Victim Profiles

Direct and Indirect Effects of Anecdotes and Responsibility Attribution on Support for Sex Trafficking Victims

Bibliographic Data

ID2186245
AuthorsAutumn Shafer (0000-0002-2306-6286, University of Oregon, corresponding author), Britney Looney (Texas Tech University)
Year2018
Volume4
Issue1
Pages21-34
Publication date2018-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Human Trafficking (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2332-2705 • E-ISSN: 2332-2713
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/23322705.2018.1423444
OpenAlexW2784223387
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited24

Anti-sex trafficking advocates often rely on victim stories or profiles to spread awareness and support for sex trafficking victims. Yet little research has examined the effects of these profiles present in media. A 2 (narrative exemplar (anecdote)/non-anecdote) × 2 (victim kidnapped/groomed) between-subjects factorial design experiment with undergraduates (N = 109) examined the impact of victim profiles on mediator variables (i.e., identification, similarity, vulnerability, and victim blaming) and outcome variables (i.e., awareness, support for victim services, and supportive intentions). Significant indirect effects indicated that vulnerability often positively mediated the relationship between profile type and outcome variable, whereas victim blaming negatively mediated that same relationship. This study suggests there may be contexts where unintended effects of victim profiles should be further examined through theoretical lenses and confirms the need to further educate the public about the equity of victim circumstances through media

Anecdote · Attribution · Computer security · Injury prevention · Narrative · Poison control · Political science · Suicide prevention · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Media Influence and Health · Media Studies and Communication · Media, Gender, and Advertising · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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