Effects Of Watching Pornographic Materials

Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

According to Flood (2009), youths are routinely exposed to pornography. They encounter sexually explicit images while on the Internet, some watch X-rated videos and, like adults, they live in a culture increasingly saturated in sexualised representations. This study explores the likely effects of youth’s exposure to sexually explicit media. It reveals that pornography exposure can lead to emotional disturbance, sexual knowledge and liberalised attitudes, shifts in sexual behaviour, and sexist and objectifying understandings. Particularly for boys and young men, the use of pornography may exacerbate violence-supportive social norms and encourage their participation in sexual abuse. This research study focuses on the effects of pornography on Ikot Ekpene youths.

Television has been found to greatly influence the attitudes, moral, values and behaviours of the youths. One common problem of our society is unwanted or teenage pregnancy. sexual activities among the young people have become sporadic. Adolescents are found to be more active sexually and this has been attributed to the negative influence of mass media; most especially the pornographic films which the young ones are exposed to (Flood 2009, p8)

Pornography can defined as sexually explicit media that are primarily intended to sexually arouse the audience (Flood 2009, p3). Sexually explicit’ materials show ‘genitals and sexual activities in unconcealed ways (Peter and Valkenburg, 2007). The context for children’s and young people’s exposure to pornography includes a highly sexualised cultural environment. The frequency and explicitness of sexual content in mainstream media has increased steadily. More widely, there has been a ‘pornographication’ of popular culture. Information and communication technologies have allowed new forms of pornography production and exchange (Hearn 2006, p10). While different studies define and assess ‘pornography’ and exposure in varying ways, large numbers of young people, are growing up with the habit of watching pornographic movies also known as blue films.

Studies have indicated that most adolescents spend the largest part of their time watching video and films. They also spend quite long time in browsing, chatting and watching pornographic films on the Internet. In the same vein, the advent of movies, has internationalized the peculiar cultures of the various societies. With mass production of visual images, videos, television, etc now found in places, which were formerly not reached by these media, the world has eventually become a global village (Buerkel 2005, p11).

1.2 Statement of Problem

In the society today youths are routinely exposed to pornography. They encounter sexually explicit images while on the Internet, some watch X-rated videos and, like adults, they live in a culture increasingly saturated in sexualized representations. The consequence of this is increased transmission of sexual diseases such as HIV. In addition, the situation increases teenage pregnancy as they want to experiment what they have seen while watching pornographic movies and there is general immorality among youths on sexual issues. It is in view of these problems that this study is carried out to examine the effect of viewing pornographic films on students of Holy Child girls secondary school and Ritman college all in Ikot Ekpene local government area.

1.3 Objectives of the study

The following are the objectives of the study;

To find out if viewing pornographic films have negative effect on youths of Holy Child and Ritman secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene.

To find out if viewing pornographic films bring about increased sexual urge.

To determine if parents educate their children on the effects of viewing pornographic films

To find out if youths are influenced by viewing pornographic films

1.4 Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis One

HO: viewing pornographic films do not bring about increased sexual urge.

HI: viewing pornographic films bring about increased sexual urge.

Hypothesis Two

HO: youths are not influenced by viewing pornographic films

HI: youths are influenced by viewing pornographic films

1.5 Significance of the Study

The following are the significance of the study. It will bring to light the effects of pornography on Ikot Ekpene youths. It will help identify the problems associated with pornographic materials. It will also provide information on possible ways of overcoming the problems associated with exposure of youths to pornographic materials. More importantly, the study will serve as reference material to students, scholars and organizations.

1.6 Scope And Limitation Of The Study

This study is limited to the youths of Ikot Ekpene local government area. It is focused on the effects of watching pornographic materials on Ikot Ekpene youths. It covers youths in Holy child girls secondary school and Ritman secondary school both in Ikot ekpene, Akwa Ibom state. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) Availability Of Research Material:

The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) Time:

The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Mass media:

All of the communications media that reach a large audience, especially television, radio, and newspapers

Movies:

A series of real or fictional events recorded by a camera and projected onto a screen as a sequence of moving pictures, usually with an accompanying soundtrack

Pornographic materials:

Films, magazines, writings, photographs, or other materials that are sexually explicit and intended to cause sexual arousal.

Pornography:

Sexually explicit and intended to cause sexual arousal

Television:

An electronic device for receiving and reproducing the images and sounds of a combined audio and video signal

Youth:

The period of human life between childhood and maturity

1.8 Organization Of The Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.

Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.

Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.

Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.

Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion And Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain effects of watching pornographic materials

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of watching pornographic materials

5.2 Summary

This study was on effects of watching pornographic materials. Four objectives were raised which included: To find out if viewing pornographic films have negative effect on youths of Holy Child and Ritman secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene, to find out if viewing pornographic films bring about increased sexual urge, to determine if parents educate their children on the effects of viewing pornographic films, to find out if youths are influenced by viewing pornographic films. The total population for the study is 200 Holy child girls secondary school and Ritman secondary school both in Ikot ekpene, Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up ss 3 students, ss2 students, ss1 students and jss3 students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

5.3 Conclusion

Increased access to the Internet by adolescents has created unprecedented opportunities for sexual education, learning, and growth. Conversely, the risk of harm that is evident in the literature has led researchers to investigate adolescent exposure to online pornography in an effort to elucidate these relationships. Collectively, these studies suggest that youth who consume pornography may develop unrealistic sexual values and beliefs. Among the findings, higher levels of permissive sexual attitudes, sexual preoccupation, and earlier sexual experimentation have been correlated with more frequent consumption of pornography. Researchers have had difficulty replicating these results, however, and as a result the aggregate literature has failed to indicate conclusive results.

Nevertheless, consistent findings have emerged linking adolescent use of pornography that depicts violence with increased degrees of sexually aggressive behavior. The literature does indicate some correlation between adolescents’ use of pornography and self-concept. Girls report feeling physically inferior to the women they view in pornographic material, while boys fear they may not be as virile or able to perform as the men in these media. Adolescents also report that their use of pornography decreased as their self-confidence and social development increase.

Additionally, research suggests that adolescents who use pornography, especially that found on the Internet, have lower degrees of social integration, increases in conduct problems, higher levels of delinquent behavior, higher incidence of depressive symptoms, and decreased emotional bonding with caregivers.

5.4 Recommendation

Hence, it should be remarked that the few children who use the internet for these activities are at risk of being exposed to pornography online. However, the internet is a source of promise for children no doubting this is because it offers an enormous range of positive and educational experiences and materials. On the other hand, the internet is a source of concern for children and they may be exposed to inappropriate material that is sexual, and hateful in nature. Children who watch pornography online are learning a dangerous message from pornographers. They tend to imitate what they watch. Therefore, parents/guardians should ensure that children are safe on the internet in order to realize full educational and other potential of the internet.