The views expressed herein have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association.
Easy access to online pornography and the potential harm of consistent exposure raise concerns about children’s health and well-being. The Internet has made children’s access to pornography a more significant issue. Children and youth who use email or surf the Internet are at risk for unwanted exposure to pornography.1
Although blocking and filtering software can prevent access, unwanted and intentional exposure is always possible.2 In 2005, a study of youth aged 10-17 found 42% reported wanted and unwanted exposure to online pornography in the past year.3 Continued exposure to pornography can have negative effects on children and youth.
Lawyers who represent children and youth should be aware of the possibility of such exposure and prepared to advocate for them.
How Pornography Harms Children
Normalizes Sexual Harm
Research shows that “media has a tremendous capacity to teach.”4 Excessive media use, particularly where the content is violent, gender-stereotyped, and/or sexually explicit, skews children’s world view, increases high-risk behaviors, and alters their capacity for successful and sustained human relationships.5
Dr. Sharon Cooper, a forensic pediatrician and faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, maintains that “imagery definitely affects children” and that children receive unhealthy sexual images from adult pornography.6 According to Dr. Cooper, pornography normalizes sexual harm by portraying a lack of emotional relationship between consensual partners, unprotected sexual contact, and, in some instances, violence and rape.7
Dr. Cooper argues that children and youth are more vulnerable to pornographic images than adults because of mirror neurons in the brain, which convince people that they are actually experiencing what they see.8 Mirror neurons play an important role in how children learn. Children learn in large part by imitation, with mirror neurons involved in the process of observing what other people do and imitating those behaviors.9 Pornography may have stronger effects among children and youth than other forms of media because it shows a much higher degree of sexual explicitness.10
Promotes Aggression towards Women
Pornography is arguably more sexist and hostile towards women than other sexual images in the media.11 The aggression and violence towards women found in much of today’s popular pornography can teach boys and young men that it is socially acceptable, and even desirable, to behave aggressively towards and demean women.
Pornography also portrays people and sexual relationships that do not accurately reflect how real people look and act and behave in intimate relationships. Unrealistic expectations of intimate partners may impede youths’ ability to build and maintain healthy relationships.
Shapes Negative Attitudes and Behaviors towards Women
Studies on sexual content and violence in the media indicate that youth accept, learn from, and may emulate behaviors portrayed in the media as normative, attractive, and without risk.12 This is particularly concerning in light of the amount of pornographic materials that portray violence towards women. Past studies of the content of pornography concluded that the typical sexual script focuses on the sexual desires and prowess of men.13 A 2010 study of 50 popular pornographic films suggests that popular pornography contains high levels of physical and verbal aggression.14 The study found that only 10.2% of pornographic scenes did not contain an aggressive act.15 Physical aggression occurred in 88.2% of scenes and verbal aggression in 48.7%.16 Men committed 70.3% of all aggressive acts and 94.4% of aggression was directed towards women.17
A 2009 analysis of studies on pornography and violence towards women reveals a significant relationship between pornography consumption and attitudes supporting violence towards women.18 The relationship is much stronger for violent as compared to nonviolent pornography.19 A 2001-2004 survey of middle and high school youth found 76% of boys who reported committing some form of sexual harassment also reported use of sexually explicit media.20
A 2006 to 2008 survey of youth aged 10-15 found that youth who reported exposure to pornographic materials were 6.5 times more likely to report sexually aggressive behavior.21 Youth who reported exposure to nonviolent material were more than three times as likely to report sexually aggressive behavior, while youth who reported exposure to violent material were 24 times more likely to report sexually aggressive behavior.22
Affects Healthy Intimate Relationships
Establishing romantic and sexual relationships is a central developmental task for youth and young adults.23 Exposure to sexual content can compromise their ability to establish and maintain healthy intimate relationships. Sexual socialization theory suggests frequent exposure to consistent themes about gender and sexual behavior can affect a young person’s developing sense of what is expected sexually for men and women and may also affect later behavior.24 As mentioned earlier, for example, studies show a significant correlation between the use of pornography and aggressive attitudes and behaviors towards women.25
