| Popis: |
We used the reinforcing spirals approach and the catalyst model of violent crime to explore if a reciprocal relationship exists between pornography use, sexual fantasies and sexual behavior. To assess our assumption, we conducted a network analysis with a large and diverse sample of N = 1338 hetero- and bisexual participants from Germany. The networks are accurate and stable. Our analysis maps parts of the psychological processes related to sexuality including the question of how these processes correlate. Pornography use appears to be in a reciprocal relationship with sexual fantasy and behavior. However, its use seems to not greatly affect sexual behavior in the majority of opposite-sex relationships with mainstream sexual practices, yielding no empirically relevant effect size. However, an empirically relevant interaction between pornography use and sexual fantasies and behavior did occur in the case of non-mainstream sexual practices (e.g., BDSM). Different communities detected within the networks can be interpreted well (e.g., orgasm centered intercourse, BDSM). In line with previous research, men and women show different communities. However, these communities appear to partly match each other. Reported fantasies and pornography use are more varied compared to actual sexual behavior reported. The study highlights the interaction between sexual fantasies, sexual behavior and (parts of) pornography use. It is a first cue towards a more holistic view on human sexuality and media use. |
