Associations Between the use of Pornography, Atypical Sexual Interests and Sexual Offending

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

Paraphiliac individuals rarely exhibit only one paraphilia. Instead, high levels of comorbidity with other sexual interests are typically found. Pedophilia is the common paraphilia among child molesters but also, and even more so, among child pornography offenders. Also, studies suggest an association between the use of pornography and sexual arousal, scripts and behaviours. For example, researches show that the use of violent sexual material is positively correlated with coercive sexual behaviors. To date, it is unclear whether the use of pornography is associated with particular sexual interests. It is also unknown what types of pornography, besides sexual images of children, are specifically associated with online sexual offending. This study investigated the relationship between types of pornography and sexual interests among online sexual offenders. A sample of 221 online, offline and non-sex offenders completed the Sexual Interest Cardsort Questionnaire and a questionnaire assessing their frequency of use of pornography. Results indicate that online sexual offenders used significantly more bondage, bestiality, rape and male adult homosexual pornographic material than contact sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders. Moreover, regression analyses show that higher use of some types of pornography predicts specific sexual interests and online sexual offending. Results and implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Sarah Paquette, University of Montreal

• Franca Cortoni, University of Montreal