THE IMPACT OF PORNOGRAPHY ON THE CONSUMERS'S SEXUALITY - STATE OF ART

Abstract

Despite its easy access, little is currently known about the effects of pornography on the sexual health of consumers, which is mainly due to the existence of methodological weaknesses and latent moral prejudices that bias the results of the studies. That said, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been published over the past two years on the psychosexual impact of pornography on consumers and these studies are reviewed throughout the article. From the results, it appears that there is solid evidence that pornography is associated with the increase in permissive sexual behavior and the diversification of sexual practices by consumers. Globally, the bulk of the evidence shows that the consumption of pornography is associated with negative psychosexual effects, which are dependent not only on the frequency of use but also on the individual's subjective appreciation of its consumption. However, it is noted that positive effects have also been described, and there is still little information about the mediators associated with different outcomes. The discussion reflects on the direction that scientific investigation should take.