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Experts Link New Study on Aggressive Sexual Behavior to Pornography Usage

U.S. Department of Justice has all the tools it needs to stop U.S. commercial pornographers but is not using those tools

By John Connolly

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The pervasive use of pornography in western society appears to be the cause of 6 out of 10 men polled indicating they would rape a woman if there was no chance of getting caught. This is according to a recent study by the Journal of Research in Personality, a report that experts are linking to the consumption of pornography.

The study showed that 60% of men polled would rape or force a woman to do something she didn't want to do if they were sure they could do so with impunity. Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Cognitive Therapy, said there is a correlation between viewing porn and aggressive sexual behavior among individuals. The results of the study reflect attitudes and behavior that she attributes to prolonged exposure to pornography.

"These messages lead to permission-giving beliefs," she said, "for violence, sexual entitlement, that I should be able to have sex whenever I want, however I want, wherever I want, with whomever I want."

Layden also said that people who use pornography start to think sex is a form of recreation and that sex isn't about intimacy, love, or respect.

"What this statistic shows is that men will go from just consuming pornography on a regular basis to acting out," said Patrick Trueman, special counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the truth.

In an interview concerning pornography in March, Trueman was critical of the government's failure to stop pornography, especially on the internet.

"The U.S. Department of Justice has all the tools it needs to stop U.S. commercial pornographers, who are responsible for most Internet pornography, from operating illegally on the Internet, but those tools are just not being used," he said.

The pornography industry took in more than $13 billion last year, and provides millions of the internet's websites.

In 2004, Senator Sam Brownback called for more research to uncover the destructive effect of pornography addiction following a U.S. Senate hearing discussing the dangers of pornography addiction.  During that hearing, Layden said pornography addiction has similar effects on the brain as heroin or crack cocaine addiction.

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

Pornography "One of the Most Pervasive and Destructive Problems in Our Society" - Philly Cardinal
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jun/06060908.html

Large Increase in Porn DVD Sales Indicates Growing Pornography Addiction
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121603.html

Pornography Addiction Destroying Lives, US Senate Told
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/nov/04111909.html

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