CCC 27-3

NEWS & NOTES VIOLENT PORN CAN TURN MEN INTO PSYCHOPATHS The journal, Psychology of Violence , published a study, Pornography Exposure Profiles Differentiate Sexual Aggression and Its Risk Factors: A Person-Centered Approach , supporting that pornography is encouraging the increase of sexual aggression in men. Researchers discovered three pri mary profiles in the study sample: 1) infrequent porn users (23%), 2) average porn users (62%, who “regularly” watched porn but maintained minor exposure to violent material), and 3) violent porn users (15%, who frequently watched porn and had “high levels of exposure to degrading and violent pornography”). Glaring disparities were discovered when researchers examined the links between these pro files and sexual aggression. Compared to the other two sets of viewers, the violent porn group had considerably higher levels of sexual aggression. “They were also more likely to accept rape myths, display hostile attitudes toward women, endorse casual sex, exhibit psychopathic traits, and struggle with emotional regulation.” According to the researchers, this type of violent and degrading content was the primary “predictor of sexual aggression,” even when viewers were not necessarily watching a greater volume of pornography. 6 “AFFIRMING” GENDER CONFUSION CARRIES SERIOUS HARMS A review of more than 60 studies reveals that “affirming” gender confusion brings severe harm, especially to vul nerable children who are not fully mentally developed or emotionally mature enough to contemplate the long-term consequences of the pressures put on them to make these choices. They are unable to completely recognize the long term effects of these serious, life-changing, and, in many cases, irreversible surgical and chemical measures. Studies show that “more than 80% of children experiencing gender dysphoria outgrow it on their own by late adolescence, and that even full ‘reassignment’ surgery often fails to resolve gender-confused individuals’ heightened tendency to engage in self-harm and suicide—and may even exacerbate it, including by reinforcing their confusion and neglecting the actual root causes of their mental strife.” 7 HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS ARE HAPPIER, MORE ENGAGED, AND MORE LIKELY TO BE MARRIED According to recent report from Cardus, a Christian think tank based in Canada, when long-term homeschoolers, those who spent at least eight years being educated at home, were compared to other groups, they reported “the lowest levels of depression and anxiety, were the least likely to say they ‘feel helpless dealing with life’s problems,’ and ‘exhib ited the highest levels of optimism, gratitude, and life sat isfaction.’” They were also “more likely to be married, had the lowest divorce rate, and had more children, on average.” The Cardus survey discovered that long-term homeschool ing promoted faith, strengthened families, and progres sively increased their belief in God with the amount of time they were outside the public school system. 8

32 Christian Counseling Connection