Pornography use and sexual aggression: the impact of frequency and type of pornography use on recidivism among sexual offenders

Abstract

In this study, we examined the unique contribution of pornography consumption to the longitudinal prediction of criminal recidivism in a sample of 341 child molesters. We specifically tested the hypothesis, based on predictions informed by the confluence model of sexual aggression that pornography will be a risk factor for recidivism only for those individuals classified as relatively high risk for re-offending. Pornography use (frequency and type) was assessed through self-report and recidivism was measured using data from a national database from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Indices of recidivism, which were assessed up to 15 years after release, included an overall criminal recidivism index, as well as subcategories focusing on violent (including sexual) recidivism and sexual recidivism alone. Results for both frequency and type of pornography use were generally consistent with our predictions. Most importantly, after controlling for general and specific risk factors for sexual aggression, pornography added significantly to the prediction of recidivism. Statistical interactions indicated that frequency of pornography use was primarily a risk factor for higher-risk offenders, when compared with lower-risk offenders, and that content of pornography (i.e., pornography containing deviant content) was a risk factor for all groups. The importance of conceptualizing particular risk factors (e.g., pornography), within the context of other individual characteristics is discussed.

Risk Factors for Sexual Offending in Men Working With Children: A Community-Based Survey

“…Compared to non-CSA-W, CSA-W seem to be spending more time each day viewing pornography, a factor that has shown a significant association with sexual offening recidivism in previous studies (Kingston et al, 2008). Furthermore, similar to the findings of Marshall and colleagues (Marshall et al, 2008), we found a higher sex drive index in CSA-W.…”

“…Furthermore, hypersexual behaviors in terms of a high frequency of pornography consumption were associated with a higher rate of sexual recidivism in CSA, however, only in those with a higher Static-99 score (Kingston, Fedoroff, Firestone, Curry, & Bradford, 2008). In men in the community, the number of orgasms per week was not related to sexually aggressive behavior towards women (Malamuth, Linz, Heavey, Barnes, & Acker, 1995), while in young Swedish men (17 to 20 years of age) an association was found between daily use of porn and sexually coercive behavior (Kjellgren, Priebe, Svedin & Langström, 2010).…”

Pornography and attitudes supporting violence against women: revisiting the relationship in nonexperimental studies

“…These images may prime and reinforce various sexually aggressive schemata and ''rape myth'' attitudes, e.g., that some women deserve to or enjoy being harassed, maltreated sexually, or raped [Berkel et al, 2004;Lonsway and Fitzgerald, 1995;Milburn et al, 2000]. The proposed associations may not occur for most men, but be particularly likely for men who hold hostile/power schemas associated with women and sexuality and/or adhere to attitudes that dichotomize women into ''whores'' vs. ''madonnas'' [see also Bargh et al, 1995;Edelman, 2009;Kingston et al, 2008;McKenzie-Mohr and Zanna, 1990;Vega and Malamuth, 2007;Zurbriggen, 2000].…”

Kinderpornografie

“…In einer Population von 341 Hands-on-Tä-tern zeigte sich, dass die Häufigkeit und die Art von Pornografiegebrauch bei Hochrisikopersonen als Risikofaktor für Rückfälle gesehen werden kann und dass deviante Pornografie (Gewaltpornografie und Kinderpornografie) für alle Risikogruppen mit einer erhöhten Rückfallwahrscheinlich-keit assoziiert ist (Kingston et al 2008). In einer amerikanischen Studie hatten von 349 Sexualstraftätern, die wegen einer Sexualstraftat gegen Kinder verurteilt wurden, 60 % auch ein Kinderpornografiedelikt (online) begangen; antisoziales Verhalten (außerhalb des sexuellen Kontexts) erhöhte die Wahrscheinlichkeit für ein Hands-on-Delikt an einem Kind erheblich (Carter et al 1987).…”