Statement by Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of NCOSE
Washington, DC (1/6/2016) – According to a new study out of Indiana University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, porn consumption is significantly linked to increases in sexual aggression. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation is calling attention to this research and to the societal harm of pornography.
“We cannot ignore the growing body of research revealing how pornography is significantly correlated to increases in sexual violence and aggression,” said Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “The latest research by Paul Wright and others is a meta-analysis assessing 22 different studies from 7 different countries around the world. This research found that internationally the consumption of pornography was associated significantly with both verbal and physical aggression, among males and females alike.
From “Gluten Free,” to trans fats, to calories, our society strives to be hyper-vigilant about the effects that different substances have on us. But when it comes to pornography many people refuse to look at the research. Regularly or intentionally consuming any substance so strongly linked to increases in sexual aggression is not only heedless, but also potentially dangerous.”
The conclusion of the study, “A Meta-Analysis of Pornography Consumption and Actual Acts of Sexual Aggression in General Population Studies,” states:
…the accumulated data leave little doubt that, on the average, individuals who consume pornography more frequently are more likely to hold attitudes conducive to sexual aggression and engage in actual acts of sexual aggression than individuals who do not consume pornography or who consume pornography less frequently.
If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact Haley Halverson at (202) 393-7245 or haley@ncose.com.
