A photoconductive switching element includes a first electrode, a second electrode that is arranged so as to face the first electrode, and a photoconductive layer that is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and realizes conductivity by receiving light. The photoconductive layer includes a first electric charge generating layer and a second electric charge generating layer that generate electric charge when light is received and an electric charge transport layer which is brought into contact with the first electric charge generating layer and the second electric charge generating layer and to which the electric charge can be moved. The first electric charge generating layer and the second electric charge generating layer are arranged at mutually-different positions in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the electric charge transport layer and at mutually-different positions in the thickness direction of the electric charge transport layer.