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

Authors: Shafer, Autumn & Looney, Britney

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: sex trafficking, narrative exemplars, victim blaming, anecdotes