Pornographic exposure over the life course and the severity of sexual offenses: Imitation and cathartic effects

    Authors

    C. Mancini; A. Reckdenwald;E. Beauregard

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Crim. Justice

    Keywords

    OFFENDER RECIDIVISM; CHILD MOLESTERS; CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR; ADULT RAPISTS; AGGRESSION; INTERNET; IMPACT; ABUSE; METAANALYSIS; POPULATION; Criminology & Penology

    Abstract

    Purpose: Extant scholarship has examined pornography's putative link to the commission of sex crime. Yet. virtually no research speaks to whether an offender's exposure to pornography during many different stages of life elevates the violence of a sex offense. The current study addresses this gap. Methods: Using retrospective longitudinal data, we systematically investigate the effect of offender pornography exposure during adolescence, adulthood, and immediately prior to the offense on the level of physical injury as well as the extent of humiliation experienced by sex crime victims. Results: Findings indicate that adolescent exposure was a significant predictor of the elevation of violence-it increased the extent of victim humiliation. Results also suggest a tempering, or cathartic effect of pornography-using pornography just prior to the offense was correlated with reduced victim physical injury. No effects, however, were observed for adult pornography exposure. Conclusion: Pornography use may differentially influence offenders' propensity to harm or degrade victims over the life course. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Criminal Justice

    Volume

    40

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    21

    Last Page

    30

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000300750600003

    ISSN

    0047-2352

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