Age-Graded Informal Social Control and Motivations Among Street Sex Buyers

Abstract

Sex buyers are often viewed as a single category of offenders; however, they are diverse with regard to their motivations for seeking out commercial sex. Past research also suggests that purchasing sex does not follow the age-crime curve and that men’s motivations fluctuate according to changes in informal social bonds to important social institutions. This study thus used Laub and Sampson’s 87 revised age-graded theory of informal social control as a theoretical guide for the exploration of the relationship between age, informal social control, and men’s motivations for purchasing sex. A series of ordinary least squares regressions examined if age, marriage, deviant peer association, and employment characteristics were related to the five most common motivations to purchase sex: power and control, the diversification of sexual interests, the “dirty whore” fantasy, viewing sex as a commodity, and perceived romantic inadequacy. Age was negatively associated with being motivated by power and control, but positively related to viewing sex as a commodity. Being married was positively related to the diversification of sexual interests. Deviant peer association increased scores on the perceived romantic inadequacy scale, however, reduced them on the “dirty whore” fantasy scale. Having a full-time white-collar job was negatively related to both power and control and perceived romantic inadequacy; however, white-collar employment increased scores on the diversification of sexual interests and sex as a commodity scales. Age and informal social control have differential impacts on men’s motivations for purchasing sex via the outdoor sex trade.