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Subscribe to RSSDespite the stereotype that porn actresses are "damaged goods," they actually report higher self-esteem, more positive feelings and greater levels of spirituality than other women, a new study finds.
As previous research has shown, the general public tends to have a negative opinion of female porn stars, assuming that they come from desperate backgrounds and are driven to the industry by low self-respect, a history of childhood sex abuse or other psychological factors.
A group of researchers set out to test if there was any truth to these stereotypes. They surveyed 177 female porn stars between 18 and 50 years old (average age of 26) about their sexual behaviors and attitudes, alcohol and drug use, self-esteem and quality of life.
Compared with a control group, the porn actresses were much more likely to be bisexual (67 percent vs. 7 percent). They also started having sex at an earlier age, had more sexual partners in their lifetime (not including partners in their line of work), said they enjoyed sex more and were more concerned about contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Additionally, porn actresses were more likely to have had a problem with alcohol and to report having used 10 different types of drugs in their lifetime. They also reported more marijuana use during the past six months compared with other women.
But the researchers found key differences between porn actresses and other women that contradict the "damaged goods" stereotype. The porn stars were no more likely to have been victims of childhood sex abuse than the control group, the study found. What's more, the porn actresses reported significantly higher sexual satisfaction, positive feelings, social support and spirituality. [6 (Other) Great Things Sex Can Do For You]
"Overall, pornography actresses had higher scores on several psychological dimensions and appear to be as healthy as or healthier than the matched sample," the researchers wrote in a paper published online Nov. 20 in the Journal of Sex Research.
The researchers said the spirituality differences may be associated with the porn stars' high levels of sexual satisfaction, as prior research has found a link between the two. And in turn, the actresses' high sexual satisfaction may be related to their use of pornography as an effective means to express their sexuality.
"In being able to do so, their sexual expression may be a reflection of their belief system regarding sexuality, and that expression may be related to the elevated positive feelings because they have found an acceptable outlet and supportive environment in which they can do what they like to do," wrote the researchers, led by James D. Griffith, of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania.
The actresses surveyed in the study were involved with porn production companies and were sampled through the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles. As the Internet has changed the landscape of pornography, giving many porn actresses the ability to run their own cyberporn sites, the researchers note that their findings cannot be extrapolated to all performers.
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Let she who is with out sin , cast the first stone. Amateurs vs Professionals . I am still practicing . Help please. ;-) when your feet are in the air , you all look like sisters.
For women who really (really) enjoy sex, the porn industry is a way for them to do the job they love and empowers them to earn good money without a lot of education. If they're any good, they can make their own business out of it. Lotions, toys, their own line of fun stuff. Good for them, the ones who go into it willingly, anyhow.
They are happier, but they use way more alcohol and drugs??? I'm gonna go with they aren't happier and they use the drugs to cope with it.
I was thinking the same thing Tatonka-
I recently just read an article how people who use alcohol and drugs are happier (obviously because it numbs how miserable they are)--so if these porn 'stars' are using more obviously they're happier, right?
They have a higher self esteem, higher rates of STD's, higher chances of contracting AIDS but what the hell, they're happy right?!
Can you imagine being married to a porn star? (yes, they marry)
But what the hell, she makes good money ;-)
His Reply,
"I had a hard day at work today"
Neurochemically speaking, there is no difference between getting pleasure from using a drug or from engaging in a "real" pleasurable activity. It's the exact same reward pathway.
Every man likes a woman who likes sex. If you please a woman she will please you! Never Merrie a woman who doesn't like sex it's a pain in the head!
bubba, is your iq about 50?? just because a female does not like porn or want to be in porn does not mean she does not like sex. what a stupid comment.
Terri, reading is fundamental. Where does he say one word about porn? It's not his IQ that needs to be questioned.
"Porn actresses reported higher self-esteem, more positive feelings and greater levels of spirituality than other women, a new study finds. Additionally, porn actresses were more likely to have had a problem with alcohol and to report having used 10 different types of drugs in their lifetime. They also reported more marijuana use during the past six months compared with other women."
