Child porn internet users often ‘isolated’

MEN who view internet child pornography are often emotionally isolated men who feel disconnected from others and who have had problems exploring their sexuality with consenting adults, new research reveals.

The study, which was presented to the Irish Psychological Society (IPS) annual conference in Athlone, showed that most men who view child pornography do not initially have an interest in child pornography.

Counselling psychologist Alexandra Diana said these men may begin using the internet as a way of striking up friendships and pseudo-relationships. They then often progressed to sexual talk with other internet users. Being socially and emotionally isolated, they found the anonymity of the internet “less threatening than real life relationships”.