The Impact of Exposure to Sexually Explicit Materials on Adolescents

Grace Mahaffey
BIO369 - Biology of Gender and Sex

In the age of the internet access to all types of information is more readily
accessible, and relative to to other media the internet is considered a highly
sexualalized environment. Furthermore, much of the internet today is accessed via
mobile devices, which in comparison are highly unmonitored. Research shows that
there is an increasing number of youth who either are intentionally or accidentally
encountering poronographic material online. As their Internet use increases, it is
important to understand the systemic impact of this medium, and specifically exposure
to pornographic stimuli, on adolescent development. Adolescent development, for the
purposes of this paper, is understood to involve critical and significant changes across a
multitude of domains: physical, emotional, cognitive, social, spiritual, and sexual.
Consequently, adolescents are considered one of the most susceptible audiences to
sexually explicit content. Thus, the extent of easy access to sexually explicit material on
the internet begs the question: what impact does exposure to sexually explicit material
have on adolescents?
With the ubiquitous access to the internet, exposure to sexually explicit material
(SEM) has become readily accessible and available to adolescents. A recent study
showing that more than 50% have already viewed SEM in their lifetime.1 However,
about half stumbled upon the SEM accidentally, while the other half noted sexual
curiosity as a driving factor in their viewing.1 It is also suggested that males are more
likely to view SEM.1 This is consistent with another study which showed that 71% of
males and 40% of females had viewed SEM on the internet within the past 6 months.2 It
is however, possible that females access SEM more frequently than noted, as the

studies mentioned often limit their definition of sexually explicit materials to video and
pictoral poronography and it has been seen that females view a broader range of
sexually suggestive materials.
Although often portrayed negatively visiting a sexually explicit website may be a
safe and appropriate method of sexual exploration and is not necessarily indicative of
sexually deviant behavior. The information on the internet is not all negative;
educational and positive sexual health information is available, however extensive
research has not been conducted to evaluate how often this type of material is
accessed. Although from personal experience - or a simple google search - material for
entertainment purposes, which is typically not educational in nature, is much easier to
find. Additionally throughout the literature, it becomes clear there are almost as many
definitions for sexually explicit material as there are individuals who have studied it.
Thus, for the purpose of this paper the definition provided in the 1986 Attorney General
Commission on Poronography will be used, stating that sexually explicit material is
defined as any material that is predominantly sexually explicit and intended primarily for
the purpose of sexual arousal.
When considering the effects of SEM, the impact on the attitudes and beliefs of
the adolescents was an initial consideration. Does viewing sexy things, change how
they think about sex? The answer is yes. One study found that the more frequently
adolescents viewed SEM, the more often they thought about sex, the stronger their
interest in sex became, and the more frequently they became distracted because of
their thoughts about sex, they dubbed this sexual preoccupancy.5

Throughout this process it was seen that many website reinforce negative social
stereotypes surrounding sexuality and there is suggestion that adolescents may be
developing or reinforcing theses viewpoints by observing sexually suggestive material
on the internet.1 To compound this a relationship was found between adolescent
exposure to SEM and less progressive gender role attitudes for both males and
females.The study indicated that male dominance and female submissiveness are
gender roles that are reinforced and perpetuated through sexually explicit material.
Additionally it was seen that increased exposure to SEM increased the likelihood that
adolescents, regardless of gender, would view women as sex objects.6 Another study
found that prolonged and increased exposure to SEM can lead to exaggerated beliefs of
sexual activity among peers, sexually permissible attitudes and sexual callousness
including more negative attitudes towards sexual partners.1 The latter is indicative of
objectification of women.
In contrast on study based in China found that the frequency of accessing SEM
increased youths beliefs about gender role equality, this once again, though calls into
question the type of material being viewed.3 However, it is not all positive marks for
SEM resulting from this study. It also showed that with increased viewing frequency of
SEM, there was an increase in body-centered sexuality.3
Exposure to SEM is associated with greater sexual uncertainty, which refers to
the extent to which adolescents are not clear about their sexual beliefs and values.4
SEM can present sexual beliefs and values that differ from the beliefs and values that
adolescents are taught by their families and school. When they try to make sense of the

conflicting sexual beliefs and values, they may feel uncertain about which they want to
support. The same study showed that those who viewed SEM had more positive
attitudes towards uncommitted sexual exploration.4 This is exemplified in a subsequent
study which showed that frequent viewers of SEM had more liberal or positive attitudes
towards sexually explicit material than those who view progrography less frequently or
not at all. It also suggested that frequent viewers of SEM believed using such material
could create a more stimulating sex life for those consumers.7
Beyond attitudes and beliefs concerning sex, many then asked the question:
does viewing sexual explicit material have an effect on sexual behavior? Throughout the
studies there is an agreement that adolescents can learn sexual behavior from
observing the behaviors in SEM. This supports aforementioned findings that
adolescents view SEM as a source of knowledge. Adolescents who view SEM are
more likely to participate in high risk sexual behaviors, such as having multiple partners
or using substances during sex.1 Increased number of sexual partners may put
adolescents at risk a higher for sexually transmitted infections. The use of alcohol
and/or substance abuse may lower inhibition and raise potential for irresponsible
behavior during sex, particularly lack of condom use. This is continually supported in the
literature concerning this subject.
A Swedish team researching the effects of SEM concluded that having
intercourse with a friend, group sex, oral sex and anal sex were all associated with
frequent exposure to SEM. In addition this study also suggested that adolescents who
were frequently exposed to SEM had their first experience of sexual intercourse at an

earlier age than adolescents who were not frequently exposed.8 Several years later
another team expanded the research regarding exposure to SEM and the age of the
first sexual experience stating that the internet may be acting as an accelerant for
earlier ages for first oral sex and first sexual encounter.9
A number of studies address the impact of sexually explicit material on
adolescents social development, attachment and interpersonal relationships. For
example one study using a sample of Israelis aged 13-18, found that adolescents which
higher degrees of social interaction and bonding were not as likely to consume SEM
than their less social peers. Additionally, it was found that the greater quantities of SEM
viewed were significantly correlated with lower degrees of social integration, specifically
related to religion, school, society and family.10
Studies examining the impact of SEM viewership in cortical substrates in the
brains of adolescents seem to be non-existent at this time. However, neuroscience
research has advanced several findings in the literature that have potential implications
for work with adolescents who are regularly exposed to SEM, and who may be at risk
for abnormal developmental trajectories. Some perspectives are drawn from
researchers in medicine and pathological gambling and some from neuroscientists
studying developmental psychology. While theses may be limited in their application to
adolescent consumption of SEM their perspective can provide a basis for hypothesis
generation and avenues for future research. The structural deficits in brain maturation of
adolescents, and theories such as the picture-superiority effect, offer insight into how
adolescents may be disproportionately vulnerable to negative consequences when

exposed to SEM. This highlights the need for additional research about the impact of
SEM on the adolescent brain.
While increased access to the internet has created unprecedented opportunities
for sexual education, learning and growth the risk of harm is evident throughout the
literature. Collectively, it is seen that youth who consume SEM may develop unrealistic
sexual values and beliefs. Among the findings, higher levels of permissive sexual
attitudes, sexual preoccupation and earlier sexual experimentation have been
correlated with increased frequency of SEM consumption. Additionally, it is suggested
that adolescents who view SEM have lower degrees of social integration. It is clearly
evident that sexually explicit material has an effect on our youth. Increased
understanding of the intimate relationships between the two would by all means be
beneficial.

References
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