Pornography, or porn, does not endorse a single ethic or approach to sex. Some people may find that there are psychological benefits, while others may argue that porn is bad due to possible risks and side effects.

Pornography includes a huge range of products — from homemade photos of loving couples to mass-produced erotic movies designed to turn a large profit.

A person must judge whether porn is good or bad based on their values, the scientific research on porn-related issues that matter most to them, and the effect pornography has on their life.

Keep reading to learn more about the psychological and societal implications of pornography, and how porn may impact relationships.

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Porn consumption is more common among men than women.

A 2019 review by an international panel concluded that defining the relationship between pornography and its audience is complex. Even the Supreme Court has grappled with this issue for decades.

People generally define something as pornographic when it involves videos or images that are ‘sexually explicit.’ A detailed medical examination would not be pornographic under this definition, but a sexualized medical scene marketed to a fetish community would be.

Internet pornography has made the genre more accessible. For this reason, most experts think that porn consumption has slightly increased over the past few decades.

However, researchers find it difficult to access reliable data for many reasons. People may lie about their porn consumption – or lack thereof – because of their desire to conform to gender, sexual, and moral norms.

A 2018 study suggests that around 85% of 1,036 participants reported using Internet porn during the previous 6 months. More men (80%) than women (26%) reported consuming online porn at least once a week.

Researchers, advocates, political and moral leaders, and media pundits have debated porn for decades. Consequently, political and religious ideology colors much of the research on the topic.

Mental health experts cannot agree on whether pornography addiction is real or how common it might be.

For every study purporting to show a benefit of pornography, there is another study disputing that benefit. Many studies rely on self-reports or untested assumptions.

Others have serious methodological flaws. For this reason, it is difficult to rely on any single study, and people should the evidence and claims with skepticism.

Many porn users claim that their use improves their relationships, and in some cases, their well-being. Some older research supports this claim. Some potential psychological benefits include:

Increased access to diverse sexual material

People who consume porn may learn about new sexual positions, view destigmatizing material about their kinks, and learn more about the human body.

The media tends to portray sex and sexuality as heterosexual and presents a narrow range of options, while porn offers a person the opportunity to seek out more inclusive options.

Destigmatizing sex

Watching pornography may make sex feel less intimidating, especially to people who have little exposure to sex and sexual material.

Sexual empowerment

Some people find porn sexually empowering. For example, females may find that certain genres of porn validate a wide range of sexual expressions. A 2012 paper argues that pornography demedicalizes female sexuality.

Stress relief and leisure

A 2017 study identified that many people use pornography as a leisure activity to relieve stress and distract them from adverse emotions.

Some potential psychological effects of porn include:

Body image and the beauty myth

Many pornographic films promote an unrealistic image of “beauty” by portraying very ‘slim’ and very ‘young’ people. Some advocates worry that this may contribute to low self-esteem, especially among women, or cause people to have unrealistic expectations of their sexual partners.

Addiction

One heavily contested potential risk is that of pornography addiction. One study observing problematic pornography use (PPU) found that brain activation in people with PPU was accompanied by increased behavioral motivation to view erotic images. In other words, those with PPU subjects had a higher ‘want’ for viewing cues related to erotic pictures.

Cues for signaling erotic pictures also increased based on the amount of pornography a person used per week and masturbation frequency.

On the other hand, numerous studies claim the opposite and cite that research existing around pornography addiction thus far is flawed.

Learn more about pornography addiction here.

Some physical effects of porn may include:

Arousal

Porn can help a person become physically aroused. This may make it easier to have sex with a partner or to enjoy solo sex.

Health

Generally speaking, research on porn and health outcomes is either poorly designed or produces inconclusive results.

However, research does show that positive sexuality can improve health in many ways, including lowering blood pressure and improving the immune system. According to the Center for Women’s Health, porn can be a part of a healthy sex life.

Learn more about the heath benefits of sex here.

Sexual expectations

Porn may help nurture unrealistic expectations about the physical aspects of sex.

A person might believe that only vaginal penetration and no other vaginal stimulation leads to a quick orgasm and that erectile dysfunction (ED) or using lubricants is rare.

Sexual risk-taking

An original research paper in Sexuality & Culture suggests that porn may increase sexual risk-taking, such as not using a condom or other barrier contraception.

Interest in non-normative sex

According to the 2015 report, consuming pornography may increase interest in “friends with benefits” sexual relationships. If a person has multiple friends with benefits, it may increase their exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). That said, there is nothing wrong with having multiple sexual partners. People should always take precautions to ensure safe and enjoyable sex, thus minimizing any risk of STIs.

Porn can benefit and harm a relationship:

Quality of sex life

In an older survey-based study, 58.8% of people who used porn said that it positively affected their sex lives. The study relied on self-reports, not objective measures, so the results are inconclusive.

Sexual desensitization

Conversely, some analysts argue that chronic or intense porn use may make a person less responsive to a sexual partner.

A 2016 review highlights data on porn-related sexual dysfunction. However, some experts have criticized these findings, and one of the authors is a proponent of the idea that porn addiction is common.

Changes in relationships

A study of 430 people in heterosexual relationships found that porn improved communication, enhanced comfort with sex, and supported experimentation.

However, some problems included increased insecurity, decreased interest in their partner, and unrealistic sexual expectations.

Many advocates argue that the personal effects of pornography may extend to society. Some drawbacks include:

  • increased misogyny
  • unrealistic expectations
  • unreasonable sexual expectations that may change what people expect from “typical” sex

There may also be some benefits, including:

  • less stigma associated with sex
  • increased acceptance of nontraditional sexual practices
  • improved sexual communication

There are also some concerns with the creation of pornography and how it affects people involved in the industry. Some advocates argue that people are more likely to enter porn when they have a history of abuse, but a 2012 study disputes this notion. Some other potential problems include:

  • exploitation and abuse of porn actors
  • STIs among porn actors
  • use of underaged actors

A person does not have to use pornography to feel aroused, even if they struggle with arousal.

Some alternatives include:

  • reading erotic stories, which incorporate many of the same fantasies but which lack real people and visual images, potentially easing some people’s concerns about porn
  • exchanging explicit texts or emails with a partner to share fantasies and build interest
  • planning out sex sessions to incorporate more elements of each partner’s fantasies
  • participating in more extensive foreplay, so that each partner has time to get aroused

Pornography can be good, bad, or neutral. It depends on how a person uses it, the type of porn the person consumes, and the effect their use has on their relationships and life.

Current evidence around the positives and negatives of pornography use is mixed. A lot of studies utilize methods such as self-surveys, which bring to light the issue of reliability. More research must continue into the deeper psychological and physical implications of porn.

However, as it stands, porn can be a part of healthy relationships and have numerous benefits, although people should be aware of some potential risks.

Couples should discuss pornography, and people with concerns about pornography should consider talking to a sex-positive counselor.