Individual Differences of Internet Child Pornography Users: Peculiar Findings in a Community-Based Study

The current study explored the personality and cognitive characteristics of self-reported consumers and non-consumers of Internet child pornography. Respondents were solicited to complete an anonymous online survey from countries where it is illegal to possess, distribute, and produce Internet child pornography; 257 respondents (94%) were classified as non-consumers, and 16 respondents (6%) were classified as Internet child pornography consumers. Results suggested child pornography consumers are more agreeable and less likely to make moral decisions based on social values compared to non-consumers. By exploring the trait “agreeableness,” the author believes that individuals who reported child pornography use were more trusting and compliant compared to those individuals who did not. The author further discusses this finding and how the Institutional Review Board protocol restrictions may have impacted the inferential validity of the findings.