Pornography and teenagers: the importance of individual differences.
This article focuses on the effects of exposure to pornography on teenagers, particularly males, and concentrates on sexually aggressive outcomes and on the characteristics of the individual as crucial in determining whether pornography consumption may or may not lead to sexually aggressive outcomes. In future work, it is important not to use an overly simplistic lens of focus in which pornography exposure is seen as generally harmful or not. Depending on particular constellations of personality characteristics, the effects of pornography may differ considerably among different teenagers as well as within different cultures. The research suggests that particular concerns may be needed for those who are highly frequent consumers of pornography, those who seek out sexually violent content, and those who also have other risk factors.
Malamuth
Neil
N
Department of Communication Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 3130 Hershey Hall, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1538, USA. nmalamut@ucla.edu
Huppin
Mark
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D004882:Erotica; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*