How Does YouTube Erotic Content Influence Unconscious Sexual Scripts, Relational Expectations, And Desire Patterns?
Sex is an essential part of human existence. It is intrinsic to human experience and has been explored throughout history in various forms of art, literature, music, dance, film, and more recently, digital media. One such form of digital media that has become increasingly popular in recent years is online streaming platforms like YouTube. As per a report published by Statista, in 2019, YouTube was the most used platform for watching videos among all age groups.
There has been growing concern regarding the influence of online pornography on individuals' sexual scripts, relational expectations, and desire patterns. The present study will explore how YouTube erotic content influences unconscious sexual scripts, relational expectations, and desire patterns.
The article will delve into several issues related to YouTube erotic content, including its definition, classification, viewing habits, effects on users, and potential solutions. To begin with, it would be crucial to understand what defines YouTube erotic content and how it can be categorized. According to researchers, erotic content on YouTube can be classified into four types - softcore, hardcore, fetishistic, and paraphilic (Konstantakopoulou et al., 2021). Softcore content includes mainstream pornographic material, while hardcore content involves explicit depictions of sex acts, genitalia, or bondage/discipline/domination/submission/sadism/masochism (BDSM) themes. Fetishistic content focuses on non-sexual aspects, such as feet, stockings, and lingerie, while paraphilic content revolves around illegal activities, such as bestiality, child exploitation, and necrophilia.
According to a recent survey conducted by Pornhub Insights, 43% of men and 17% of women aged between 18-24 watch porn regularly (Pornhub Insights, 2022), suggesting that online pornography is a popular source of entertainment for young people.
The question remains whether watching porn online has an impact on their sexual scripts, relational expectations, and desire patterns. One study suggests that there is a positive correlation between porn consumption and sexual satisfaction in both men and women (Hald & Hodson, 2006). Similarly, another study found that frequent exposure to pornography led to more permissive attitudes towards casual sex (Hald & Hodson, 2009). These findings imply that YouTube erotic content may influence users' desires and expectations from relationships.
It would be worth noting that the effects of online pornography are not limited to individuals but also extend to couples and families.
Researchers have found that frequent porn viewing can lead to decreased relationship satisfaction among partners (Fischer et al., 2015). It is important to understand that the effects of online erotica cannot be generalised across all populations; instead, they vary depending on factors like age, gender, sexual orientation, and social backgrounds. Therefore, it is crucial to develop targeted interventions to address specific groups affected by these issues.
This article has explored how YouTube erotic content influences unconscious sexual scripts, relational expectations, and desire patterns. Although online pornography is a popular form of entertainment, it may affect individuals' sexual scripts, relational expectations, and desire patterns. Future studies should focus on developing targeted interventions to address this issue, particularly for vulnerable populations.
How does YouTube erotic content influence unconscious sexual scripts, relational expectations, and desire patterns?
YouTube is a popular video streaming platform with a wide variety of user-generated content that can potentially impact viewers' perceptions of intimacy, sex, and relationships. While some argue that erotic content on YouTube may be empowering and liberating for users, others suggest that it perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes and objectifies women by reinforcing traditional sexual norms.