Key Questions:

1. Interest in Child-Like Sex Dolls: We explore the rate of interest in owning child-like sex dolls among MAPs who currently do not possess such dolls, comparing it to rates reported in adult-attracted samples of non-owners.

2. Psychological Constructs: We investigate whether those who own child-like sex dolls differ from MAPs who do not own such dolls in terms of personality traits and attachment difficulties.

3. Risk of Sexual Offending: We assess whether owners of child-like sex dolls present an increased risk of sexual offending compared to MAPs who do not own dolls.

Models of Child-Like Sex Doll Ownership:

1. Dolls as Protective: This model suggests that child-like sex dolls could serve as a protective outlet for sexual aggression, offering a safe alternative for those with attractions to children.

2. Dolls as Risk-Enhancing: Some argue that child-like sex dolls may increase the risk of owners abusing children, reinforcing sexual attractions and potentially leading to real-world engagement with children.

3. Dolls as Functional Life Tools: Beyond sexual aspects, child-like sex dolls may serve other functions, such as providing emotional closeness and mimicking surrogate parental relationships for individuals unable to form such connections with age-appropriate adults.

The Current Study:

In this exploratory study, we present an initial snapshot of child-like sex doll ownership, focusing on personality characteristics and sexual risk levels. We aim to establish a baseline for understanding the types of individuals who own such dolls and inform future research efforts in this controversial area.

Method:

Participants: The study includes data from 205 men, comprising child-like sex doll owners (n=85) and MAPs without dolls (n=120). Participants were recruited through advertisements on sex doll forums and online platforms for individuals with sexual attractions to children.

Conclusion:

This study contributes to the ongoing debate surrounding child-like sex doll ownership by providing an initial analysis of psychological characteristics and potential risks associated with ownership. The findings may inform future research and discussions on the complex and controversial topic of child-like sex dolls.