Pornography and the Sexual Socialization of Children: Current Knowledge and a Theoretical Future (2014)

Journal of Children and Media

Volume 8, 2014 – Issue 3

Paul J. Wright

Pages 305-312 | Received 25 Apr 2014, Accepted 28 Apr 2014, Published online: 05 Jun 2014

Abstract

Academics and lay people alike have contended for decades that children view pornography and are affected by this exposure. Pornography studies that actually sample children are a new phenomenon, however. This commentary summarizes what we currently know about children’s exposure to pornography and the attitudinal and behavioral correlates of exposure. The author concludes with a call for research on factors that may moderate the effects of exposure and suggests that studies use the sexual script acquisition, activation, and application model of media sexual socialization as a theoretical guide.

Keywords:: pornographychildrensexual socializationsexual scripts3AM