Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

09:12
The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
Pornography, Masculinity, and Sexual Aggression on College Campuses
Brooke A de Heer1, Sarah Prior2, Gia Hoegh1
1Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|March 10, 2020
Summary
Higher pornography consumption and certain masculinity traits predict sexual aggression in men. This study explored the links between pornography habits, masculinity, and sexual aggression among college males.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a link between pornography use and sexual aggression.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the predictive value of pornography consumption and masculinity on sexual aggression.
- To investigate the relationship between masculinity, pornography habits, and sexual aggression in heterosexual males.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 152 undergraduate heterosexual males participated in the study.
- Data collected included measures of masculinity, pornography consumption, and sexual aggression.
- Linear regression analyses were used to assess predictive relationships.
Main Results:
- Higher scores on the Likelihood of Sexual Force (LSF) were associated with more frequent pornography consumption.
- Males with higher LSF scores were more likely to consume male-dominant pornography.
- Increased LSF scores correlated with higher masculinity scores on two separate scales.
Conclusions:
- Masculinity and pornography consumption are complex factors influencing sexual aggression.
- Findings have implications for sexual aggression prevention programs on college campuses.
- Further research is needed to fully understand these intricate relationships.
Related Concept Videos
Mate Choice
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
The Stanford Prison Experiment
The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who are...
Aggression
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction
Physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal attraction, influencing first impressions, social interactions, and long-term relationship dynamics. Psychological research consistently demonstrates that attractiveness affects social evaluations and behavioral outcomes in various contexts.Influence on Social InteractionsResearch has shown that individuals perceived as physically attractive often experience preferential treatment in social and professional settings. One...

