NCJ Number
26845
Date Published
1973
Length
194 pages
Annotation
THIS VOLUME PRESENTS RESEARCH ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO EROTICA AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THIS EXPOSURE TO CRIME, AND EXAMINES THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF CENSORSHIP OF PORNOGRAPHY.
Abstract
THIS STUDY SOUGHT TO DETERMINE WHETHER OBSCENE AND PORNOGRAPHIC WORKS SERVE AS MODELS FOR IMITATION, LEADING TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND ENCOURAGING PERVERTED OR UNCONVENTIONAL SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, OR WHETHER THEY ACTUALLY HELP TO PREVENT SUCH ACTS THROUGH THE RELEASE OF SEXUAL TENSION. IN THE BEGINNING CHAPTERS OF THIS TEXT, THE AUTHORS PRESENT A DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY AND REVIEW THE LITERATURE ON THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERVIEW INSTRUMENT USED IN THIS STUDY IS DESCRIBED. THE PERSONS STUDIED IN THIS INQUIRY FALL INTO FOUR GROUPS: A SAMPLE OF THOSE KNOWN TO BE EXTENSIVE USERS OF PORNOGRAPHY; A SAMPLE OF THOSE WHOSE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IS CONSIDERED ANTI-SOCIAL (RAPISTS AND CHILD MOLESTERS); MEMBERS OF NONHETEROSEXUAL GROUPS; AND A SAMPLE FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION. FACTORS INVESTIGATED INCLUDED THE FREQUENCY OF EXPOSURE TO EROTIC STIMULI, THE IMPACT OF THE MOST VIVID ADOLESCENT EXPERIENCE WITH EROTICA, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEXUAL FANTASIES AND HIS REACTIONS TO EROTICA. PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY AND THE DEFINITION AND CONTROL OF PORNOGRAPHY IN A FREE SOCIETY ARE DISCUSSED IN THE FINAL CHAPTERS.