Shaping Sexual Behaviors & Sexual Scripts

Open Access: No.

Abstract

Problematic pornography viewing is receiving increased attention as a men’s issue. However, few studies have examined how culturally constructed masculine role norms relate to pornography problems and how individual differences may moderate these associations. Men (N = 520) were recruited online to participate in a survey examining how conformity to masculine role norms was associated with problematic pornography viewing dimensions and how self-esteem moderates these associations. Controlling for pornography viewing frequency, religious identity, and sexual orientation, structural equation modeling revealed power over women and playboy norms as associated with increased problematic pornography viewing, whereas emotional control and winning norms were negatively related to problematic pornography viewing. Of these associations, power over women norms produced consistent positive direct effects across all dimensions, whereas emotional control norms produced consistent negative direct effects. Latent variable interactions reversed the negative direct effects, suggesting men low in self-esteem but high in emotional control and self-reliance norms demonstrate increases in problematic pornography viewing. Interactions similarly evidenced positive relationships between conformity to playboy norms and problematic pornography viewing, with an exacerbation effect for those low in self-esteem. Findings suggest that men’s pornography viewing may be tied to their expressions of traditional masculinity. In addition, men with low self-esteem may be especially drawn to pornography, potentially as a way of over-conforming to and performing certain male role norms. Implications for practice include exploring masculinity ideology with male clients struggling with pornography viewing problems and integrating masculinity as an important cultural consideration within established treatment modalities for pornography addiction.

Relevance

Several aspects of conventional masculinity were “significantly related” to problematic pornography viewing.  These were, most strongly, dominance (a need for power and control over women), but also the “playboy” role (“a desire to have multiple sex partners and  engage in casual sex”), self-reliance (including “restricting help-seeking behaviors”), and winning (“a drive to win, be competitive, and fear of losing”).

The authors suggest that “men who seek power and control over the women in their lives may be especially drawn to pornography because it allows them to vicariously dominate women.”

Additionally, they propose “men with negative self-views may be  overconforming to Playboy norms as a way of mitigating their insecurities through sexual conquests. In turn, these insecure men may be particularly attracted to pornography, not only for sexual gratification but also as a way of proving their masculinity.”

“The present study found that socially constructed masculine gender roles norms may influence the development of problematic pornography viewing.”

Citation

Borgogna, N. C., McDermott, R. C., Berry, A. T., & Browning, B. R. (2020). Masculinity and problematic pornography viewing: The moderating role of self-esteem. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 21(1), 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000214