Berl Kutchinsky
Encyclopedia
Berl Kutchinsky was a Danish
Professor of Criminology
at the University of Copenhagen
. He became internationally famous for his studies in the public health effects of pornography
.
He was based in Denmark, which in 1969 became the first country to legalize hardcore pornography
Sweden followed suit in 1970, and West Germany in 1973. Kutchinsky was therefore in a unique position to study the effect of pornography on a massive scale. Over the next two decades Kutchinsky carried out extensive research into crime statistics in the three countries. His findings were that increased availability of pornography had not led to an increase in sexual violence
. He found that the incidence of certain sex crimes had in fact fallen, including rates of child sexual abuse
in Denmark.
His first work on the subject, Studies on Pornography and sex crimes in Denmark (1970), was a scientific report ordered by the United States' President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. It found that the legalizing of pornography in Denmark had not (as had been expected) resulted in an increase in sex crimes.
In 1980 he helped to draft the law which banned child pornography
in Denmark; after which according to him, "Child porn has largely disappeared from Denmark." Berl Kutchinsky's last book, Law, pornography, and crime: The Danish experience, was edited by his colleague Annika Snare and published posthumously in 1999.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Professor of Criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
. He became internationally famous for his studies in the public health effects of pornography
Public health effects of pornography
Research concerning the effects of pornography is inconclusive on the issue of crime. Some studies support the contention that the viewing of pornographic material may increase rates of sexual crimes, while others have shown no effects, or a decrease in the rates of such crimes.-Epidemiological...
.
He was based in Denmark, which in 1969 became the first country to legalize hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
Sweden followed suit in 1970, and West Germany in 1973. Kutchinsky was therefore in a unique position to study the effect of pornography on a massive scale. Over the next two decades Kutchinsky carried out extensive research into crime statistics in the three countries. His findings were that increased availability of pornography had not led to an increase in sexual violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
. He found that the incidence of certain sex crimes had in fact fallen, including rates of child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
in Denmark.
His first work on the subject, Studies on Pornography and sex crimes in Denmark (1970), was a scientific report ordered by the United States' President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. It found that the legalizing of pornography in Denmark had not (as had been expected) resulted in an increase in sex crimes.
In 1980 he helped to draft the law which banned child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
in Denmark; after which according to him, "Child porn has largely disappeared from Denmark." Berl Kutchinsky's last book, Law, pornography, and crime: The Danish experience, was edited by his colleague Annika Snare and published posthumously in 1999.
Selected works
- Studies on Pornography and sex crimes in Denmark (New Social Science Monographs, Denmark 1970)
- Obscenity and Pornography: Behavioral Aspects, In: Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice, Vol. 3, pp 1077–1086 (The Free Press, Macmillan, New York 1983)
- Pornography and its Effects in Denmark and the United States: A Rejoinder and Beyond, in: Comparative Social Research, vol. 8, pp. 301-30 (JAI Press, USA 1985)
- Som hånd i hanke, In: Hug nr. 42/43 (Tiderne Skifter, Denmark 1985)
- Big sister is watching!, In: Umoralske opstød - 15 debatindlæg om s/m, pornografi og nypuritanisme (Juvelen, Denmark 1986)
- Legalised pornography in Denmark, In: Men Confronting Pornography, pp. 233-45, 335-6 (Crown Publishers, New York 1990)
- Pornography and rape: Theory and practice? Evidence from crime data in four countries where pornography is easily available, In: International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, vol. 14, 1991, no. 1 & 2, pp. 47-64. (1991)
- Pornography, Sex Crime and Public Policy (Institute of Criminology and Criminal Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 1991)
- Den pornografiske scene, In: Social Kritik nr. 64, June 1999 (Selskabet til fremme af Social Debat, Denmark 1999)
- Law, pornography, and crime: The Danish experience (Pax Forlag, Oslo 1999)
Further reading
- Annika Snare: Pornoliberaliseringens mange facetter, In: Social Kritik nr. 64, June 1999 (Selskabet til fremme af Social Debat, Denmark 1999)
- A Danish-language article about Berl Kutchinsky's Studies on Pornography and sex crimes in Denmark