Understanding how people rationalize victim-blaming and empathy in sex trafficking: A qualitative analysis of 130 narratives

Introduction: Despite the prevalence and severe impact of sex trafficking (ST), research indicates that the crime remains poorly understood by members of the public and professionals in victim-facing roles. Misconceptions about ST, alongside personal biases, have been shown to contribute to victim-blaming attitudes, even when perpetrators have been identified. However, the narrative processes through which such judgements are constructed and justified remain underexplored.

Methods: The present study examined the narrative accounts individuals used to justify both victim-blaming assessments and empathetic concern towards ST victims. Participants (N = 130) were presented with a vignette depicting ST and asked to explain and justify their levels of empathetic concern and victim-blaming judgements. An inductive qualitative content analysis identified key themes underpinning these responses.

Results: Most participants expressed empathy towards the victim, with perceptions of coercion, manipulation, and limited agency underpinning supportive responses. However, empathy frequently coexisted with criticism, as many participants simultaneously attributed some degree of responsibility to the victim. Victim-blaming narratives were primarily informed by perceptions of agency, controllability, and personal responsibility, alongside broader misconceptions surrounding exploitation, victimhood, and consent.

Discussion: The findings demonstrate that empathy and victim-blaming are not mutually exclusive but can coexist within the same individual. Attributional judgements regarding victim agency emerged as a central mechanism shaping both supportive and critical evaluations, highlighting the importance of addressing misconceptions surrounding coercive control and victim responsibility to improve criminal justice responses to sex trafficking.