Dr. John Foubert

Dr. John Foubert is an interdisciplinary scholar and thought leader who uses trauma-informed, data-based practices to write and speak about sexual assault prevention, bystander intervention, and the harms of pornography.

In addition to being interviewed by CNN, NPR, and the New York Times, Foubert has testified before Congress and was called upon by the White House and the Pentagon about how to end sexual violence. He is the author of How Pornography Harms: What Teens, Young Adults, Parents and Pastors Need to Know.

We’re delighted that John was willing to answer some of our questions about of pornography and sexual violence. Here’s what he had to say.

You’ve done a lot of research about sexual violence. What drew you to the topic?

​I have, for 25 years now. I was originally drawn to the topic because so few men were; I thought it was important for men to be part of the solution to sexual violence. Given that we are so often the perpetrators (though most of us are not perpetrators of course) I thought the perspective of men in the movement to end sexual assault was important.

I wanted to add my experience as a man to the research that was being done. I also was gifted with research skills and public speaking ability, so it seemed like a great match to help a great cause that impacts so many people.​

What have you discovered about violence against women on college campuses that most people wouldn’t know?

Sadly, most people don’t now seem to know that women rarely lie about experiencing sexual violence on a college campus. In nearly every highly publicized rape, some group or organization rushes to the defence of the respondent. I have a great deal of first hand and/or hard evidence that in fact rape occurred in cases the public is led by the media to believe that she made the whole thing up.

Another thing that many wouldn’t know is that though most college students say they would intervene to help prevent sexual assault, few actually do when in the situation. So we have a problem right now trying to figure out how to get people to do what they say they would do.​

You’ve done research looking at how pornography use affects bystander intervention. What were some of your findings and why should people care?

​Yes, I have, and I believe this research is very important. I’ve published 3 articles now showing that when people – men and women – are higher than average porn users, they are also less likely to intervene to prevent sexual violence. My hypothesis is that because there is so much violence in mainstream porn,  users of that media get to the point where they see violence as a natural part of sexual relations, thus, why would they bother to intervene? It is sad.​

What are some of the other connections between pornography and violence?

I wrote a whole book on the connections between pornography and violence, titled How Pornography Harms. Essentially, pornography makes violence sexy. People’s sense that ‘something is wrong here’ goes out the window when they are aroused. The porn industry does a very effective job sexualizing violence, and thus getting people to think violence is sexy.

Now, few people come out and say that; but their viewing and sexual patterns speak for themselves. There are over 50 peer reviewed studies drawing a direct link – many times causal – between pornography and violence. It irks me that there are actually some scholars who say the connection between porn and violence is assumed. The odds they are right – that the connection is merely assumed and not proven – is 1 in 88 decillion.

The weight of the scientific evidence points conclusively to the conclusion that pornography not only shows violence, it causes it in many circumstances.​

What are some stories or discoveries that stand out to you from your book?

​The stories I found heartbreaking were from people who agreed to be interviewed who either were abused in the porn industry or who abused others.

I interviewed one man who said he followed what he saw in porn when he went to have sex, and committed rape. Another young man watched child porn but didn’t recognize that was what it was. What he saw was a 14 year old girl being raped by an 18 year old boy who thought it funny to upload a video of the rape to the internet.

Those are the extreme examples of course. 

What is more mainstream is that the sexual desires of today’s internet generation are being reset to favor pixels over people. It makes me apprehensive to think of a future where so many fewer people establish sexual bonds by their own moral framework in a relationship, and so many more become pornosexuals – eschewing people in favor of porn.​

What are some steps that people can take to prevent sexual violence in their own communities?

​There are several things people can do in their own communities to help prevent sexual violence.  Importantly – they should step in and stop it before it starts.  So if there is a party, and two people go off by themselves and one is too intoxicated to consent, stop them from leaving. Make it funny or awkward, not overly confrontational if possible.

Also if we become aware that someone we know is being hurt, or is hurting others, it is time for us to step in, be a good friend, and get that person professional help to stop the violence. Cultural change will happen more the more we all speak out and say rape is wrong, rather than say she lied and made the whole thing up.  ​

What do you enjoy when you’re not studying gloomy and unsavoury topics?

I enjoy a rich family and spiritual life. Though I don’t get as much time as I’d like to play with my kids, I do a lot. And I also wish I could spend more time with people from my church, but I do make it a priority and have many friends who help me maintain my sanity. Also, I find that God gets me through the rough times and gives me an extra measure of protection to study difficult topics.

The end result is, I hope, that fewer people will experience violence and more will make informed decisions about what they want to view and what to avoid.

You can purchase a copy of How Pornography Harms on Amazon Canada or Amazon U.S., as well as your local bookstore. You can also access Foubert’s peer-reviewed articles here.

Want to learn more about this topic? Check out our documentary, Over 18.

Feature photo: By Fancycrave, Creative Commons via Pexels