Easily Accessed Pornography Increases Sexual Abuse Charges Among Children
Officials in Scotland are attributing the dramatic rise in sexual abuse charges brought against minors to the prevalence and ease to which young people are able to watch and have access to pornography.
New figures released by the Crown Office in Scotland show that sexual assault cases involving minors rose from 71 to 142 last year. In addition, the number of reported rapes of adolescent girls by underage males increased by 58. Officials explained that this number is more than twice the total cases reported in 2010.
"This does back up that there appears to be an alarming increase in sexual crime by young people, and young men in particular," Sandy Brindley, national coordinator at Rape Crisis Scotland, told the Christian Institute.
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She added that for a long period of time the concern has been geared toward the type of pornography, known has hardcore, which incorporates sexual violence.
"Hardcore [pornography], which celebrates violence against women, who are being raped and seemingly enjoying it … If this is where young men are getting their information it's nonsensical to think it's not going to have an impact," Brindley said.
Scientists agree that repeated viewing of violent sexual imagery can lead to sexual violence acts against women because neurological pathways that are developed after repeated exposure become the pathway through which all interactions with women are sent.
"Neural paths set the course for the next time an erotic image is viewed. Over time these neural paths become wider as they are repeatedly traveled with each exposure to pornography. They become the automatic pathway through which interactions with women are routed," Dr. Bill Struthers previously told The Christian Post.
Scotland's Children's Minister, Tim Loughton, said that the Scottish government had to do more to help parents monitor what their children are exposed to while they use the internet.
"Growing numbers of parents do not feel in control of what their families are exposed to online," Loughton said.
