Safeguarding Yourself, Your Partner, and Your Marriage: Principles to Discussing Pornography in Dating and Beyond

Nearly 70% of college-aged men and 10% of college-aged women have viewed pornography in the last month. This would not be a problem if pornography was benign. Yet, pornography is not benign. Pornography encourages unhealthy and distorted views about sexuality, such as the belief that sex is nothing more than a physical, recreational activity and that reserving sexual relationships for marriage is unrealistic. It increases the risk of becoming sexually dissatisfied with your partner and even cheating on your partner. Over 50% of divorces involve one spouse having an excessive interest in internet pornography.

If you are like many other people that are in a serious relationship, you are justifiably concerned about whether your partner is using pornography. You have the prerogative to know whether your partner is using pornography, for a partner’s pornography use will affect you.

The Women’s Services and Resources Center at Brigham Young University recently asked me to write an article about discussing pornography in dating. The article addresses the reasons for discussing pornography in a relationship, what things you should discuss, and how and when you should discuss them. I encourage you to read it to help safeguard yourself, your partner, and your marriage from pornography.

Download Article Here.