Poster #15
An Exploratory Study of Characteristics of Men who Purchase Sex and Potential Deterrents to Purchasing Sex
By: Alexis Karpf, M.A.
Co-authored by Renee Joseph, M.A; Roya Irivani, M.A; Monica D. Ulibarri, Ph.D
Abstract:
The U.S. is the second-largest demand market for sex trafficking in the world (Mizus et al., 2003). Initial research on addressing the problem of sexual exploitation focused on the survivors of sex trafficking, however, in recent decades, research has been geared towards exploring the demand market, which includes the male purchasers of sex (Comte, 2014; Mansson, 2006; Monto, 2004). Combating demand has been empirically shown to substantially reduce commercial sex markets (Shively et al., 2012). Furthermore, it has been shown that male purchasers differ from non-purchasers in less empathy towards victims of trafficking, increased reported perpetration of sexual violence, as well as more hostility and aggression (Farley et al., 2015). The purpose of this study was to further examine demographics and characteristics of individuals who purchase sex, including sex purchasing behavior and deterrence to purchasing sex. The specific aims of this exploratory study were to examine if there are associations between personality traits, beliefs and attitudes, online behaviors, and sex purchasing.
Frequencies were tallied for 134 participants who were recruited from a Qualtrics pool, 19 of whom had answered “yes” to ever purchasing sex. Participants completed a survey comprised of demographic questions and measures that assessed personality traits, substance use, adverse childhood experiences, and sexual attitudes. Scores on personality traits and sexual attitudes were similar for those who have purchased sex and those who had not purchased sex. Within the total sample, the top deterrents for purchasing sex were potentially contracting a sexually transmitted infection (76.1%), going on a sexual offender registry (68.7%), having friends/family find out (67.9%), and knowing that their actions are harmful to the other person in some way (67.9%). Overall, the results about potential deterrents to purchasing sex from this study provides information for future sex trafficking prevention research and policies.
alexis karpf
IAlexis is a 2nd-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Alliant International University with a trauma-informed forensic emphasis. She is dedicated to research that will aid in changing government policies in rehabilitative care. Her master's thesis examined community support for felony enfranchisement. Her dissertation research is on implicit racial bias in exclusionary discipline decisions for Black middle- and high-school students.