Victim reactions in aggressive erotic films as a factor in violence against women.

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate whether the behavioral characteristics of the people in erotic films and the nature of the targets available for aggression afterward can affect subsequent aggression. In Experiment 1, male subjects were angered by a male or female confederate. They were then shown a neutral film or one of three erotic films. The erotic films differed in terms of their aggressive content (two were aggressive and one was nonaggressive) and the reactions of the female victim in the two aggressive films (positive vs. negative). Subjects were then allowed to aggress against the confederate via electric shock. Results indicated that films had no effect on male targets whereas both types of aggressive erotic films increased aggression toward the female. In Experiment 2, the effects of the above films on nonangry viewers were investigated with only female confederates. Results indicated that angered male subjects were more aggressive toward the female after viewing either aggressive erotic film but that only the positive-outcome aggressive film increased aggression in nonangered subjects. Both the theoretical and applied aspects of aggressive and nonaggressive erotica are discussed.

Effect of Songs With Violent Lyrics on Interpersonal Aggression

“…One problem with this study is that the misogynous songs used in the experiment, "suggested that women enjoy coercive sex" (p. 200). It is thus difficult to determine if the results were due to listening to violent lyrics, to the effect of portraying women as enjoying violent sex (e.g., Donnerstein, 1980;Donnerstein & Berkowitz, 1981), or to a potential interaction of these two factors. In addition, because only rap music was used, it is unclear whether the effects would generalize to other genres of music.…”

“…Research using sexually explicit videos has shown that even unprovoked males will aggress against a female confederate after they watch violent pornography that portrays a woman enjoying violent sex (e.g., Donnerstein, 1980;Donnerstein & Berkowitz, 1981).…”

To Catch a Sex Thief: The Burden of Performance in Rape and Sexual Assault Trials

“…230 In the study, men were either angered or treated fairly by fellow study participants prior to what they believed was the experiment. Both groups of men were then shown films that depicted consensual sexual activity or rape scenes.…”

Department of the Navy Family Advocacy Program: Service Need and Service Response. Phase I Report: Reconnaissance

“…In order for rape to occur in society, individuals would have to be exposed to rape depictions or taught that rape is an acceptable form of behavior. Research has shown that certa!n types of pornography promote aggressive behavior (Donnerstein & Berkowitz, 1981).…”

“…Similarly, Donnerstein and Berkowitz (1981) found that previously angered males who had viewed a violent pornographic film delivered higher levels of shock to female targets than to male targets. They also found that regardless of whether male subjects had viewed positive or negative outcomes in violent pornographic film.…”