YNOT – A Université de Montréal researcher, funded by the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Family Violence and Violence Against Women, has launched a new study to examine the effects of pornography on men. Initial results, from an admittedly small subject sample, have caused postdoctoral student Simon Louis Lajeunesse to speculate that not only does porn do no harm to those who consume it, but in fact consumption of so-called “smut” may be more normal and healthy than most people realize.“The objective of my work is to observe the impact of pornography on the sexuality of men, and how it shapes their perception of men and women,” Lajeunesse, a professor at the university’s School of Social Work, said. “We started our research seeking men in their 20s who had never consumed pornography. We couldn’t find any.”

Almost immediately, the experimental plan and some preconceived notions had to be revised. So far, Lajeunesse and his team have recruited and interviewed 20 heterosexual male university students, all of whom consume porn.

“They shared their sexual history starting with their first contact with pornography, which was in early adolescence,” Lajeunesse said. “Not one subject had a pathological sexuality. In fact, all of their sexual practices were quite conventional.”

Ninety percent of the subjects acquired their porn online. The other 10 percent made their purchases at traditional brick-and-mortar adult stores. On average, the single subjects watched pornography three times a week for 40 minutes at a time. The subjects in committed relationships watched porn an average of 1.7 times a week for 20 minutes.

Lajeunesse’s subjects also exhibited another interesting collection of behaviors: Most of them sought out pornographic material by the age of 10, a developmental stage during which most boys begin to be sexually curious. However, they quickly discarded what they didn’t like or found offensive. As adults, they continued to look for content in tune with their image of sexuality. They also rarely consume pornography with a significant other; when they do, the men choose what the couple watches.

All test subjects said they supported gender equality and felt victimized by rhetoric demonizing pornography.

“Pornography hasn’t changed their perception of women or their relationship, which they all want as harmonious and fulfilling as possible,” Lajeunesse said. “Those who could not live out their fantasy in real life with their partner simply set aside the fantasy. The fantasy is broken in the real world, and men don’t want their partner to look like a porn star.”

Lajeunesse also rejected the perverse effect often attributed to pornography.

“Aggressors don’t need pornography to be violent, and addicts can be addicted to drugs, alcohol, gaming — and asocial cases are pathological,” he said. “If pornography had the impact that many claim it has, you would just have to show heterosexual films to a homosexual to change his sexual orientation.”

The study is ongoing.