Pornography as a Major Social Problem

Berl Kutchinsky, in "Obscenity and Pornography: Behavioral Aspects," states that "In the twentieth century the issue of pornography, like that of environmental pollution, has grown from insignificance to the status of a 'major social problem'" (Kutchinsky, 1983, p. 1077). In fact, Kutchinsky clearly means to hold up the phrase "major social problem" in describing pornography in order to show that the term does not apply in reality to pornography. This report will examine the ways in which Kutchinsky demonstrates that, in fact, there is little if any evidence to support the argument that pornography can legitimately qualify as a major social problem. The reader finishes Kutchinsky article with the clean impression that the author believes pornography is hardly a legitimate social problem at all.

First, Kutchinsky narrows the focus of the study, or at least the focus of what anti-pornography forces would argue is the crux of the "problem." The author lists the aspects of the issue of pornography as it has risen in "fierce controversy" in the consciousness of the public: "definition, amounts and content of pornographic material, uses and users, economy, and (most importantly) effects" (Kutchinsky, 1983, p. 1077).

There is no doubt that pornography is controversial, and will likely remain so even in a society which in which "The widespread availability of pornography breached or even reversed centuries-old traditional sexual morality, and has offended conservatives and many fe

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phy has been marked by great confusion over terminology. Much literature on the topic tends to equate obscenity with pornography, but there is little agreement about what these terms refer to (Kutchinsky, 1983, p. 1078). In other words, it is legitimate to say that there still continues to be a question about what pornography or obscenity is in terms of its specific, legal definition, while it is not legitimate to say, based on any significant data, that pornography is a major social problem. The picture that emerges from Kutchinsky's review is that of a society in which conservative and feminist elements continue to insist that pornography is dangerous in terms of its creating or encouraging deviant criminal and sexual behavior (rape, child sexual abuse, etc.). However, the claimed effects are simply not there, or at least the studies do not support the claims that they are present. There is, however, no question that pornography does have an "effect." In fact, that effect is the immediate purpose of pornography: "In everyday usage, pornography means a product verbally or visually portraying sexual anatomy and behavior with the main purpose of eliciting sexual arousal" (Kutchinsky, 1983, p. 1078). The question, however, is w

Category: Psychology - P