Psychological aspects of prostitution

Abstract

The subject prostitution has been investigated in numerous sociological and feminist studies whereas scientific psychological interest in this subject has been rather rare. A certain type of prostitution – Dominas and Sklavias who offer services for sadomasochistic clients – has been examined in a study at the Technische Universität Berlin. The subject was explored regarding the autogeneses (Jüttemann 1999). This concept claims that a human being essentially strives for self-determined behavior. Eight biographic interviews were compared concerning Dominas who appear quite self-determined in the particular prostitutional situation and Sklavias whose position in this same situation is extremely foreign regulated. The study investigated the question how self-determination and foreign regulation influence other areas of life for the women. Results indicate that the Dominas compensate foreign regulation in other areas of life with self-determination in their profession. Another outcome shows that Sklavias who obviously experience extreme foreign regulation in their work situations feel their lives to be self-dermined.