Violence
Aggressive Pornography, Hostility Toward Women, and Behavioral Activation System Traits are Differentially Associated With Intimate Partner Violence and Rape Myth Acceptance.
Open Access: No.
Abstract
Rape myth acceptance (RMA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) represent harmful cognitions and behaviors that disproportionately impact women. The use of pornography, especially aggressive pornography, has been linked to both RMA and IPV. Research has found that the association between pornography and RMA and IPV weakens when statistical models account for individual differences, but this research is limited. The current study adds to the literature by examining how aggressive pornography use and behavioral activation system (BAS) personality traits (impulsivity, goal-drive persistence, reward reactivity, and reward interest) are associated with RMA and IPV perpetration against women. In this predominantly (90%) White sample (N = 146), impulsivity and hostility toward women were positively associated with RMA. Impulsivity, reward interest, hostility toward women, and aggressive pornography use were positively associated with IPV perpetration; goal-drive persistence was negatively associated with IPV. Results indicate that aggressive pornography use, hostility toward women, and BAS personality traits are differentially associated with RMA and IPV. Interventions targeting impulsive behavior with the end of preventing RMA and IPV are discussed..
Relevance
The use of aggressive pornography was “positively associated” with the perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV). Conversely, both rape myth acceptance (RMA) and IPV were “positively correlated” with the use of aggressive pornography. This finding supports “the potential of aggressive pornography as a reinforcer or catalyst of misogynistic ideas.”
(Aggressive pornography including coercive language, hair pulling, spanking, bondage, and confining.)
Citation
Bedoya, A., & Shortland, N. (2025). Aggressive Pornography, Hostility Toward Women, and Behavioral Activation System Traits are Differentially Associated With Intimate Partner Violence and Rape Myth Acceptance. Journal of interpersonal violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251347633
