APA Dictionary of Psychology

pl. n. literature, illustrations, motion pictures, or other artistic material likely to arouse an emotional response through an aesthetic treatment of sexuality and sexual love. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with pornography. However, the distinction is often made that erotica, unlike most pornography, does not involve violence, coercion, or exploitative sexuality, instead depicting sexuality in a positive manner. [from erotic (Greek erotikos, derived from eros: “love”)]