Causal Analysis
AP English Language – Causal Analysis
2 April 2013
Teens and Porn: The Good, The Bad, It All Depends on the Individual
The average age that American children are first exposed to porn is eleven. By the time they are sixteen, ninety percent of them will have viewed pornography at least once, and by eighteen, eighty percent will have had multiple hardcore exposures (“Pornography Statistics”). The majority of these kids are boys, yet both genders encounter many pornographic sites on the Internet and on TV, even if unintentional. At the onset of puberty, the human body recognizes the need to reproduce and sex hormones (such as progesterone and testosterone) are released. In effect, that boy or girl is psychologically and physically stimulated to have sex (“TeensHealth”). In the past, boys and girls would release these anxieties by taking sneak peeks at the nude indigenous women in National Geographic magazines or perusing the underwear section of a Sears catalog, but now anyone young enough to know how to operate a computer can have full access to an “XXX” or “X-rated” site filled margin to margin with explicit images and videos in a matter of seconds. The effects of pornography are not frequently discussed in public media, yet they can be outlined every day in people 's relationships and interactions.
Pornography paints a picture of a relationship that is not realistic for the overwhelming majority of the population. In most cases of pornographic media, there is one partner in the scene that holds control or dominance, and there seems to be no emotional connection between the two or more actors. In short, pornography only presents one side of a normal relationship: the sexual side. In reality, this side of a relationship should be less important or symbolic than the emotional connection between two or more people for a healthful relation.
This may not be bad for someone who understands what a healthy, happy relationship means to them. In fact, people have
2 April 2013
Teens and Porn: The Good, The Bad, It All Depends on the Individual
The average age that American children are first exposed to porn is eleven. By the time they are sixteen, ninety percent of them will have viewed pornography at least once, and by eighteen, eighty percent will have had multiple hardcore exposures (“Pornography Statistics”). The majority of these kids are boys, yet both genders encounter many pornographic sites on the Internet and on TV, even if unintentional. At the onset of puberty, the human body recognizes the need to reproduce and sex hormones (such as progesterone and testosterone) are released. In effect, that boy or girl is psychologically and physically stimulated to have sex (“TeensHealth”). In the past, boys and girls would release these anxieties by taking sneak peeks at the nude indigenous women in National Geographic magazines or perusing the underwear section of a Sears catalog, but now anyone young enough to know how to operate a computer can have full access to an “XXX” or “X-rated” site filled margin to margin with explicit images and videos in a matter of seconds. The effects of pornography are not frequently discussed in public media, yet they can be outlined every day in people 's relationships and interactions.
Pornography paints a picture of a relationship that is not realistic for the overwhelming majority of the population. In most cases of pornographic media, there is one partner in the scene that holds control or dominance, and there seems to be no emotional connection between the two or more actors. In short, pornography only presents one side of a normal relationship: the sexual side. In reality, this side of a relationship should be less important or symbolic than the emotional connection between two or more people for a healthful relation.
This may not be bad for someone who understands what a healthy, happy relationship means to them. In fact, people have
Cited: Katehakis, Alexandra, MFT, CST, CSAT. "Effects of Porn on Adolescent Boys." Sex, Lies, and Trauma. Psychology Today, 28 July 2011. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. Litherland, Neal. "The Positive Effects of Pornography." Yahoo! Voices Contributor Network. N.p., 8 Apr. 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. Ruskin, Karen, Psy.D., LMFT. "Teens and Porn | Psych Central." Psych Central.com. N.p., 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. "Teens Reason Well, But Not Always With Emotional Maturity | Psych Central News." Psych Central.com. Ed. John M. Grohol, Psy.D. N.p., 8 Oct. 2009. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. "Pornography Statistics." Pornography Statistics. Family Safe Media, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. "TeensHealth." Everything You Wanted to Know About Puberty. The Nemours Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.