Re: Impact of pornography on children

["John M Price PhD" <jmprice@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003, Frank Vandervort wrote:

> I wonder if anyone could point me in the direction of any research looking
> at the impact of exposure to pornography on children?

I'd use a computerized PsychINFO and use it to gather abstracts.
However, you can probably find The President's Commission on Pornography
from the Nixon era.  The papers cited there can then be followed forward
using Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) or Science Citation Index
(SCI).  There have been some interesting findings, such as less
pornography exposure in those adults convicted of sex crimes.

I'd avoid the Meese commission.  No one took it seriously.  Still, it has
a bibliography.

I would also be careful about later studies with prisoners.  First, of
course, these are retrospective, and don't represent risk, per se.
Secondly, with the 'psychologization' of society, prisoners might want to
put forth any ol' mitigating factor, true or not.

I would be especially
> interested to know if any research has been done on children's exposure to
> child pornography (perhaps as a precursor to actual sexual abuse?).

Those are two different things and should be examined separately.  I don't
recall if the commission looked at that at all.

 Also, I
> can find no research on the impact on a child if her or his image is
> "morphed" using computer technology from an innocent depiction into a
> pornographic one, is anyone aware of such research?

Probably too new of a technique.

> I would appreciate any guidance or suggestions.

Best of luck.

-- 
John M. Price, PhD                                     jmprice@xxxxxxxxxx
Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!
Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683