Rough sex is most commonly associated with curiosity and a need for novelty, with only a small subset motivated by aggression

Rough Sex and Pornography Preferences: Novelty Seeking, Not Aggression. Rebecca L. Burch, Catherine Salmon. EvoS Journal. Jul 2022. https://evostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Burch-Salmon-2022-Vol12SpIss1.pdf

Research on sexual behavior often characterizes rough sex as sexual aggression and/or abuse. The same characterization exists for pornography and many links between these topics imply an escalation between pornography use, rough sex, and sexual violence. Among 734 male and female undergraduates, we examined relationships between rough sex, sexual violence, other sexual acts, and pornography use. Findings indicate that rough sex is most commonly associated with curiosity and a need for novelty, and that rough sex is associated with pornography consumption and other sexually adventurous behaviors, such as public sex and the use of sex toys. The relationship between rough sex and pornography appears to be rooted in a need for sexual novelty, with only a small subset motivated by aggression.

Keywords: Pornography, Rough Sex, Aggression, Sexual Novelty