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Sex Trafficking Myth Reduction: Evaluating an Educational Approach to Reducing Victim Blaming and Increasing Victim Empathy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention designed to reduce sex trafficking (ST) myth acceptance. Using a 2 × 2 mixed design, participants (N = 189) viewed either an educational video addressing common ST myths or a control video on human memory. Measures of ST myth acceptance and victim empathy were collected before, immediately after, and 1 month following the intervention. Participants also evaluated a vignette describing an alleged ST case and responded to items assessing empathy, victim blaming, and perceptions of the defendant's guilt. The intervention did not significantly reduce ST myth acceptance or influence vignette-based judgements, which may reflect a ceiling effect given participants' already supportive baseline attitudes. However, a protective effect emerged over time: participants in the intervention condition maintained supportive victim attitudes at follow-up, whereas control participants demonstrated increased victim blaming and decreased empathy.

Source: Behavioral Sciences & the Law

DOI: 10.1002/bsl.70034

Authors: Dara Mojtahedi, Gemma Hewitt, Sophie Fitton

Institution: University of Huddersfield

Language: English

Topic: Sex work and related issues

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality, Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400