Study Examines Links Between Violent Pornography And Sexual Aggression

Violent pornography use among university students is linked to a higher risk of sexual aggression, particularly when viewers perceive the content as realistic and believe their friends tolerate victim-blaming attitudes. A new study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that media exposure and peer culture can work together to shape harmful behavior.

The authors argue that these findings highlight the importance of strengthening media literacy and consent education on university campuses. Teaching students to recognize pornography as entertainment rather than a reflection of real-life sexual relationships, while challenging rape myths within peer groups, may help reduce coercive behavior.

How Violent Pornography Shapes Sexual Scripts

As young adults form romantic and sexual relationships, they develop internal sexual scripts, mental frameworks that shape expectations about how intimacy should unfold. These scripts are influenced by personal experiences, conversations with friends and exposure to sexually explicit material online.

Much mainstream pornography contains acts such as slapping, choking or verbal degradation presented alongside sexual pleasure. Researchers have expressed concern that repeated exposure to such content may normalize aggression, particularly when viewers believe the scenarios reflect typical real-life sexual encounters.

Lead author Melissa S. de Roos of Erasmus University Rotterdam and her colleagues drew on theories suggesting that pornography alone does not automatically cause sexual violence. Instead, they examined how explicit media interacts with social norms and peer attitudes to influence individual behavior.

Study Design and Student Sample

The researchers conducted an online survey involving 677 university students in the Netherlands, approximately two-thirds women and one-third men. Participants reported when they first viewed pornography, how frequently they consumed it and what types of content they preferred, including material depicting violence or coercion.

Students were also asked how acceptable they considered pornography in general and to what extent they believed it reflected real-life sexual behavior. This concept, known as perceived realism, was central to the study because it may influence how strongly pornography shapes expectations about consent and relationships.

To assess peer influences, participants were asked to imagine private conversations with their three closest friends. They then rated how strongly those friends would agree with statements that excuse or minimize sexual coercion, such as the belief that perpetrators simply get carried away.

Finally, the researchers used a detailed behavioral questionnaire to assess whether participants had engaged in unwanted sexual contact, coercive sexual tactics or threats of force during their time at university. The survey included specific behaviors that meet legal definitions of sexual aggression, allowing the researchers to classify the severity of reported conduct.

Rape Myths and Peer Attitudes

The study focused heavily on rape myths, widely held but false beliefs that blame victims or excuse perpetrators. Examples include assumptions that a person’s clothing invites assault or that victims exaggerate the impact of non-consensual sexual experiences.

Many of these myths rely on a narrow stereotype of what constitutes a “real rape,” often imagined as a violent attack by a stranger. This stereotype can make it easier to dismiss assaults committed by acquaintances or situations involving pressure, manipulation, intoxication or verbal coercion.

When individuals accept such beliefs, they may be less likely to recognize harmful behavior in themselves or others. The researchers suggest that rape myths can provide a psychological justification that allows perpetrators to rationalize continuing sexual behavior after a partner has expressed unwillingness.

Differences Between Male and Female Students

The survey revealed clear gender differences in pornography use and related attitudes. Male students reported consuming pornography more frequently than female students and were more likely to seek out violent or coercive material.

Men also tended to hold more favorable views of pornography overall and perceived their peer groups as somewhat more accepting of rape myths. Although endorsement of these beliefs was generally low, women tended to believe their friends would strongly reject such ideas, while men expected only mild disagreement.

These findings suggest that male-dominated friendship groups may provide more opportunities for victim-blaming narratives to circulate without challenge. Even subtle behaviors, such as laughing at sexist jokes or remaining silent when harmful comments are made, may reinforce problematic social norms.

Violent Pornography, Realism and Sexual Aggression

Among male students, those who consumed violent pornography were more likely to report sexually aggressive behavior. This association was strongest among men who believed that the content accurately reflected real-life sexual experiences.

Viewing violent pornography as realistic appeared to increase the likelihood of normalizing coercion or aggression in personal sexual encounters. According to the researchers, perceived realism may serve as an important pathway connecting media exposure and behavior.

The effect became even stronger when men also believed their close friends accepted rape myths. In these cases, violent pornography consumption combined with permissive peer attitudes produced the highest risk for self-reported sexual aggression.

These findings support the idea that pornography does not operate in isolation. Instead, exposure to violent content may reinforce existing victim-blaming beliefs that are tolerated within some social groups, making aggressive behavior appear more acceptable.

A Different Pattern for Women

Among female students, violent pornography consumption alone was not associated with a higher likelihood of sexual aggression. A significant relationship emerged only when women also perceived their friends as accepting rape myths.

This suggests that social context may play a particularly important role in shaping behavior among women. When peer groups actively reject coercive attitudes, violent content may be less likely to translate into harmful behavior.

The researchers emphasize that although women generally report lower rates of perpetration than men, they are not immune to harmful social influences. As a result, prevention efforts focused on consent and peer norms should include all genders.

Why Many Perpetrators Reject the Label

One of the study’s most striking findings was the disconnect between behavior and self-identification. Participants were asked about specific actions that meet legal definitions of rape, including using force or exploiting another person’s inability to consent. They were also directly asked whether they believed they had ever raped someone.

Many participants who acknowledged behaviors that legally qualify as rape later denied that they had committed rape when asked directly. Among men who met the behavioral criteria, approximately two-thirds rejected the label.

The pattern was even more pronounced among women, with around 87 percent of those meeting the criteria denying that they had committed rape. The researchers argue that this reflects the enduring influence of the “real rape” stereotype, which allows people to exclude their own actions from the category of serious sexual violence.

Limitations and Future Research

The authors caution that the study’s cross-sectional design captures pornography use, attitudes and behavior at only one point in time. As a result, the findings cannot establish a direct causal relationship between violent pornography and sexual aggression.

It is also possible that individuals already inclined toward aggressive behavior are more likely to seek out violent pornography that aligns with their preferences. Longitudinal studies following participants over time would be necessary to determine whether changes in media use precede changes in behavior.

Despite these limitations, the findings are consistent with a growing body of research linking frequent exposure to aggressive pornography with greater acceptance of violence and reduced sensitivity to issues of consent. The authors note that their results align with broader international concerns about the influence of digital media on young people’s sexual norms.

Implications for Campus Prevention

De Roos and her colleagues argue that universities should invest in targeted prevention efforts. Media literacy programs can help students understand that pornography is often scripted entertainment rather than a realistic guide to healthy sexual relationships.

Teaching students to critically evaluate how aggression, pleasure and power are portrayed in explicit content may reduce the influence of violent pornography. Such programs can also highlight how editing, performance and commercial incentives shape what viewers see.

Equally important, the study highlights the influence of peer groups. Prevention strategies that encourage students to challenge rape myths, speak out against sexist jokes and support clear consent norms may help reshape social expectations within friendship circles.

These efforts may reduce what psychologists call pluralistic ignorance, a situation in which people incorrectly assume that others support harmful beliefs simply because nobody openly objects to them. Breaking this silence can make it easier to challenge victim-blaming attitudes and confront coercive behavior.

The researchers also stress that campus prevention programs should include women as both potential victims and potential perpetrators. Initiatives that strengthen communication skills, emphasize enthusiastic consent and teach students to recognize subtle forms of coercion may benefit the entire university community.

The study, titled “Moderating Effects on the Link between Violent Pornography and Sexual Aggression,” was conducted by Melissa S. de Roos and Emma Ferrando and published in Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2024.

Article prepared by Alex Morgan.