Title

Pornographic Exposure Over The Life Course And The Severity Of Sexual Offenses: Imitation And Cathartic Effects

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. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Publication Title

Journal of Criminal Justice

Volume

40

Issue

1

Number of Pages

21-30

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2011.11.004

Socpus ID

82955217829 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/82955217829

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS