Why Do Individuals Watch Pornographic Content? Influential Factors and Key Motivations for Watching Pornographic Content

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine why individuals who watch pornographic content watch pornography and to explore the motivations underlying their watching behavior. The research was conducted based on phenomenological design which is one of the qualitative research methods. The research was determined by having semi-structured interviews with 8 participants (6 males and 2 females) who engage in problematic consumption of pornographic content and by purposive sampling method. In the study, researchers used a Personal Information Form and a semi-structured interview form as data collection tools. Semi-structured interview questions were posed to participants through online video conferencing using the “Zoom” program, and the responses given by the participants were recorded. These recordings were analyzed using the content analysis method. The data analyses of individuals who watch pornographic content were grouped under six themes named (1) watching motivations, (2) watching outcomes, (3) perspectives on content, (4) effects of content, (5) knowledge and (6) different pursuits. The study results indicate that curiosity and information-seeking, traumatic family life, role models and lack of social skills, emotional avoidance, stress, and boredom constitute the motivations for watching pornographic content. The participants were observed to report experiencing intense feelings of guilt, shame, and regret after watching pornographic content, and to have difficulties with adaptation to the work, school, or social environment in daily life. The research is thought to contribute to both experts and individuals interested in the research on providing psychological support for problematic consumption of pornographic content in the matter of deciding on which information can be used.

Keywords

• Pornography
• pornography addiction
• sexuality
• motivation

Bireyler Neden Pornografik İçerik İzler? Pornografik İçerik İzlemenin Etkili Faktörleri ve Temel Motivasyonları

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, pornografik içerik izleyen bireylerin neden pornografi izledikleri ve bu izleme davranışlarının altındaki motivasyonlarının neler olduğunun incelenmesidir. Araştırma, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan olgu bilim deseni temelinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma sorunlu pornografik içerik izleyen 8 katılımcı (6 erkek ve 2 kadın) ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme ve amaçlı örnekleme yöntemiyle belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada veri toplama araçları olarak araştırmacılar tarafından Kişisel Bilgi Formu ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır. Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme soruları çevrimiçi (Zoom) programı üzerinden video konferans yöntemiyle görüşülerek katılımcılara sorulmuş ve verilen cevaplar kayda alınmıştır. Bu kayıtlar içerik analizi yöntemiyle çözümlenmiştir. Pornografik içerik izleyen bireylerin veri analizleri (1) izleme motivasyonları, (2) izleme sonuçları, (3) içeriklere bakış açısı, (4) içeriklerin etkileri, (5) bilgi birikimi ve (6) farklı arayışlar olarak isimlendirilen altı tema altında toplanmıştır. Çalışma sonuçları, merak ve bilgi arama, travmatik aile yaşamı, rol model ve sosyal beceri eksikliği, duygusal kaçınma, stres ve can sıkıntısı izleme motivasyonlarını oluşturduğu görülmüştür. Katılımcıların pornografik içerik izledikten sonra, suçluluk, utanç ve pişmanlık duygularını yoğun şekilde hissettiği, gündelik yaşamdaki iş, okul veya sosyal çevreye adaptasyonlarında başarısız olduklarını belirttiği görülmüştür. Çalışmanın sorunlu pornografik içerik izlemeye yönelik sunulacak psikolojik destek araştırmalarında hangi bilgilerin kullanılabileceği hususunda hem uzmanlara hem de ilgili bireylere katkı sunabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• pornografi
• sorunlu pornografik içerik izleme
• pornografi bağımlılığı
• cinsellik
• motivasyon

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