We can do

beneficial use, nevertheless, for reasons stated in this section, feel that on balance it is appropriate to identify the class as harmful as a whole, if not in every instance. We have recorded this disagreement, and stated the various concerns. little more except hope that the issues will continue to be discussed. But as it is discussed, we hope it will be recognized that the class of materials that are neither violent nor degrading is at it stands a small class, and many of these disagreements are more theoretical than real. Still, this class is not empty, and may at some point increase in size, and thus the theoretical disagreements may yet become germane to a larger class of materials actually available.

We pause only briefly to mention the problem of mere nudity. None of us think that the human body or its portrayal is harmful. But we all agree that this statement is somewhat of an oversimplification. There may be instances in which portrayals

of nudity in an undeniably sexual context, even if there is no suggestion of sexual activity, will generate many of the same issues discussed in the previous section. There are legitimate questions about when and how children should be exposed to nudity, legitimate questions about public portrayals of nudity, and legitimate questions about when "mere" nudity stops being "mere" nudity and has such clear connotations of sexual activity that it ought at least to be analyzed according to the same factors that we discuss with respect to sexually explicit

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materials containing neither violence nor degradation.

At

In this respect nudity without force, coercion, sexual activity, violence, or degradation, but with a definite provocative element, represents a wide category of materials. the least explicit end of the spectrum, we could envision aesthetically posed, air brushed photographs of beautiful men or women in a provocative context. The provocation derives from the power of sex to attract the attentions and stir the passions of all of us. Such materials may have,, in most uses, little negative effect on individuals, families, or society. But at the other end of the continuum, we see materials specifically designed to maximize the sexual impact by the nature of the pose, the caption, the seductive appearance, and the setting in which the model is placed. For example, consider a woman shown in a reclining position with genitals displayed, wearing only red feathers and high heeled shoes, holding a gun and accompanied by a caption offering a direct invitation to sexual activity. With respect to such more explicit materials, we were unable to reach complete agreement. We are all concerned about the impact of such material on children, on attitudes towards women, on the relationship between the sexes, and on attitudes towards sex in general, but the extent of the harms was the subject of some difference of opinion.

None of us, of course, finds harmful the use of nudity in art and for plainly educational purposes. Similarly, we all believe that in some circumstances the portrayal of nudity may be

undesirable. It is therefore impossible to draw universal conclusions about all depictions of nudity under all conditions. But by and large we do not find the nudity that does not fit within any of the previous categories to be much cause for

concern.

5.3 The Need for Further Research

Although we have mentioned it throughout this report, it is appropriate here to emphasize specially the importance of further research by professionals into the potential and actual harms we have discussed in this Chapter. We are confident that the quality and quantity of research far surpasses that available in 1970, but we also believe that the research remains in many respects unsystematic and unfocused. There is still a great deal to be done. In many respects research is still at a fairly rudimentary stage, with few attempts to standardize categories of analysis, self-reporting questionnaires, types of stimulus materials, description of stimulus materials, measurement of effects, and related problems.

We recognize that the ethical problems discussed above will inevitably place some cap on the conclusions that can be drawn from the research in this area. But apart from this inherent and incurable limitation, much can still be done. The research that has led to further subdivision of the large category of sexually explicit materials has perhaps been the most important development in recent years, and we strongly encourage research that will deal more precisely with different varieties of

materials.

We also believe that many other specific questions are in need of further research. There needs to be more research, for example, about the effect of pornography on the marriage relationship, about the nature of appetites for pornographic material and how those appetites are developed, about the effect of depictions of particular sexual practices on the sexual preferences of those who view them, and about the effects of exposure to pornographic material on children. This list could be much longer, but the point is only to show that much more needs to be done.

Some of the professionals who have provided evidence to us have been quite outspoken in their views about what the government in general or the legal system in particular ought to do about pornography. This phenomenon has been about equally divided between those researchers who have advocated fewer legal controls and those who have advocated more. While we do not deny to citizens the right to speak out on matters of public concern, we ought to note that we have tended to rely most on evidence provided by those who seem less committed to a particular point of view beyond their scientific expertise. We deal in an area in which a great deal must be taken on faith, including description of stimulus materials, description of experimental environments, questionnaire design, and description of what may or may not have been told to subjects. At no time have we suspected any scientist of deliberately or even negligently designing an experiment or reporting its results, but it remains nevertheless

the case that there is room for judgment and room for discretion. Where a researcher has taken on the role as active crusader, one way or another, on the issue of governmental control of pornography, we are forced to question more than we would otherwise have done the way in which this judgment and discretion We will not suggest how any researcher should balance the issue of his or her own credibility against his or her own strong feelings about an issue of importance.

has been exercised.

But

we will note that the more that is expected to be taken on trust, the more likely it is that active involvement with respect to what is to be done with the results of the research will decrease the amount of trust.