Cybersex, Virtual Reality (VR), Sex Robots, & Sex Dolls

Open Access: Yes.

Abstract

The importation of child sex dolls into Australia has created increasing concerns. However, the implications of these products, and especially their link with child contact sexual offending, remain unclear.

From a review of the literature, a number of possible negative impacts are suggested. Although currently unproven, it is possible that use of child sex dolls may lead to escalation in child sex offences, from viewing online child exploitation material to contact sexual offending. It may also desensitise the user from the potential harm that child sexual assault causes, given that such dolls give no emotional feedback.

The sale of child sex dolls potentially results in the risk of children being objectified as sexual beings and of child sex becoming a commodity. Finally, there is a risk that child-like dolls could be used to groom children for sex, in the same way that adult sex dolls have already been used.

There is no evidence that child sex dolls have a therapeutic benefit in preventing child sexual abuse.

Relevance

Many offenders for child sexual abuse view child (and adult) pornography.  There is also ample data that viewing adult pornography can and often does lead to ‘scalation’ into actual sexual violence.

According to this report, there is reason to suggest that child sex dolls “may lead to societal harms through a number of different mechanisms. They may bridge the gap between fantasy and reality by allowing potential offenders to move from the virtual to the physical world…It is reasonable to assume that interaction with child sex dolls could increase the likelihood of child sexual abuse by desensitising the doll user to the physical, emotional and psychological harm caused by child sexual abuse and normalising the behaviour in the mind of the abuser. At the same time, there is no evidence of therapeutic benefit from child sex doll use.”

Citation

Brown, R., & Shelling, J. (2019). Exploring the Implications of Child Sex Dolls. Australian Institute of Criminology.
https://doi.org/10.52922/ti09937