Gee, could it be those feelings of higher self-esteem, more positive feelings or greater levels of spirituality than the general female population were chemically induced? Most humans report feeling euphoric or on top of the world (or more delusional) when they're f*cked up. Makes sense.
Can you say "sour grapes"? LOL
Can you say Charlie Sheen? He'll tell you he's on top of the world...
All positive feelings are chemically induced. Look up dopamine and serotonin.
They're DOING IT, you're watching it.
Just like ATHLETES, they're WORKING... you're the one that is playing.
Of course the loser is YOU!
you could make the same claim about actors and the like....so anyone who watches or listens to any sort of entertainment is a loser?? Lemme guess, you're one of those hipsters that brags about not having a tv in every possible conversation...
I think anyone who could do the things these actresses do would have to be confident about themselves, whether it is chemically induced or not.
you mean like when they sleep with 10 different dumb diseased losers putting their health/life at risk or can put some dumb guys entire fist in them, wow, that is really classy and a display of confidence, lol. I think I'd feel a bit more confident because I was not so used up that a fist would not fit and have high standards that I could not even find 10 men I would let sleep with me. get a grip eek, you sound like another moron.
Terri Lee:
While I do not agree with their choice of career, and find it difficult to believe they could lack sufficient talent to obtain a more respectable means of making a living, the people who keep them in business are everyday people. The porn industry puts laughable disclaimers on their products (something to the effect that the content has not been found to induce prurient behavior), and like it or not, they are protected under the First Amendment, or so I hear. Lots of folks scream about obscenity laws that are not enforced, but the porn industry simply screams it is their right to produce the filth that they do. I honestly find the entire concept of what takes place in porn studios to be nothing less than filmed prostitution. They are not actors and actresses and do not appear to have any true talent other than appearing uninhibited about performing intimate acts in front of a camera and then the resulting material being sold to the general public. Just plain trash.
While the porn industry has become more aware of preventing disease; how much they prevent is not something I am familiar with.
As for my sounding like a moron, at least I do not show contempt by judging someone I do not know by name-calling.
I think that this is a little tough, for some, to swallow.
I think that the implication is that these women may have compulsive personality disorder, which would go along with a history of substance abuse. Rationalization is part of that disorder.
You have to be kidding. Not all but nearly all woman in this country have had sex with several different partners. It is not like it used to be when a woman dedicated herself to one man. It is "normal" now for females to sleep around. The only difference is the stars are on video media. Hell these "stars" are doing what nearly all woman do and are getting big bucks for it. More power to them. And oh yeah. They can get free birth control from Obama. Hell Sandra Fluke needs $3000 worth of birth control pills in a year. How much is she getting it?
I think you are saying that the girls you hook-up with have slept with lots of guys. Your extrapilation may not hold up to scrutiny.
Tell me, gringo, do all right wing jerks know as little about sex as you? No one needs 3K worth of contraception. The amount of sex you have has nothing to do with how many pills you need. The only two people who know that little about sex are you and Rush Limbaugh.
I do believe the average partners for women and men in their respective lifetimes are 4 and 7, if I'm not mistaken.
I think if they want to be in the industry that's fine--
but I think it's really messed up how they get paid so much money to do something EVERYBODY in the world does...there's people out there fighting in war and working in hospitals saving lives that are struggling to survive in life but these porn "stars" are all rich and dazzled up just because they're having sex. Ridiculous how the world works...
Addy, Kind of like one makings millions to play football once a week?
You really think that women need to take more birth control pills if they sleep with more people? I know people on the right hate education, but I really hope this is snark.
Maybe if you went out and had more sex, you'd be happier. Staying repressed and lashing out against those that are confident is never good for a person.
Some Guy 5289621, I have always wondered who those three extra women were. If all women say "I have had sex with four of you," and all men say "I have had sex with seven of you," somebody is either bi or lying.
omg....gringo is so incredibly stupid
Works for me. Keep on keeping on.
