F. M. CHRISTENSEN is Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, Canada. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Science from Indiana University and has done extensive study of the behavioral sciences.

This study slices like a laser through the fog of rhetoric, disinformation, bias and fear that has long enveloped all discussions of the subject of pornography in the US. No argument in favor of the censorship of such material can be considered valid unless the basic arguments of this study are answered. The author's own concluding summary ringingly states that `pornography by itself is not the basic issue. Opposition to it is only a symptom of more general attitudes toward sexuality that are both false and harmful to us all.' With striking examples and detailed research, it is demonstrated how the current atmosphere works to oppress minorities, obscure underlying social problems, and subtly continue the disempowerment of women. Striking as the text of this study is, within the notes there are even stronger examples of political hypocrisy and opportunism. Clearly North Americans have a serious problem dealing with the manifestations of human sexuality and this problem has significantly distorted law enforcement and the equality of the sexes. This is a valuable resource for all academic libraries and could well become a fundamental weapon in the war to preserve the First Amendment. This book should be purchased by all but the smallest libraries; it may well be the most honest discussion of the subject ever written.

• PrefaceBackground: Sexual Desire and FantasyBackground: Sex and ValuesCommon Charges Against Sexual ExplicitnessPornography and WomenPortrayals of ViolenceDegrading ContentAlleged Ill Effects from UseSex and Psychological HealthElicitation of Violence: The TheoriesElicitation of Violence: The EvidencePortrayed Violence and Real AggressionSexual Repressiveness and ViolencePornography and the LawBibliographyIndex

F. M. CHRISTENSEN is Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, Canada. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Science from Indiana University and has done extensive study of the behavioral sciences.

This study slices like a laser through the fog of rhetoric, disinformation, bias and fear that has long enveloped all discussions of the subject of pornography in the US. No argument in favor of the censorship of such material can be considered valid unless the basic arguments of this study are answered. The author's own concluding summary ringingly states that `pornography by itself is not the basic issue. Opposition to it is only a symptom of more general attitudes toward sexuality that are both false and harmful to us all.' With striking examples and detailed research, it is demonstrated how the current atmosphere works to oppress minorities, obscure underlying social problems, and subtly continue the disempowerment of women. Striking as the text of this study is, within the notes there are even stronger examples of political hypocrisy and opportunism. Clearly North Americans have a serious problem dealing with the manifestations of human sexuality and this problem has significantly distorted law enforcement and the equality of the sexes. This is a valuable resource for all academic libraries and could well become a fundamental weapon in the war to preserve the First Amendment. This book should be purchased by all but the smallest libraries; it may well be the most honest discussion of the subject ever written.

• PrefaceBackground: Sexual Desire and FantasyBackground: Sex and ValuesCommon Charges Against Sexual ExplicitnessPornography and WomenPortrayals of ViolenceDegrading ContentAlleged Ill Effects from UseSex and Psychological HealthElicitation of Violence: The TheoriesElicitation of Violence: The EvidencePortrayed Violence and Real AggressionSexual Repressiveness and ViolencePornography and the LawBibliographyIndex