Robert Jensen: Influence of Pornography on Sex Offenders (explicit language)

Robert Jensen interviewed 13 convicted sex offenders in Pornography: The Production and Consumption of Inequality (1998, p.119-134), to investigate how porn influenced their thinking. All of them had viewed “hard-core pornography”–sex presented in graphic detail. The average age of first viewing was 12, with a range from 8 to 19. From about age 21 on, […]

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Robert Jensen: When Examining Complex Social Phenomena, Scientific Method Has Limits; Listen to the Stories of the Victims (explicit language)

Writing in Pornography: The Production and Consumption of Inequality (1998), Robert Jensen addresses a tactic we’ve seen a lot of in Northampton’s porn debate. Because “science” has not yet conclusively shown a causal link between the use of pornography and sexual violence, some pornography supporters argue, no collective action is possible… I will simply assert […]

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Rabbi Shmuley Boteach: “All are deeply destructive images that erode male respect for women”

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is a popular TV and radio personality who has authored 17 books, including Hating Women: America’s Hostile Campaign Against the Fairer Sex (2005). Rabbi Shmuley recently won the American Jewish Press Association’s highest award for excellence in commentary. In this article from 1/15/05, he takes a critical look at the impact of […]

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The Creation of a Pornography Addiction

Dr. Kevin B. Skinner is a licensed marriage and family therapist. He has worked with over 100 individuals and couples who are dealing with pornography-related problems. His website at www.treating-pornography-addiction.com discusses the nature and treatment of porn addiction, as does his book, Treating Pornography Addiction (2005). Dr. Skinner proposes the following as key elements in […]

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A Review of Pornified: How Pornography Is Damaging Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families

NPN’s Jendi Reiter reviews Pamela Paul, Pornified: How Pornography Is Damaging Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families (New York: Owl Books/Henry Holt & Co., 2005). Freelance journalist Pamela Paul, a contributor to Time Magazine, The Economist, Psychology Today and numerous other mainstream magazines, undertook this study of the pervasiveness of pornography in modern American […]

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Northampton Shelter Coordinators: Porn a Factor in Many Cases of Domestic Abuse

The Union-News studied porn and the porn industry in 1994. One article discussed the impact of porn on women: Tina’s boyfriend would watch the same x-rated movie repeatedly and then force her to reenact the kinky things he saw. Or he’d go to strip bars.“He used to come back from these shows and I was terrified,” […]

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The Psychology of Porn for Men

What does porn do to men? Edward Marriott investigates for The Guardian (2003)… At its most basic level, pornography answers natural human curiosity. Adolescent boys want to know what sex is about, and porn certainly demonstrates the mechanics. David Morgan, consultant clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst at the Portman Clinic in London, which specialises in problems […]

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CNN: “‘Dancing’ star Evans cites porn, adultery in divorce papers”

CNN reports today…Country singer Sara Evans alleges in divorce papers that her husband [Craig Schelske] committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home…The couple married in 1993 and have three children ages 7, 3 and 2…In the filing in state court in suburban Franklin, where the couple […]

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The Science Behind Pornography Addiction

Dr. Mary Anne Layden gave this testimony at a US Senate Science, Technology, and Space Hearing in 2004. Dr. Layden is Co-Director, Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program, Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania… Pornography, by its very nature, is an equal opportunity toxin. It damages the viewer, the performer, and the spouses and […]

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Voice Male: “Intimacy and Porn: A Contradiction in Terms”

Haji Shearer writes about his liberation from porn watching for Voice Male…“About a year ago Voice Male published an article by one of its frequent contributors, journalism professor and anti-porn activist Robert Jensen. He argued that both performers and viewers of pornography are degraded by their involvement. Personally, I know using porn never left me feeling particularly proud. […]

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