<p>Although many communication scholars have explored how parents and children navigate difficult conversations about taboo topics, little to no research exists concerning pornography, specifically from the perspective of the child. To fill this research gap, the following qualitative study utilized a narrative framework and methodology to explore characteristics in parent-child conversations about pornography that illicit positive or negative perceptions from children about those conversations. 18 young adults (18-25 years old) participated in semi-structured interviews in which they shared stories about conversations they had with their parents about pornography. Five major themes surfaced from the thematic analysis of the data: (1) <i>open/closed relationship</i>, (2) <i>discussion-/lecture-based conversation structure</i>, (3) <i>specificity/ambiguity of conversation details</i>, (4) <i>affirmation/denial of curiosity</i>, and (5) <i>appropriate/inappropriate conversation context</i>. The findings have theoretical implications and contextual contributions for family communication scholars in further exploring the topic of pornography as well as practical insights for parents to reflect upon in seeking to strengthen their conversations about pornography with their children.</p>

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With increased access and use of pornography over the internet, the association between pornography use and marital distress needed to be examined in a quantitative manner. There was a need to discover if, and or how, marital relationships are impacted by internet pornography use. Assessment instruments were used to measure internet pornography use (Internet Sex Screen Test revised for pornography), marital adjustment (Marital Adjustment Test items #1 and #14), marital satisfaction (Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale), and marital intimacy (Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships). The results of this study suggested the following; there was a significant positive relationship between the level of internet pornography use and sexual intimacy as experienced by the wife (r=.80, p=.05), there was a significant negative relationship between a husbands internet pornography use and intellectual intimacy as experienced by the couple (r=-.57, p=.05), and no significant relationship between a husbands internet pornography use and his responses to the various dependent variables, implying that he is unaware of how his behaviors impact his wife. The other intimacy scales, as well as the marital adjustment and satisfaction criteria were not significantly influenced. Sample size and the power of statistical results needed to be explained in order to address possible Type II errors. The results of this study should be viewed as preliminary because of the small sample size and homogenous sample. The results of these findings are discussed, along with clinical applications, and suggestions for further study.

Studies among people struggling with hypersexual behavior commonly report that shame needs to be addressed when treating this population. These studies theoretically distinguish that it is shame and not guilt that exacerbates hypersexual behavior, yet no study to date has demonstrated this difference empirically. This observation led to the current investigation in which a sample (N = 177) of people seeking treatment for pornography use anonymously filledout measures of hypersexuality, shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and motivation to change unwanted behavior. A hypothetical path model of the constructs was analyzed yielding significant positive relationships between shame-proneness and hypersexuality as well as guiltproneness and motivation to change. The data support previous findings that shame is active among people seeking treatment for hypersexual behavior. This study adds an additional element to the story by empirically demonstrating that shame and guilt have opposing relationships with hypersexuality and motivation for change.

The growing evidence of harm caused by pornography calls for interventions to counteract the influence of explicit sexual media. Fireproof Ministries conducts a major Christian anti-pornography campaign called XXXchurch. This case analysis of the campaign evaluated if the messages were appropriately designed in light of what persuasion research has discovered about motivating attitudinal and behavioral change. Theories about agenda setting, attitude accessibility, exemplars, evidence, cognitive dissonance, guilt, reactance, fear appeals, and self-efficacy were the basis of identifying the themes of the campaign, evaluating the credibility of XXXchurch, and assessing the theoretical foundation of the campaign. The study found three dominant objectives of the campaign: awareness, prevention, and recovery. XXXchurch has set the pornography agenda in many Christian churches, and also brings the issue to a wider public through news media; they have been featured in thousands of media publications and broadcasts. XXXchurch measures their own success by the stories and feedback they hear from their audience, the media attention they receive, and their increased acceptance by churches. The three main groups of themes in the messages of the campaign are prevention and recovery, the harm of pornography, and how God's purposes for life are impacted by pornography. These themes are essentially persuasive messages encouraging people to consider the negative consequence of using pornography and the benefits of resisting it. The attitudes influenced through these messages are the precursors to taking action to overcome pornography. The XXXchurch campaign establishes credibility with their audience through six elements: (a) prior experience or perceptions, (b) credentials, competence, and expertise (c) honesty and lack of bias, (d) similarity to the audience, (e) bold, confident delivery, and (f) plausible messages. Examples of self-efficacy, exemplars, and fear appeals were the most frequently found theories in the campaign messages. Persuasion theories functioned as useful tools for analyzing and understanding the campaign. Although the XXXchurch team did not design the campaign with these theories in mind, the theories strongly explain the foundation of the campaign. Taken as a whole, the campaign clearly demonstrates research-based principles, which suggest a prediction of successfully influencing attitudes and behavior.

