Violence

Recent decades witnessed a surge in pornography use, contributing to what some researchers referred to as problematic pornography use (PPU; excessive, compulsive, and uncontrollable pornography use). Informed by cognitive scripts theory, cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental research spanning several decades documented a positive association between men’s pornography use and physical and sexual violence perpetration. However, there is a paucity of research investigating pornography use broadly, and PPU specifically, among men who perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV). The present cross-sectional study investigated the association between self-reported PPU and physical and sexual IPV perpetration among 273 men in batterer intervention programs. After accounting for psychiatric symptomology and substance use and problems, results revealed a positive association between PPU and both physical and sexual IPV perpetration. Findings highlighted the need for continued investigation of the function of pornography use for violent men, particularly as it relates to physical and sexual IPV perpetration.

“The present study was the first to examine PPU [problematic pornography use] among men arrested for domestic violence and court-ordered to BIP [batterer intervention programs]. Results of the present study suggested that PPU positively associated with physical and sexual IPV [intimate partner violence] perpetration after accounting for antisociality, symptoms of PTSD [posttraumatic stress disorder] and depression, and substance use and problems.”

“Results from the present study suggested that men who self-reported higher levels of excessive, compulsive, and uncontrollable pornography use perpetrated more frequent physical and sexual IPV than did men with lower levels of such pornography use.”