Who is screwing around here? The relationship between religiosity, pornography, and extramarital sex

Kenneth Michael Huey, Purdue University

Abstract

Using the National Health and Social Life Survey data of 1994, the relationship between religiosity, pornography, and extramarital sex (EMS) was explored. The results of the present study indicate that religious individuals have less EMS than their non-religious counterparts. They also consume less pornography. However, those religious individuals who consume pornography, in spite of their religious values against such behavior, are significantly more likely to have EMS in their lifetime relative to non-consuming religious individuals. It is proposed that pornography may be a “gateway drug” into EMS behavior for religious individuals. It was also found that those identifying themselves as “Born-Again” are significantly more likely to have had EMS in their lifetime relative to other religious individuals. It is proposed that the self-designation of being “Born-Again” may be an indicator of an extrinsic religious orientation. Indeed, this study found that other measures of religiosity that may indicate an intrinsic religious orientation significantly predicted lower rates of EMS. It appears that extrinsically religious individuals are more likely than intrinsic religiously oriented individuals to have EMS.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Sprenkle, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Behaviorial sciences|Social psychology|Religion

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