The Effect of Erotica Featuring Sadomasochism and Bestiality on Motivated Intermale Aggression

Abstract

Male subjects were provoked by a same-sex peer, exposed to (1) comparatively nonarousing, pleasant erotica (girlie fare); (2) arousing, displeasing, and non-aggressive erotica (bestiality); (3) arousing, displeasing, and aggressive erotica (sadomasochism); or (4) not exposed to erotica, and then provided with an opportunity to retaliate against their annoyer. Exposure to arousing, displeasing erotica, regardless of the degree of apparent aggressiveness involved, was found to increase retaliatory aggression relative to no exposure. Presence or absence of aggressive cues in these equally arousing and equally displeasing erotica was of no consequence. Exposure to nonarousing, pleasant erotica, compared to no exposure, had a negligible effect. 7he aggression-facilitating effect of exposure to displeasing, disturbing erotica was explained as the result of annoyance summation.

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