The evolution of sex dolls has been remarkable. From rudimentary figures stitched from cloth, made from rubber, or simply inflated, they have transformed into flexible, humanlike characters crafted from silicone, complete with lifelike hair and recognizable faces. The rapid advancement of robotics and artificial intelligence is poised to make these dolls even more humanlike in the future, potentially integrating them into mainstream society.

As sex dolls continue to gain prominence, psychologists at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom have endeavored to gain a deeper understanding of the individuals who use them. buy sedoll

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Sex Research, the authors stated, “We present the first analysis of the personality, sexual interest, and risk-related characteristics of sex doll owners.”

Dr. Craig Harper, along with his colleagues Dr. Rebecca Lievesley and Katie Wanless, enlisted 158 male sex doll owners for the study by placing advertisements on prominent online discussion forums for doll owners. Additionally, they recruited 135 male control subjects who participated in a survey task on a crowdsourcing platform, which aimed to explore psychological predictors of sexuality and sexual behavior. Both groups were then administered a series of anonymous surveys to investigate their sexual fantasies, personalities, emotional functioning, relationship styles, and sexual aggression.

What were the outcomes of these inquiries?

According to the researchers, “Sex doll owners were notably more inclined to view women as sex objects, report greater sexual entitlement, and perceive women as enigmatic compared to non-owners.” They also reported lower sexual self-esteem, although they were no more or less prone to sexual aggression, fantasizing about coercive sex, or experiencing challenges with emotion and attachment.

These findings hold political significance, as some have suggested banning lifelike sex dolls, particularly those resembling children, due to concerns that the dolls may promote pedophilia and contribute to an increase in sexual crimes.

In contrast, the researchers argue that their results suggest the use of sex dolls may reduce users’ risk of committing sexual offenses. They propose that dolls could serve as a harmless outlet for managing sexual and relationship insecurities.

"The researchers further noted that, “Overall, our data indicate that men who own sex dolls do not exhibit significant differences from non-owner comparators in many important aspects.”

It is important to approach the study’s findings with caution, as they are based on self-reported data. Despite the researchers’ efforts to ensure the anonymity of the subjects, they cannot guarantee the honesty of participants when responding to highly personal survey questions on a controversial topic.

Concluding their first psychological investigation of sex doll owners, the researchers suggested that doll ownership may represent a functional response to a history of unsatisfactory or failed relationships, which could be linked to various beliefs about the inscrutability of potential sexual partners, less secure attachment styles, and below-average levels of sexual self-esteem."