Sexual content on television often sends messages about sexuality that are distorted, stereotypical, and potentially harmful.26 Frequent viewing of sexually oriented TV content like soap operas, music videos, and prime time programs is associated with greater acceptance of common sexual stereotypes and dysfunctional beliefs about relationships.27 A 2006 survey of high school youth aged 14-18 found regular media use was associated with support of sexual stereotypes and that youth who reported watching television for companionship were more likely to agree that sex is recreationally oriented, men are sex-driven, and women are sexual objects.28 Media images also offer information about sexual relationships without addressing the risks and responsibilities of sex, such as pregnancy and STIs.29
If television can have such negative effects on children and youth, pornography, with its more violent and graphic images, can have an even greater impact. Research shows that young adults who are repeatedly exposed to pornography may have lower levels of trust in intimate partners and may lose hope of finding sexual exclusivity with a partner.30
Can Lead to Addiction
Addiction is a risk for children and youth who continually access pornographic materials. In simple terms, addiction involves an activity that was once enjoyable and eventually evolves into a necessity.31 Addiction is an extension of reward-based learning that can physically alter the brain and affect later behavior.32 It is traditionally characterized by an uncontrollable urge, often resulting in loss of control, preoccupation with use, and continued use despite problems caused by the behavior.33 The medical field has recognized that pornography consumption can be problematic. The recently updated DSM-V includes the diagnosis Hypersexual Disorder, which includes the compulsive use of pornography.34
Children and teens are capable of developing compulsive sexual behaviors, which can lead to sexual addiction.35 A research article published in 2000 found an increasing number of children and youth seeing mental health professionals for issues related to online sexual activities.36 The time a child or youth spends online may indicate a disorder when it results in clinically significant impairment or distress.37 Failure to resist the urge to view pornographic images, despite the negative effects the behavior has on social or recreational functioning, is a sign of impairment.38
Medical literature supports the premise that a person with one addiction is likely to have another.39 Youth are more likely than adults to be diagnosed with more than one mental health issue, including sexual acting out, substance abuse, and other disorders.40 Personality disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and substance abuse and dependence are associated with sexual compulsivity.41 People recovering from drug addiction are at risk for sexual addiction, as they may “engage in substitute behaviors that serve similar pleasurable functions.”42 Physical, sexual, family, and social trauma can also lead to the development of sexual addiction or compulsivity.43 A history of sexual behavior problems is another potential indicator for online sexual addiction.44
Sexual addiction for children and youth “likely sets up a life-long struggle” in which the youth’s focus, biological reward system, and behavior are interwoven with “themes of sexual pleasure.”45 Lack of impulse control (a consequence of addiction) may lead those addicted to pornography and/or other online sexual activities to engage with sexually inappropriate or deviant material.46 Addiction can also impact other areas of a person’s life. For example, excessive use of the Internet for nonacademic purposes has been linked to poor academic performance.47
What Can Lawyers Do?
Lawyers who represent children and youth can take several steps when a client has been exposed to pornography or faces potential exposure.
Be aware that exposure to pornography is a possibility.
Know how consistent exposure to pornography can harm children and youth and how exposure may manifest itself. If a male client has behaved aggressively towards his girlfriend or a client seems to have unhealthy attitudes about intimate relationships, this may be a sign that the client has been overexposed to pornography. Unhealthy attitudes about intimate relationships include viewing oneself or one’s partner as a sexual object and ignoring the risks of unprotected sexual contact, such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy.
Know the risk factors for pornography addiction or compulsive pornography use.
These include mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other mental health issues. Be more vigilant about the possibility of exposure in cases in which these factors are present.
Avoid labeling and dismissing clients who act aggressively towards and/or have unrealistic expectations of their intimate partners as “sexual offenders” or “problem children.”
Labeling youth does not help them and may irrevocably damage the attorney-client relationship. This could impair your ability to effectively advocate for the client. Instead, be aware that these undesirable behaviors and attitudes may stem partly from the influence of media, including pornography, and perceived societal expectations.
