Punishing Disposition: Sting Operations on the Internet

Given the pervasiveness of illicit pornography on the Internet, pedophiles can easily and quickly access the objects of their sexual preferences, utilizing the unlimited potential of the Internet to lure an unprecedented number of victims. Meanwhile, unrestrained access to supposedly prohibited sites also makes it possible for law enforcement authorities to conduct sting operations designed to apprehend potential sexual criminals via the Internet. However, such strategy raises some legal problems because it heavily relies on one’s dispositional aspects in capturing alleged sexual criminals. The lack of a clear definition of disposition makes the issue more complicated. The psychological findings on disposition may clarify the controversy over sting operations online, but less attention has been paid to psychological literature. Based on the review on disposition in psychology, the present study argues that current disposition-oriented court rulings on sting operation claims cannot be justified. Implications of this body of research for law and psychology are also considered.