Watching porn can be a healthy part of our self-discovery and sex life, but we have to remember that porn is NOT real life.

Watching porn or explicit material can lead to people developing an unrealistic sex script.

A sex script is a term used to describe a set of social norms, expectations and beliefs that guide an individuals behaviour and understanding of sex.

Peoples sex scripts may include…

• Unrealistic attitudes about sex- this might include violence and abusive behaviour.
• Unrealistic attitudes about consent- porn often normalises power imbalances in relationships. Using protection and gaining/ giving consent are rarely seen.
• Unrealistic expectations of body image- genitals are often hairless and uniform… in reality they come in all shapes and sizes.
• Unrealistic expectations of performance- sex in real life is often clumsy and not the smooth, scripted or edited version shown in porn.
• Negative attitude about roles and identify in relationships- Statistics from the wellness project(2021) show that in 97% of scenes in porn women are the target of violence and in 95% of those scenes the women’s response in neutral or positive to the violent behaviour towards them. Behaviours in porn are often aimed at providing pleasure for males, even lesbian porn is often scripted to appeal to males rather than for female enjoyment.

Porn can be a healthy part of our sex lives however some people can develop an unhealthy relationship with porn that can have a negative impact on them and their relationships.

Things to look out for…

• Watching porn and no longer enjoying it.
• Looking for more explicit or extreme porn.
• When watching porn occupies your thoughts and time too much it impacts you doing other things.
• When watching porn has led to unrealistic expectations about sexual experiences.
• When porn has led to you putting pressure on yourself or a partner.
• Growing insecure about your body.
• When you watch porn it leads to feeling guilt or shame.

If you see sexual images or content of someone you think is under 18 you can report it anonymously IWF

Eliminating Child Sexual Abuse Online | Internet Watch Foundation IWF