Be prepared to address the question of pornography exposure with the client and provide the client appropriate information about healthy expectations and behaviors in intimate relationships.
Avoid adopting an accusatory or judgmental tone when bringing up this topic with the client. The client may become defensive if he believes he is being judged. If the client has been exposed, he may feel embarrassed or ashamed and may also fear that he will get in trouble.
Remember that even small children can be exposed to pornography and use age-appropriate language when asking the client about potential exposure to pornography and other sexually explicit media. Depending on the strength of the attorney-client relationship, it may help to ask someone else the client trusts, such as a parent, foster parent, social worker, etc., to speak to the client about this subject. Take time to talk to the client’s parents, foster parents, social workers, teachers, and other adults in the client’s life about possible exposure to pornography.
Be aware of local and community resources for youth with sexually aggressive or problem behaviors that do not involve juvenile detention.
Advocate for your clients’ participation in those programs. Also be aware of available treatment centers and resources for youth who are at risk for or who are struggling with addiction. Some mental health professionals may be certified in the treatment of sex/pornography addiction. The International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP), for example, offers a certification program for sex addiction therapy. IITAP and the Sexual Recovery Institute have lists of treatment specialists and other resources available on their websites.
Conclusion
Exposure to pornography harms children and youth by normalizing sexual violence, creating unrealistic expectations for intimate partners and relationships, and increasing the risk of addiction. Lawyers who represent children and youth should be aware that exposure to pornography may be at the root of some of their clients’ undesirable behaviors and should take care not to label their clients as “problem children” or “sexual offenders.” Children’s lawyers should know the risk factors and signs of exposure and be prepared to advocate for and address these needs.
Allison Baxter is a law student at Hofstra University School of Law and will graduate in May 2014. She lives in Connecticut and is interested in issues related to children’s health and well-being.
Endnotes
1. A 2003 study found that 25% of participating youth aged 10-17 reported one or more unwanted exposure to sexual pictures online. The study also found that 73% of the unwanted exposures occurred through surfing the web and 27% occurred through email use. Mitchell, Kimberly J., et al. “The Exposure of Youth to Unwanted Sexual Material on the Internet: A National Survey of Risk, Impact, and Prevention.” Youth & Society 34, March 2003, 330, 336, 340.
2. The 2003 study found that blocking and filtering software reduced the likelihood of exposure by 40%. Ibid., 347.
3. Wolak, Janis, et al. “Unwanted and Wanted Exposure to Online Pornography in a National Sample of Youth Internet Users.” Pediatrics 119, February 2007, 247, 248-49.
4. Villani, Susan. “Impact of Media on Children and Adolescents: A 10-Year Review of the Research.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 40, April 2001, 392, 399.
5. Ibid.
6. Duke, Rachel B. “Epidemic” Growth of Net Porn Cited.” The Washington Times, June 15, 2010.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Blakeslee, Sandra. “Cells That Read Minds.” The New York Times, January 10, 2006.
10. Ibid.
11. Flood, Michael. “The Harms of Pornography Exposure Among Children and Young People.” Child Abuse Review 18, November 2009, 384, 386-87.
12. Rich, Michael. “Sex Screen: The Dilemma of Media Exposure and Sexual Behavior.” Pediatrics 116, July 2005, 329, 330.
13. Brown, Jane D. and Kelly L. L’Engle. “X-Rated: Sexual Attitudes & Behaviors Associated With U.S. Early Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Media.” Communication Research 36, February 2009, 129, 133.
14. Bridges, Ana J., et al. “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis Update.” Violence Against Women 16, October 2010, 1065, 1079.
15. Ibid, 1075.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid., 1076.
18. Hald, Gert Martin, et al. “Pornography and Attitudes Supporting Violence Against Women: Revisiting the Relationship in Nonexperimental Studies.” Aggressive Behavior 35, 2009, 1, 3, 5.