But my sef-esteem really plummets after watching all of those giant penises in porn
Camera angles
oh my gosh, I think men in porn are the biggest losers on earth, regardless of how they look. they look pretty dam dumb to me. It's like they have almost borderline retardation or where drug addicts picked off the street to be used by a dumb whore with aids.
stupidity is not sexy.
athletic, intelligent men with morals are the sexiest, like tim tebow or someone like that.
raise your standards people really.
Neither is irrational hatred.
It's a win-win!
Support your local exhibitionist, I say!
Americans are so sexually repressed and clumsy about sex generally; I think it contributes significantly to the level of violence in our society. So when you see what a robust sexuality looks like on a real woman, it may be a bit of a shock.
That is not true at all. Asian countries are way more "sexually repressed" than the United States and aren't as nearly violent in their societies.
There are various muslim-majority nations that are also "sexually repressed" but do terribly violent and other inappropriate things that make America look like NOTHING. Gang raping reporters, raping ambassadors, forcing victims to marry rapists, etc.
What you believe in is a myth. Show boobies on TV shows and commercials and incidents of rape will decrease by 25%? Get real.
I dunno Willie, the Asian countries are too varied a group for you or anyone to easily generalize about.
As for the Muslims, well you just agreed with my proposition in stating that the Muslim crowd is even more repressed and more violent!
Yea,I believe this survey! I also just read that 75% of the prositutes are hooked on drugs.Since one begets the other,it is same to assume that porno stars make up a large percentage of prositutes or vice versa!
it's easy to have high self esteem when you are high on drugs.
I feel bad for any children they produce, hopefully they don't but likely the are not intelligent or caring enough to consider the consequences, can you imagine how suicidal their child will be, not to mention teased/bullied.
I feel bad for the children of self-righteous, judgemental hypocrites.
This research may have had a self selection bias and I question the validity of the results. For example, did the researchers evaluate the respondents tendency to falsely present themselves in a positive light?
The results of this study may be correct but they need to do more research. I imagine porn stars are not much different than the rest of the population re happiness, fulfillment etc. This article does a disservice to the people in the "industry" who are actually happy in their work by being so poorly done.
what happens when they turn 51? oh wait they are all dead by then. (aids, overdose or suicide).
I believe they are mistaking being sociopahtic behavior with self esteem, no way in the world would anyone with high self esteem sleep with losers who put them at the highest risk of hiv/aids, that is plain stupidity.
and yes they are damaged goods, delusional damaged goods.
You've got alot of pent up hatred spewing out for someone with "actual" self-esteem.
where do they recruit men in porno, mcdonald's applicant rejects, lol.
once again these delusional dummies with hiv/aids probably have a false high sense of self worth/esteem, clearly.
Why follow actual research when you can just hate??
Girls, unless you do all the stuff we see in 'porn movies', we as men are not going to do all the stuff you see in "romantic" movies... just sayin...
Never occurred to me. Good point!
NBC News obviously doesn't do research for their "news". This is a bogus study by a woman who is a criminal. Sharon Mitchell is an ex-pornstar and illegal prostitute. She's lied in court against rape victims in the Los Angeles porn industry. She has no formal education to give any credence to this so called study. She's Nina Hartley's girlfriend and will say and do anything to protect Porn Valley's interests.
NBC News . . you just went to zero as far as being a credible news source!!
Interesting, I mean I took no value in the "study", but this makes it even more laughable.
ya being a drug addict means i am happy what world are we living on?
Like most studies this one is probably faulty. This is self reported. I remember reading something from a man who always thought the women in porn were empowered, etc.. After many interviews he came back with a different view. They all had the same words & phrases to describe why they did what they did & how they feel about it.
Facts are facts, women in the movies are very attractive! Say what you want, but the majority of men prefer women that look porn stars as apposed to women that look like farm animals. just sayin.
As if women in porn could not be religious or happy. But having an easier life with more money could/would make anyone happier. Plus being able to be control of your entire market by running the production house would only be empowering. Look at all the Affairs that are taking place these days. Everybody wants to TryAnAffair
How has nobody finished the joke you started??
I don't care what anyone does, but people lie all the time on surveys, the tend to put in what they think the suveyor wants to hear or what they think is the "right" answer, especially if they have a history of mental issues.