By Erika Icon

YNOT – Does watching porn affect the way men have sex? According to a new scientific survey, porn does affect gay men’s sexual behavior — but only if they want it to.

A study in published in the current issue of the scholarly journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy reveals the attitudes of primarily white, gay and young regular porn viewers who were asked about whether they base their personal sexual behavior on what they see in adult videos and online content. The test group indicated they repeat porn behaviors only if those behaviors satisfy certain visual, physical or emotional and seem safe.

Of primary importance, according to the study, is that viewers must find the porn behaviors arousing. One participant, for example, said fisting made him “sick to [his] stomach,” so he did not foresee re-enacting that behavior. From that response and others like it, researchers extrapolated that porn doesn’t necessarily change viewers’ core values about sexuality.

Another primary determinant of whether porn viewers would consider modeling porn behaviors is whether they have a “trusted partner” with whom to experiment. Men in the study reported modeling their bedroom habits on porn only if they liked what they saw and felt “safe” with the other participant(s). Otherwise, study participants indicated, they contented themselves with visual fantasy. One member of the study group remarked, “One of the reasons I watch porn is to see things I would never do in real life.”

A significant number of the men surveyed admitted they only watch porn for which they don’t have to pay, and researchers opined “free porn” may make gay men more flexible about the types of porn they’re willing to watch. Cost was “the most important factor determining viewing choices,” the study noted. The second most important factor was the performers. Although study participants didn’t require professionals in order to consider a porn flick worth watching, they did require performers to be hot and engaged. Whether or not the performers wore condoms was almost irrelevant.

Ultimately, the researchers decided porn may introduce viewers to new ideas and practices, but it doesn’t necessarily change behaviors or attitudes. According to the researchers, interpersonal dynamics are far more important in determining whether porn action escapes the screen.

Sexual and Relationship Therapy is the official journal of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists.