Porno can be an exciting avenue to explore your deepest desires. However, it also carries risks.
In the realm of pornography, there are often false promises made. Some are spiritual in nature, some pertain to body image issues and others simply revolve around sexual pleasure.
History
Pornography has a long and complicated history, with historians often disagreeing over what to study and what should be ignored. Regardless, pornography remains an integral part of contemporary culture and human history.
Pornography has had a lasting influence on Western culture, and its roots remain unclear. Though its exact origins remain uncertain, some historians speculate that it originated as an ancient method to increase fertility. Pornography also evolved as part of religious rituals used to enhance sexuality.
In the late 1860s, pornography began to gain momentum in Europe. With the invention of printing presses came new opportunities for authors and artists to produce and distribute their work, with pornography one of the first fields to benefit from this revolution.
In the nineteenth century, London’s Holywell Street boasted more than fifty pornographic shops. As printing costs decreased and consumers’ tastes evolved, so too did pornography’s popularity both in Britain and America.
However, commercial pornography was not without its problems. Publishing of obscene material was illegal in Britain and the United States, leading to lawsuits from criminal organizations against publishers. Anthony Comstock was a particularly prominent figure in this fight against obscenity; an ardent fanatic and tireless crusader who waged battle against pornography for four decades.
Comstock, though not a clergyman, had an intense religious commitment which enabled him to use his faith as leverage against pornography. He believed obscenity to be the ugliest form of corruption.
He strongly believed that legal action was the only effective way to safeguard young girls and women against obscenity. He was an ardent supporter of anti-pornography, having spearheaded its passage through Congress in 1873.
Many believe the invention of the printing press to be responsible for modern pornography, however there is evidence to suggest this art form has existed for much longer than humans have been on Earth. Indeed, pornography can trace its roots back to centuries past – an art form that predates even photography itself!
Perceptions
Pornography is the term for sexually explicit material, such as films, books, artwork or photographs. While some of this material may be considered harmful in certain ways – depicting people in subordinate positions and engaging in degrading acts many find offensive – pornography also includes material which involves children or promotes necrophilia or bestiality.
Some consider porno to be entertainment, while others feel it violates their privacy. Unfortunately, there is no definitive definition of what exactly qualifies as porno.
Culture, age and gender all play a role in how pornography is perceived; the types of material differ between cultures as does its content and style. Furthermore, how it’s filmed and who stars in it can have an impact on perception as well.
Women tend to be seen as more desirable in porn than men and their sexual behavior is typically portrayed more positively than that of men. This can lead to body image issues for some individuals.
Pornography can have an adverse effect on sexual relationships. Studies have noted that watching pornography can significantly reduce or even eliminate sexual interest among partners, leading to negative outcomes in couples.
Furthermore, it can cause a loss of physical intimacy and diminishes the quality of a relationship. Furthermore, it has an adverse effect on women’s self-esteem, leading to addiction in some individuals.
Research has also indicated that pornography may lead to aggressive behavior in some individuals. It was discovered that those who watched violent and degrading pornography more frequently reported aggressive behavior – not surprising considering some of this content can be quite graphic.
Furthermore, studies have revealed that individuals with a higher BMI tend to consume more pornography. They may feel they appear more physically appealing in porn than real life, which has been linked to an increase in erectile dysfunction.
Body image
Pornography has been linked to decreased sex life quality, child pornography and sexual violence against women; however, another aspect of the industry which affects children as well: body image.
Teenagers in many qualitative studies report that pornography causes them to have a lower body image, leading to poor self-esteem and disordered eating – this is true for both boys and girls, but especially teenage girls.
Pornography not only has an adverse effect on body image, it can also have detrimental effects on relationships. Particularly, the body representations featured in pornography are heavily biased by societal beauty standards (Tylka & Kroon Van Diest, 2015).
Recent studies suggest that men who watch pornography may experience more body dissatisfaction and are more likely to seek cosmetic surgery as a result. This could be due to how porn actors’ bodies are portrayed onscreen.
A 2021 study revealed that women who watched pornography felt more body conscious in intimate settings and were more likely to have attachment insecurities. Their fears were compounded when they had an anxious attachment style.
Insecurity often stems from childhood emotional neglect and an unfavorable attachment to parents or caretakers. These insecurities can lead to various psychological issues, such as low body satisfaction, lower sexual self-esteem and body appreciation, as well as a diminished sense of control over one’s own life.
Body image issues can also lead to anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse problems. In extreme cases, these may even trigger an identity crisis where individuals question who they truly are and what their lives should consist of.
Pornography and body image self-consciousness have an intimate connection that can have detrimental effects on sexual functioning, pleasure and satisfaction. Furthermore, pornography often leads to feelings of unattractiveness, self-consciousness and judgmental attitudes toward one’s appearance (Szymanska-Pytlinska, 2019).
Sexuality
Human sexuality is the way individuals express, enjoy and engage in sexual activity. It includes biological, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of sexuality that shape an individual’s identity. Human sexuality is an intricately knit fabric of identity that changes over time.
Most people identify with one type of sexual orientation or another, such as bisexual, pansexual, asexual and homosexual. For many individuals, their sexuality serves to shape who they are and facilitate finding satisfying romantic relationships.
Identity formation often begins during childhood or other formative experiences. These can shape one’s perception of their body and the types of sexual activities they enjoy, as well as hinder healthy sexual behavior.
Pornography has also been associated with sexual problems for some individuals, such as sexual dissatisfaction, relationship dissatisfaction and difficulties with sexual functioning. Furthermore, frequent consumption of pornography may lead to mental health issues (Bridges et al., 2016; Miller et al., 2019; Wright, Bae & Leonhardt, 2016).
Some individuals may develop sexual scripts from pornography that are inapplicable to partnered sexual activity. In other cases, they may develop an affinity for pornographic sexual behaviors and find it challenging to switch over when their preferred sexual option is unavailable.
It is essential to remember that all sexualities are unique, and it can be impossible to know what impacts an individual without first speaking with them about their personal experiences. Some people may benefit from exploring their sexuality with a therapist who can assist them in recognizing what drives their desires and how it’s developing over time.
Sex education in Ireland is set for a major overhaul starting this September, with junior cycle students learning about consent, relationships and the harmful effects of pornography on sexual expectations. However, there has been an increasing chorus of criticisms about the curriculum as it stands.
On this episode of In the News, we hear from Eoghan Cleary, a secondary school teacher in Greystones who provides sex education and porn literacy classes to his students. He emphasizes why it is so important for educators to receive training on how to talk about porn and not teach it negatively.