The significance of heavy pornography involvement for romantic partners: Research and clinical implications

This article presents a paradigm case portrait of female romantic partners of heavy pornography users. Based on a sample of 100 personal letters, this portrait focuses on their often traumatic discovery of the pornography usage and the significance they, attach to this usage for (a) their relationships, (b) their own worth and desirability, and (c) the character of their partners. Finally, we provide a number of therapeutic recommendations for helping these women to think and act more effectively in their very difficult circumstances. "Pornography kills love." -Bumper sticker What does it mean to a woman to discover that her romantic partner is habitually and heavily involved in viewing pornography? What does it mean to her, further, to live continually in a relationship where this is the case? In this article, we will relate the outcome of research designed to answer these questions, and delineate some clinical implications of our findings for therapists working with couples and individuals on issues of pornography usage.