Empirical Investigation of the Role of Pornography in the Verbal and Physical Abuse of Women

• NCJ Number: 111646
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1987) Pages: 189-209
• Author(s): E K Sommers; J V P Check
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In studies of male aggressiveness and pornography, social psychologists have found evidence to support the theory that consumption of pornography by males increases their aggressiveness and antisocial attitudes toward women. The research reported here studies the presence of pornography and both sexual and nonsexual violence in the lives of two groups of women: a group of battered women drawn from shelters and counseling groups, and a comparison group of women from a mature university population.

Abstract

It was found that the partners of the battered women read or viewed significantly greater amounts of pornographic materials than did the partners of the comparison group. In addition, 39 percent of the battered women (in contrast to 3 percent of the comparison group) responded in the affirmative to the question, 'Has your partner ever upset you by trying to get you to do what he'd seen in pornographic pictures, movies, or books?' It was also found that battered women experienced significantly more sexual aggression at the hands of their partners than did the women in the comparison group. (Author abstract)