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Moderating Effects on the Link between Violent Pornography and Sexual Aggression

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Moderating Effects on the Link between Violent Pornography and Sexual Aggression
Authors: Melissa S. de Roos, Emma Ferrando
Source: Archives of Sexual Behavior. 54:2671-2684
Publisher Information: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: SDG 16 - Peace, SDG 5 - Gender Equality, ESSB PSY, Justice and Strong Institutions
Description: Sexual violence remains a widespread problem among university students, with negative consequences ranging from mental and physical health problems to academic effects and interpersonal issues. Sexual scripts form the blueprint for sexual interactions. Such scripts are influenced by personal experience, as well as exposure to external sources. One such source is violent pornography, with its effect on sexual violence perpetration established in various studies. The aim of this study was to examine the link between violent pornography consumption and sexual violence perpetration. Further, we examined the moderating effects of perceived pornography realism and peer rape myth acceptance (RMA). University students (N = 686, 63.4% female) from The Netherlands participated in this online survey study. Male participants held more positive views toward pornography, viewed more frequently and more deviant content, and their perceived peer RMA was higher than that of women. Results indicated that, particularly for male students, viewing violent pornography increased the risk of sexual violence perpetration. This effect was further exacerbated if pornography was perceived as realistic and peer RMA was high. No such association between violent pornography and sexual violence perpetration was found for women, but this link was observed if peer RMA was high. Implications for prevention focusing on porn literacy initiatives and peer groups are discussed.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 1573-2800
0004-0002
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-025-03199-y
Rights: CC BY
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....bf4c92e6e627464fa3f3a9bf63d49eb3
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Sexual violence remains a widespread problem among university students, with negative consequences ranging from mental and physical health problems to academic effects and interpersonal issues. Sexual scripts form the blueprint for sexual interactions. Such scripts are influenced by personal experience, as well as exposure to external sources. One such source is violent pornography, with its effect on sexual violence perpetration established in various studies. The aim of this study was to examine the link between violent pornography consumption and sexual violence perpetration. Further, we examined the moderating effects of perceived pornography realism and peer rape myth acceptance (RMA). University students (N = 686, 63.4% female) from The Netherlands participated in this online survey study. Male participants held more positive views toward pornography, viewed more frequently and more deviant content, and their perceived peer RMA was higher than that of women. Results indicated that, particularly for male students, viewing violent pornography increased the risk of sexual violence perpetration. This effect was further exacerbated if pornography was perceived as realistic and peer RMA was high. No such association between violent pornography and sexual violence perpetration was found for women, but this link was observed if peer RMA was high. Implications for prevention focusing on porn literacy initiatives and peer groups are discussed.
ISSN:15732800
00040002
DOI:10.1007/s10508-025-03199-y