Major sources of information about sex include media such as magazines, videos, television, and movies. Some, but by no means all, of these sources are what most people think of as "pornography." The most common public perceptions of pornography include the "dirty magazine" that an adolescent has hidden under the mattress and the "X-rated" film that a group of men enjoy at a bachelor party. Although these examples may appear relatively harmless, almost an accepted part of societal curiosity about sex and images of beauty, this entry will demonstrate that not all types of pornography are harmless. In fact, some may have seriously adverse influences on attitudes and behaviors.

What Is Pornography?

When people speak of sexually oriented materials, they can be referring to a wide variety of sources. There are classes of materials, at least in the United States, that are explicitly labeled "erotic," "pornographic," or "sexually...