Social Costs Of Pornography Examined

Special Report - November 18, 2010
The Witherspoon Institute has released a collection of scholarly papers aimed at documenting, analyzing, and explaining the social costs of pornography since the advent of the Internet. “The Social Costs of Pornography: A Collection of Papers” represents the “final scholarly contribution to the public discourse on the issue of pornography” to come out of a December 2008 consultation of leading experts in economics, psychology, sociology, and law with a focus on examining “the real nature of pornography in its moral and social consequences.”

The articles in the publication represent a diversity of approach, perspective, and religious affiliation among authors, who “agree that there is in the Internet Age a new problem, different in kind from problems of the past,” despite disagreeing on the diagnosis of the problem or the single best reform program. The Witherspoon Institute describes the project as the “first multifaceted, multidisciplinary, scholarly exploration of pornography and contemporary research on its social harms since the advent of the Internet.” Primary among the findings of the included papers is a growing body of research suggesting “that the habitual use of pornography—especially Internet pornography—can damage people of all ages and both sexes, negatively impacting their relationships, productivity, and happiness.” The research papers in the publication include:

• “The Impact of Pornography on Women: Social Science Findings and Clinical Observations”
• “Pornography’s Effects on Interpersonal Relationships”
• “The Abuse of Sex”, “Pornography: Settling the Question in Principle”
• “Desire and the Tainted Soul: Islamic Insights into Lust, Chastity, and Love”
• “Freedom, Virtue, and the Politics of Regulating Pornography”
• “Industry Size, Measurement, and Social Costs”
• “The Moral Basis for Legal Regulation of Pornography”

A summary booklet entitled “The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations,” as well as proceedings from the consultation, are available as a two-DVD set and can be ordered from the Witherspoon Institute.

“Since the beginning of the Internet age, pornography has been consumed in greater quantities than ever before in human history, and its content has grown more graphic,” said Mary Eberstadt, research fellow at the Hoover Institute who participated in the 2008 consultation on the topic. “Recent research suggests that pornography consumption—especially consumption of a more hard-core or violent sort—has negative effects on individuals and society. Widespread pornography consumption appears to pose a serious challenge to public health and to personal and familial well-being.”

Related resources:
Statement On Pornography Released - March 17, 2010
Anti-Pornography Web Site Launches - February 18, 2010
The Effects of Pornography - FNC - Winter 2010
Speaking Out Against Pornography - October 29, 2008
How Pornography Destroys the Family - Findings - July 2004

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