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Pornography: Perpetuator of Rape? Pornography: Perpetuator of Rape? The
debate regarding whether pornography is a substantial cause ...
Submitted by blindsideboarder on April 20, 2008
Category: Psychology
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Pornography: Perpetuator of Rape?
The debate regarding whether pornography is a substantial cause of rape is and has been a leading topic in psychological research. The articles, Pornography as a Cause of Rape by Diana E.H. Russell and The Role of Pornography in the Etiology of Sexual Aggression by Seto, Marc, and Barbaree illustrate a spectrum of oppositional viewpoints that highlight and promote each author’s opinion regarding whether violent pornography is in direct correlation with adult female rape victims. This paper seeks to outline the core content of both arguments and express each author’s analysis and judgment.
Pornography as a Cause of Rape
According to sociologist David Finkelhor, there are four conditions that are present when an act of sexual violence occurs. Although his theory is specific to child sexual abuse, Diana Russell utilizes these criteria to influence and apply her theory on sexual assault. In her book Sexual Exploitation, she suggests a variety of factors that can predispose males towards committing an act of rape. Pornography is a large component of the social and internal factors that contribute to males desire to violently dominant another. Thus, she outlines three variables by which pornography: (1) intensifies an pre-existing condition for such violent behavior and creates an environment where others become susceptible to developing a desire to rape; (2) those who are already expressing an internal conflict towards rape, will experience a decrease in inhibitions when exposed to pornographic material; and (3) reduces social inhibitions and in turn allows the individual to disregard social constrictions (p. 338). Although pornography is vital in influencing and exaggerating a male’s desire or predisposition to rape, it is no regard in direct causation. The concept of multiple causation is used to define the relationship between pornography and rape.
With the concept of MULTIPLE...
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