Guided by recent literature and theory addressing pornography use, the current study examined the associations between pornography use and acceptance of pornography and whether they predict sexual satisfaction as reported by both husbands and wives. Using data from the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire (RELATE) (N=335 couples), a common-fate approach was used to examine both common and unique attributes of husbands and wives among pornography use, acceptance of pornography, and sexual satisfaction. Results indicate that pornography use was positively associated with pornography acceptance, but that pornography acceptance did not mediate the relationship between pornography use and sexual satisfaction. Husbands’ pornography use was negatively associated with husbands’ unique sexual satisfaction while wives’ pornography use was positively associated with couples’ shared sexual satisfaction, but negatively associated with wives’ unique sexual satisfaction. Findings emphasize pornography use as being a coupling dynamic within marriages.

Scholars have begun to suggest factors that explain and influence the association between pornography use and relationship outcomes but further work is still needed. Communication about pornography is one variable that may be influential but it has yet to be considered in this way. Using a dyadic sample of 713 different-gender couples, I used Actor-Partner Structural Equation Modeling to analyze associations between pornography use (male pornography use, joint pornography use and female pornography use) and relational quality (from the perspective of each partner, respectively), associations between communication about pornography and relationship quality. Communication about pornography was also considered as a moderator between pornography use and relationship outcomes. Results showed a negative association between male pornography use and relationship quality for both men and women and a positive association between joint pornography use and relationship quality for women. Communication about pornography was positively associated with relationship quality for both men and women but did not moderate the associations between pornography use and relationship quality. Results highlight the value of communicating about pornography and possible implications are discussed.

Partners of sex addicts report symptoms similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder in a mental health crisis known as betrayal trauma. Behaviors that constitute sexual addiction include viewing pornography, a behavior often claimed to affect no one but the user. This article presents an analysis of 1,191 qualitative responses to an item on the Trauma Inventory for Partners of Sex Addicts (TIPSA), with particular emphasis on respondents’ self-reported disruption to relationships outside of the marriage/romantic relationship (e.g., with their children, employers, friends) following discovery of betrayal. Phenomenological analysis was conducted on participants’ responses to determine if other relationships are/are not being significantly affected. Seven themes of disruption were found, including impairment to functioning, difficulty fulfilling roles, preoccupation, loss of identity, shame, getting stuck, and moving on. A discussion is included on the implications of these findings, including the implications for therapists who work with sex addicts and their partners and recommendations for policy changes.

Rape and sexual assaults are a huge epidemic not only in the United States, but in the world as well. Victims come across all races, ethnicities, ages, religions, classes and cultures. With so many victims, people often investigate what causes people to commit these crimes in order to decrease the likelihood of future incidents occurring. Pornography is often argued for being a possible cause of sexual assaults. While many sex offenders do have large collections of pornography, there has not been any concrete evidence to support that pornography causes people to rape. Acceptance of rape myths also could play a large role in how people perceive the victims of sexual assaults causing them even more trauma as well as them being less likely to report the crime. With over 2000,000 cases of sexual assault reported each year, it is important to attempt to find any possible causes. The intent of this thesis is to explore any possible associations with attitudes on pornography and perceptions of rape myths. Through my analysis, the participants were asked about their attitudes of pornography and details on if they chose to view pornography or not compared with their perceptions of rape myths.

Data on peer-on-peer child sexual demonstrates up to one-third of child sexual assaults perpetrated by other children and what the limited data suggest is that these rates are increasing. These alarming rates of sexual abuse take place alongside increased hyper-access to pornography, with the average first age of exposure at 11. Frontline workers who handle child sexual assault victims and perpetrators indicate that pornography creates a risk of sexual assault by and among children. Given that law enforcement officers will eventually see these same cases, what are their perceptions of pornography as a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse? By interviewing law enforcement officers in the United States working directly on cases involving child sexual abuse, I examine law enforcement officer's perceptions of the connections between pornography and child sexual abuse. A sample of 11 law enforcement officers identify pornography to have a role in peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. Additionally, the sample distinguishes several differences between how pornography impacts peer-on-peer child sexual abuse versus adult-on-child sexual abuse. This study is essential given the confusion in the law and eventual prosecutions; law enforcement is struggling with legislation that does not fit the reality of the cases and results in prosecutorial issues. / Master of Science / This project explores the perceptions of law enforcement officers on pornography as a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. The data for this study originates from 11 semi-structured interviews with law enforcement officers with experience investigating child sexual abuse. This study identified that law enforcement officers do perceive pornography to be a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. The findings of this study indicate the importance for future research and attention to how law enforcement and the U.S. government approach pornography as a risk factor.