VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN PORNOGRAPHY - IS IT REALLY INCREASING

Literature and research on the question of the increasingly violent na ture of pornography is reviewed. In addition, the paper reports the fi ndings of a content analysis of all cartoons and pictures in Hustler M agazine from 1974 through 1987. Results indicate that sexually violent cartoons and/or pictorials constitute a relatively small proportion o f the total cartoons and pictorials. Moreover, no monotonic increase w as found in such depictions over the 14-year period examined. In fact, a relatively small and constant proportion of violent and/or sexually violent depictions over this period is reported. These findings are e xamined in relation to previous research and societal concern about al leged increases in violent pornography as an explanation for increases in rape rates.