A Matter of Low Self-Control? Exploring Differences Between Child Pornography Possessors and Child Pornography Producers/Distributers Using Self-Control Theory.
This study examined the demographic and background characteristic differences between those arrested for child pornography (CP) possession (only), or CP production/distribution, or an attempted or completed sexual exploitation of a minor (SEM) that involved the Internet in some capacity within the context of self-control theory using data from the second wave of the National Juvenile Online Victimization Study (N-JOV2). Results indicate few demographic similarities, which thereby suggest these are largely heterogeneous groupings of individuals. Results also indicate CP producers/distributers engaged in a greater number of behaviors indicative of low self-control compared with CP possessors. Specifically, offenders arrested for CP production/distribution were more likely to have (a) had problems with drugs/alcohol at the time of the crime and (b) been previously violent. In contrast, the only indicator of low self-control that reached statistical significance for CP possessors was the previous use of violence. Moreover, in contrast to CP producers/distributers, full-time employment and marital status may be important factors to consider in the likelihood of arrest for CP possessors, which is congruent with the tenets of self-control theory.
Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA slcleve@ilstu.edu.
Shelly L
SL
Clevenger
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, USA.
Jordana N
JN
Navarro
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
Jana L
JL
Jasinski
D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D003710:Demography; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology*
child pornography; child pornography possession; child pornography production/distribution; low self-control; self-control theory