u10d2 Moral Dilemma

What is pornography? How widespread is the use of pornography? Adopt a position on pornography (not necessarily
representing your own opinion) and present an argument either pro or con. Is pornography a harmless diversion or a
cause of sexual violence or other antisocial acts? Regardless of the position you take, support your position with
data.

The classification of pornography as obscene has been hotly debated in legal venues for decades.
According to the ruling of Roth vs. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that
pornography is protected under the First Amendment. Moreover, the landmark 1973 case of
Miller vs. California determined that pornography could be considered obscene if it violates
community standards and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value (Rathus,
Nevid & Fichner-Rathus, 2004).
The ruling becomes more muddled when one considers the diversity of multicultural and ethnic
neighborhoods that have developed since 1973 that comprise a typical urban area of the United
States. The intuitive question arises: With the widespread use of pornography today, can one
really determine which subculture to isolate as a reference point of judicial scrutiny and
evaluation of whether pornography is obscene or not? In my view, this is an archaic legal
standard that needs to be readdressed through a more contemporary and broadly contextualized
approach.
My position is that generally speaking pornography does not lead to sexually violent acts or antisocial behavior. Numerous and substantive research indicates that there is little difference
between pornography use among incarcerated sex offenders and incarcerated non sex offenders
who use pornography (Rathus, Nevid & Fichner-Rathus, 2004). Some studies do indicate violent
pornography incited greater tendencies for men to exhibit stronger hegemonic attitudes towards
women. However, not everyone is predisposed to such a reaction. Its important to note that
there is a wide range of sex offenders and the frequency and type of pornography varies based
upon individual preference. Most pedophiles claim to have been a victim of sexual assault when
they were younger (Bensimon, 2007).
Furthermore, acting out of sexual fantasies is more driven by an individuals past experiences
and developmental history than by immediate stimulation by pornography. Pornography may or
may not trigger subconscious impulses and tendencies towards violent behavior. From a
practitioner perspective, assessment must begin by identifying the dysfunctional social/relational
skills, attachment status, and historical patterns of behavior and developmental fantasies that
precede its use.
Pornography has been used as a positive tool by sex therapists when treating sexual arousal
dysfunctions in individuals and couples. A few years ago the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
America (ECLA) began using it in the same manner to treat couples with sexual dysfunction.

My view is that pornography is not a harmless diversion either. The objectification of female
images and the desensitizing nature of frequent pornography use can lead to sexualized
worldview distortions of healthy sexuality, relational difficulties, additive behavior and sexual
dysfunction.

Anthony Rhodes
General Psychology Ph.D
References
Bensimon, P. (2007). The Role of Pornography in Sexual Offending. Sexual Addiction &
Compulsivity, 14(2), 95-117. doi:10.1080/10720160701310468
Rathus, S. A., Nevid, J. S., & Fichner-Rathus, L. (2004). Human sexuality in a world of
diversity (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN: 0205406157.