Watching porn together with your S.O.? This study says it’s a good thing

We've been conditioned to think that watching pornography wreaks havoc on our love lives: the impulse to cheat, a need to keep sex secrets, the list goes on. One study, however, appears to debunk the negative notions we've come to believe. 

According to new research published in the Frontiers in Psychology (opens in new tab), watching porn together with your significant other isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the unexpected conclusions make it seem as though the act is encouraged. 

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Is watching porn together a good thing?

Based on the research, experts found that couples who watched porn together experienced a higher relationship and sexual satisfaction than partners who do not. Meanwhile, solitary porn consumption was negatively associated with a person's relationship and sexual satisfaction. However, this was only the case when the person's partner engaged in little or no pornography usage themselves. 

So, does this study make the claim that watching porn isn't the taboo that it's widely considered to be? Do keep in mind, all couples have their own comfort levels and boundaries, but this study seized the opportunity to explore pornography from a different vantage point. 

Whether or not you agree with the findings, the experts do stress one thing: talking about sex is the key to making the act more pleasurable. In a new study from We-Vibe, professionals found that just 45% of participants admitted to being comfortable discussing sexual preferences with a partner. How are you supposed to be satisfied if you can't openly communicate?

“We have to get rid of or at least begin to lessen the relationship we've created between shame and sex," says Rachel Wright, a psychotherapist who worked on the study.

No matter what works for you and your S.O., trust, truth and openness appear to be the key components when it comes to connecting. If you're unsure how to approach the topic, check out the best app-controlled vibrators or hands-free vibrators and figure out what you like for yourself first before opening up the discussion with a partner.