19. Ibid.., 5.
20. Brown and L’Engle, 2009, 145.
21. Ybarra, Michele L., et al. “X-Rated Material and Perpetration of Sexually Aggressive Behavior Among Children and Adolescents: Is There a Link?” Aggressive Behavior 37, 2011, 1, 3, 7.
22. Ibid., 11.
23. Ward, L. Monique. “Does Television Exposure Affect Emerging Adults’ Attitudes and Assumptions About Sexual Relationships?: Correlational and Experimental Confirmation.” Journal of Youth & Adolescence 31, February 2002, 1, 1.
24. Brown and L’Engle, 2009, 132.
25. Hald et al., 2009, 3, 5; Brown and L’Engle, 2009, 145; Ybarra et al., 2011, 3, 7.
26. Ward, 2002, 2.
27. Ward, L. Monique and Kimberly Friedman. “Using TV as a Guide: Associations between Television Viewing and Adolescents’ Sexual Attitudes and Behavior.” Journal of Research on Adolescence 16, 2006, 133, 135.
28. Ibid., 139, 150.
29. Chandra, Anita et al. “Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy?: Findings From a National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.” Pediatrics 122, November 2008, 1047, 1052.
30. Kanuga, Mansi and Walter D. Rosenfeld. “Adolescent Sexuality and the Internet: The Good, the Bad, and the URL.” Journal of Pediatrics & Adolescent Gynecology 17, 2004, 117, 120; Zillmann, Dolf. “Influence of Unrestrained Access to Erotica on Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Dispositions Towards Sexuality.” Journal of Adolescent Health 27, 2000, 41, 42.
31. Orford, Jim. “Addiction as Excessive Appetite.” Addiction 96, 2001, 15, 16.
32. Hilton, Donald L., Jr. “Pornography Addiction—A Supranormal Stimulus Considered in the Context of Neuroplasticity.” Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology 3, July 2013, 1, 3-5.
33. Young, Kimberly S. “Internet Addiction: A New Clinical Phenomenon and Its Consequences.” American Behavior Scientist 48, December 2004, 402, 403.
34. Hilton, Donald L., Jr. and Clark Watts. “Pornography Addiction: A Neuroscience Perspective.” Surgical Neurology International 2, February 2011, 19, 21.
35. Manning, Jill C. “The Impact of Internet Pornography on Marriage and the Family: A Review of the Research.” Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 13, 2006, 131, 155. See also Freeman-Longo, Robert E. “Children, Teens, and Sex on the Internet.” Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 7, 2000, 75, 78 (2000) (noting that compulsivity is often a precursor to addiction).
36. Freeman-Longo, 2000, 78.
37. Putnam, Dana E. “Initiation and Maintenance of Online Sexual Compulsivity: Implications for Assessment and Treatment.” CyberPsychology & Behavior 3, 2000, 553.
38. Ibid.
39. Schneider, Jennifer P. et al. “Ritualization and Reinforcement: Keys to Understanding Mixed Addiction Involving Sex and Drugs.” Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 12, 2005, 121, 122.
40. Sussman, Steve. “Sexual Addiction among Teens: A Review.” Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 14, 2007, 257, 260. See also Tomlinson, Kristin L. et al. “Psychiatric Comorbidity and Substance Use Treatment Outcomes of Adolescents.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 18, 2004, 160, 161 (explaining that numerous studies have highlighted the elevated co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse among adolescents).
41. Putnam, 2000, 554.
42. Sussman, 2007, 265.
43. Putnam, 2000, 554. See also Schneider et al., 2005, 130 (identifying childhood sexual abuse as a factor that can predispose an individual to addictive behaviors); Sussman, 2005, 265 (noting that sexual abuse as a child may facilitate compulsive sexual behavior).
44. Freeman-Longo, 2000, 81-82.
45. Sussman, 2007, 259.
46. Young, Kimberly S. “Internet Sex Addicton: Risk Factors, Stages of Development, and Treatment.” American Behavioral Scientist 52, July 2008, 21, 31.
47. Putnam, 2000, 553.