  1. Aleksandar Štulhofer
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  2. Vesna Buško
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  3. Ivan Landripet
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Correspondence to Aleksandar Štulhofer.

Appendix: List of items included in the Sexual Scripts Overlap Scale

Appendix: List of items included in the Sexual Scripts Overlap Scale

The “great sex” inventory

The “porn” inventory items (when different from the “great sex” inventory)

How important for great sex do you personally find:

How important for pornographic depiction of sex do you find:

1 = not at all; 2 = somewhat; 3 = moderately; 4 = a great deal; 5 = exceptionally

I am always ready for sex

Men are always ready for sexa

My partner is always ready to have sex

Women are always ready for sex

Sex that includes a variety of sexual acts

 

Free experimenting

 

No forbidden activities, no taboos

 

It is easy to initiate sex

 

Sex is possible in any situation

 

Long foreplay

 

Threesome (ménage à trois)

 

Enacting sexual fantasies

 

Long lasting sex

 

Oral sex

 

Anal sex

 

Use of protection

 

Partner’s sexual pleasure

 

Romance

 

Emotions, love

 

Intimate communication

 

After-sex cuddling and tenderness

 

Sex presumes relationship

 

Tender sex

 

Partner has a great body

Actors/actresses have great bodies

Partner is beautiful

Actors/actresses are beautiful

Partner is well endowed

Actors/actresses are well endowed

Shaven genital area

 

Sex that occasionally involves humiliation

 

Sex that occasionally includes coercion

 

Ejaculation on partner’s face or body

 

Penetration

 

Use of sex toys

 

Sexual role playing

 

Being constantly horny

Men are constantly horny

Partner is constantly horny

Women are constantly horny

Trust in partner

 

Commitment

 

Intense passion

 

Feeling safe and well-cared for

 

Spontaneity

 

Sexual variety

 

Imagination

 

Unselfishness

 

“Pumping” (fast, vigorous and deep penetration)

 
  1. aIf respondent was male, the item was paired with the first item on the “great sex” inventory list; if respondent was female, the item was paired with the second item on the “great sex” inventory list

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Štulhofer, A., Buško, V. & Landripet, I. Pornography, Sexual Socialization, and Satisfaction Among Young Men. Arch Sex Behav 39, 168–178 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9387-0

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