Pornography, Effects of Exposure to

For as long as people have been able to draw and write, they have created pornography. Greek vases and Roman brothels contain ancient, sexually explicit images. Modern technologies for delivering sexually explicit images, such as the Internet, have made pornography ubiquitous. The affordability, accessibility, and anonymity of Internet pornography have also [Page 602]proved a boon to the industry. The total market for adult material in the United States is now estimated to be $13 billion a year.

The subjective experience of viewing sexually explicit materials and societal reactions to their availability are characterized by shifting definitions and mores. Over the past 150 years, concern about the psychological effects of exposure to pornography on the viewer's character, morality, and, lately, tendency to engage in sexually violent behavior ...