A quantitative analysis of attitudes toward pornography use in secure hospitals: sexual, violent and non-offenders

Mellor, Emily; Duff, Simon

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the attitudes of staff members in secure hospitals, and the general population toward pornography use and their decision making regarding access to pornography.
Methodology: A between participants design was used whereby 324 participants, including 162 staff and 162 general population, answered an online questionnaire. Vignettes were presented of six hypothetical patients in a secure hospital, based on gender (male/female) and offence type (sexual/violent/non-offender). Participants were required to decide whether the individual depicted in the vignette should have access to pornography. Finally, participants were given a psychometric assessment of their own attitudes toward pornography.
Findings: Participants were less likely to decide that the sex offender should have access to pornography than the violent or non-offender, thus offence type of the patient was a significant predictor. There was a significant relationship between attitudes to pornography and whether the individual in the vignette should be given access to pornography. There was no significant difference between attitudes towards pornography of the general public and staff members or for male and female participants.
Gender of the patient described in the vignette was not a significant predictor.
Implications: The research highlights the importance of our own attitudes towards pornography, our possible beliefs about sexual offenders, and the effects these may have on decision-making.
Value: The research determines attitudes towards pornography and explores how attitudes impacts on decision making.

Citation

Mellor, E., & Duff, S. (2019). A quantitative analysis of attitudes toward pornography use in secure hospitals: sexual, violent and non-offenders. Journal of Forensic Practice, 21(2), 112-123. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-12-2018-0049

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019
• Deposit Date: Feb 22, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 22, 2019
• Journal: The Journal of Forensic Practice
• Print ISSN: 2050-8794
• Electronic ISSN: 2050-8794
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 112-123
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-12-2018-0049
• Keywords: pornography; offender; attitudes; decision making; Secure hospital; Sex crimes
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1578103
• Publisher URL: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/JFP-12-2018-0049
• Contract Date: Feb 22, 2019