Pornography Usage: A Case Study

Pornography usage is prevalent across the globe, and that rate at which it is used is expanding worldwide (Dines, 2007). Since 2001, the growth of the pornography industry has increased dramatically, growing from a $3.9 billion business to a $13 billion business in the United States alone (Richtel, 2007). In fact, pornography is such a big business, that in 2006, it generated a revenue of $97.06 billion worldwide; that is more money than Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Netflix, Yahoo, eBay, and Apple combined made in the same year (Ropelato, 2014). Pornography usage is so prevalent all over the world that every second, over 28,000 people are watching pornography (Ropelato, 2014). In many cultures, in many mediums, pornography has become a normal

In a study conducted by Tylka (2015), the researcher explored how pornography affects men’s self-image. Carroll et al. (2008) reported that 9 out of 10 young men view pornography, and therefore it is important to understand how it affects them. It was found that pornography usage is positively linked with the men internalizing the mesomorphic ideal, showing that pornography causes men to internalize society’s ideal masculine characteristics (Tylka 2015). This ideal then leads to a decreased body appreciation. Tylka (2015) also found that men who watched pornography had an increased dissatisfaction with their bodies, believing that they don’t meet the mesomorphic ideal that is portrayed in pornographic images and videos. Beyond body image, this study also showed that men who watched pornography had increased anxiety and romantic attachment avoidance, both of which lead to men’s decreased well-being (Tylka 2015). Therefore, pornography can lead to decreased self-esteem and body satisfaction in the men who watch

However, when couples watch pornography together, some studies have shown that it can have positive effects. In one study conducted by Staley and Prause (2012), when couples watched a sexual film, they had an increased arousal, desire to be close to their partner, and positive feelings. However, these same couples also had increased negative feelings after the film (Staley & Prause, 2012). Unfortunately, there is not enough research that studies how watching pornography as a couple affects the relationship. Since the literature in this field is lacking and conflicting, more research is needed to draw a firm conclusion on how watching pornography as a couple affects the