title: A social-cognitive analysis of how young men become involved in male escorting.
abstract: This study employed a social-cognitive theoretical perspective to assess the interactions of behavioral, cognitive, and situational factors to understand better how young male sex workers (MSWs) entered the sex trade industry. As part of a larger project examining male escorts working for a single agency, MSWs (n = 38) were interviewed about their work and personal lives. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically. As predicted by a social-cognitive perspective, results supported reciprocal influences of behavior and environment, environment and cognition, and behavior and cognition. MSWs developed more self-efficacy around sex work behaviors and more positive outcome expectations with experience; moral conflict and lack of attraction to clients limited MSWs' self-efficacy. Key variables for sex work appeared to be cognitive in nature-mostly represented by a decreased commitment to normative social/sexual values, the specific nature of which may have varied by sexual orientation. Findings support the contention that social-cognitive theory can effectively model entry of young men into sex work. Social-cognitive theory provides a broad umbrella underneath which various explanations for male sex work can be gathered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, USA. smithmichaeld@susqu.edu
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grov
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Seal
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012945:Social Values; D055815:Young Adult