The Shock Value of Pictures of Genital Warts
Pictures of genital warts are used in sexual education not only for the purpose of teaching people how to identify the early signs of human papillomavirus, but also to provide a sort of "shock value", showing the risks that come along with unsafe sex.
While some may find this practice offensive or crass, the fact remains that these dangers must be known, and pictures of genital warts provide an immediate, visceral response.
This response could be classified as falling under the category of the "uncanny valley" effect, which is defined as an instinctive human response to abnormalities in the human body.
If you've ever been to a theme park with animatronic characters modeled after famous world leaders and been a little "weirded out" by their almost-but-not-quite-human appearance and movement, that is essentially the same visceral effect that is felt when looking at pictures of genital warts.
This reaction is actually an evolutionary response, an instinct that drives us away from disease.
Think of leprosy, for example.
When something about the human body or behavior looks almost normal, but not quite, it evokes a response you might call "disturbing", and tells you to avoid the root of that response.
So, while you can call it "shock tactics" or say that it's crude, showing pictures of warts is nevertheless perhaps the most effective and direct way to teach the dangers of unsafe sex.
Ironically, the genital warts symptoms are not the worst that the human papillomavirus have to offer.
In fact, the most dangerous forms of HPV show absolutely no outward, visible symptoms.
Some of these HPV strains can lead to cervical cancer if left unchecked.
So a picture of genital warts can provide the sort of "scare value" that might save a young woman's life if they simply observe, understand the risk, and choose to have a regular pap smear conducted, to practice safe sex, and so on.
Interestingly, the use of condoms does not guarantee that HPV will not spread, as the virus can infect the skin surrounding the genitals.
However, using a condom does greatly reduce the risk.
Of course, it is said that nearly all sexually active adults will contract some form or other of HPV at some point in their lives, and that more than fifty percent of sexually active adults are carrying some form of HPV or other right now.
Luckily, the most common strains are also the least harmful, leading to neither cancerous growth or genital warts.
While some may find this practice offensive or crass, the fact remains that these dangers must be known, and pictures of genital warts provide an immediate, visceral response.
This response could be classified as falling under the category of the "uncanny valley" effect, which is defined as an instinctive human response to abnormalities in the human body.
If you've ever been to a theme park with animatronic characters modeled after famous world leaders and been a little "weirded out" by their almost-but-not-quite-human appearance and movement, that is essentially the same visceral effect that is felt when looking at pictures of genital warts.
This reaction is actually an evolutionary response, an instinct that drives us away from disease.
Think of leprosy, for example.
When something about the human body or behavior looks almost normal, but not quite, it evokes a response you might call "disturbing", and tells you to avoid the root of that response.
So, while you can call it "shock tactics" or say that it's crude, showing pictures of warts is nevertheless perhaps the most effective and direct way to teach the dangers of unsafe sex.
Ironically, the genital warts symptoms are not the worst that the human papillomavirus have to offer.
In fact, the most dangerous forms of HPV show absolutely no outward, visible symptoms.
Some of these HPV strains can lead to cervical cancer if left unchecked.
So a picture of genital warts can provide the sort of "scare value" that might save a young woman's life if they simply observe, understand the risk, and choose to have a regular pap smear conducted, to practice safe sex, and so on.
Interestingly, the use of condoms does not guarantee that HPV will not spread, as the virus can infect the skin surrounding the genitals.
However, using a condom does greatly reduce the risk.
Of course, it is said that nearly all sexually active adults will contract some form or other of HPV at some point in their lives, and that more than fifty percent of sexually active adults are carrying some form of HPV or other right now.
Luckily, the most common strains are also the least harmful, leading to neither cancerous growth or genital warts.
