Violence

Open Access: No.

Abstract

Sexual objectification is a common pornographic theme. Research shows that sexual objectification leads to the expression of aggressive attitudes and behaviors toward women. Based on a survey study of 320 male participants, this study re-conceptualizes sexual objectification in terms of two forms of dehumanization. Evidence suggests men’s pornography use is positively associated with both forms, but mechanistic dehumanization of women is more associated with aggressive attitudes while animalistic dehumanization is more associated with aggressive behaviors. Findings indicate how objectifying pornography use may relate to aggressive attitudes and behaviors and inform the future education campaigns and interventions to reduce sexual aggression.

Relevance

“Pornography use is associated with both mechanistic and animalistic dehumanization…men who use more pornography are more likely to see women as close-minded, impassive, cold, or mechanical, much  like instruments or robots. They are also more likely to see women as uncivilized, irrational, unsophisticated, or lacking self-constraint, like animals or beasts. The two types of dehumanization combine to provide male pornography viewers with a specific sexual script in which women either are denied their full agency and human nature, or only have agency only within the narrow role of a wild sexual creatures that lacks characteristics of human uniqueness.”

Citation

Zhou, Y., Liu, T., Yan, H. Y., & Paul, B. (2021). Pornography Use, Two Forms of Dehumanization, and Sexual Aggression: Attitudes vs. Behaviors. Journal of sex & marital therapy, 47(6), 571–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2021.1923598