A behavioural change and public health communication consultant, Professor Ehiz Odigie-Okpataku, has warned that repeated exposure to pornography may weaken inhibitions and contribute to sexually predatory behaviour, stressing that child sexual abuse cannot be explained by high libido alone.
Odigie-Okpataku made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on the Nigerian Television Authority’s Good Morning Nigeria programme, where she discussed psychological factors associated with sexual abuse, including offences committed against children.
She argued that sexual violence is often misunderstood as an expression of excessive sexual desire, whereas the motivation behind such offences may also involve domination, control and the desire to exert power over victims.
According to the consultant, perpetrators may use sexual violence as a means of asserting control over another person, even when their behaviour appears inconsistent with ordinary sexual attraction.
She explained that understanding these underlying motivations is important in addressing sexual offences and developing effective strategies to protect vulnerable people.
Discussing child sexual abuse within families, Odigie-Okpataku highlighted the need to consider psychological factors associated with paedophilia and incest. She also raised concerns about the consumption of pornographic material involving children and sexualised family relationships.
The consultant argued that repeated exposure to certain forms of pornography could blur an individual’s perception of acceptable sexual behaviour and stimulate curiosity about acting out what they have watched.
She maintained that the type of material consumed matters, particularly when it depicts children or portrays abusive relationships as acceptable.
According to her, some individuals move beyond viewing explicit material to developing an interest in reproducing what they have seen, potentially putting children at risk.
However, the relationship between pornography consumption and sexual offending is complex, and exposure alone does not establish that an individual will commit sexual abuse. The expert’s comments highlight a potential risk factor rather than proof that pornography directly causes every instance of child sexual abuse.
Odigie-Okpataku also challenged the assumption that sexual offending is necessarily driven by a person’s physical capacity to engage in sexual intercourse.
She cited cases involving individuals with erectile dysfunction who had nevertheless been identified as sexual offenders, arguing that offending behaviour cannot be understood solely through physical sexual function.
The consultant said these cases reinforced the importance of examining psychological motivations and behavioural patterns when investigating sexual violence.
Her remarks followed a discussion about whether excessive sexual desire could explain why some men abuse children, including very young victims.
In response, she stressed that reducing sexual abuse to high libido risks overlooking other motivations and behavioural factors that may contribute to offending.
The issue of children’s exposure to pornography has also attracted wider concern from child protection organisations, particularly as internet access makes sexually explicit material increasingly accessible to young people.
UNICEF has warned that exposure to pornography at an early age can contribute to harmful attitudes towards sex, gender and relationships, especially when the material depicts coercion, degradation or sexual violence as normal behaviour.
Protecting children therefore requires attention not only to the prosecution of offenders but also to prevention, appropriate supervision and efforts to limit children’s exposure to harmful online content.
In Nigeria, child protection advocates have also raised concerns about the accessibility of sexually explicit material to minors and the challenges of enforcing existing protections in digital environments.
Parents and guardians can help reduce children’s exposure by using appropriate device restrictions, supervising online activity in an age-appropriate manner and maintaining open conversations that encourage children to report uncomfortable or inappropriate experiences.
Suspected sexual abuse should be taken seriously, with appropriate authorities and child protection professionals involved where necessary.
Odigie-Okpataku’s central argument was that understanding the psychological and behavioural dimensions of sexual offending is essential to preventing abuse. She maintained that effective responses must look beyond assumptions about sexual desire and address the factors that may contribute to predatory behaviour.
Her warning adds to ongoing discussions about pornography, online safety and the protection of children, reinforcing the need for evidence-based prevention strategies and stronger safeguards against sexual exploitation.
