Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Keywords

Psychology, prostitution, correlations, interdisciplinary, motivations, psychological characteristics

Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

Abstract

This presentation is based on a book project providing an interdisciplinary introduction to the topic of prostitution. Rose Travis will discuss literature that quantitatively addresses the psychological correlates of engaging in prostitution. First, the challenges of researching this population will be considered, followed by examining possible motivations associated with pursuing prostitution. Themes include economic motivation, drug addiction motivation, finding stability in prostitution, personal empowerment, social motivation, and escaping personal hardships. Next, research on psychological characteristics common among women engaged in prostitution will be described, including childhood abuse, adulthood abuse, drug use, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, dissociation, and somatization. The literature presents a complex picture of the relationships between psychological variables among women engaged in prostitution that leaves open the question of causation, due to the correlational nature of the research.

Faculty Mentor

Elizabeth J. Krumrei

Funding Source or Research Program

Cross Disciplinary-Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research

Presentation Session

Session A

Location

Plaza Classroom 190

Start Date

21-3-2014 5:00 PM

Included in

Psychology Commons

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Mar 21st, 5:00 PM

Psychological Correlates of Prostitution

Plaza Classroom 190

This presentation is based on a book project providing an interdisciplinary introduction to the topic of prostitution. Rose Travis will discuss literature that quantitatively addresses the psychological correlates of engaging in prostitution. First, the challenges of researching this population will be considered, followed by examining possible motivations associated with pursuing prostitution. Themes include economic motivation, drug addiction motivation, finding stability in prostitution, personal empowerment, social motivation, and escaping personal hardships. Next, research on psychological characteristics common among women engaged in prostitution will be described, including childhood abuse, adulthood abuse, drug use, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, dissociation, and somatization. The literature presents a complex picture of the relationships between psychological variables among women engaged in prostitution that leaves open the question of causation, due to the correlational nature of the research.

 

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