Literature Review of the impact of pornography use on the rate of intimate partner violence (IPV) in heterosexual relationships
Introduction
Pornography is defined as images and videos
with both implicit and explicit sexual intent
and content. Intimate partner violence (IPV)
is the domestic abuse by a current or former
partner in an intimate relationship against
the other partner, which may also include
controlling behaviors, sexual abuse and
physical abuse. Studies have shown that too
viewing pornography can be detrimental.
The Problematic Pornography Use Scale
(PPUS), the Problematic Pornography
Consumption Scale (PPCS), and the Short
Internet Addiction Test Adapted to Online
Sexual Activities(s-IAT-sex) are scales that
have been developed to measure levels at
which pornography viewing becomes
detrimental to the self and/or others. This
review examines studies on how rates of
pornography viewing correlate with rates of
IPV.

Relevance
Pornography is very prevalent and easily accessible in the world today,
especially now with the internet. Sexualization of women is at an all-time
high. As a future social worker, it is important to know potential risk
factors that may affect clients.

Methods

This literature review compared five
multimodal studies, which utilized different
modes or methods. These included data
collection, random samples, and surveys (of
both victims and abusers).
Acknowledged Limitations

Most available studies were done on men,
specifically on white, educated, and financially
privileged men. Many of the samples from
how women felt their partners treated them
were from women in battered women’s
shelters, so rates of IPV were already set to be
high. Additionally, It is difficult to define
pornography and what causes a woman to be
sexualized and what does not.
Conclusion

Viewing pornography and utilizing the sex
Results/Findings

Men who viewed pornography were more likely to commit IPV or sexual assault, and likelihood increased with regular and
incontrollable pornography use (PPU). The kind of pornography also had an effect, and viewing rape, or sadism/masochism
pornography led to a higher likelihood of sexually violence with women. Among men predisposed to violence, sexually
violent behavior increased among batterers who viewed pornography. Viewing pornography with violent or harmful content
resulted in less likelihood to intervene when a women was being assaulted and led to a higher belief in rape myths, as well
as self-reported willingness to rape or assault a woman. Excessive viewing of Internet pornography was linked to
impulsivity, compulsivity, and experiential avoidance, all of which are also associated with IPV. Viewing pornography was
positively associated with men’s gender role conflict, avoidant and anxious attachment styles, and negatively associated
with relationship quality and sexual satisfaction, along with more controlling behaviors in relationships with women.

industry such as sex clubs is likely to impact
the way men view and treat women.
Researches should explore ways to
determine how much is ‘too much’
pornography, and if watching pornography in
moderation has the same or similar effects
as watching pornography often and
uncontrollably. Future research should
investigate the effects on women who view
pornography and be more inclusive to other
genders and kinds of relationships.

References
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