Motivation and emotion/Book/2026/Motivations for using sex work services

Motivations for using sex work services:
What motivates use of sex work services?

Overview

Case study

Amelia (36)

It was something I had always thought about. I wanted to be in control and have the power to get what I desired and wanted. Paying for sex allowed me to do that, I felt empowered. (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021)

Jeremy (56)

I felt as if I was being rejected. My wife was not interested in having sex with me and I was sexually disappointed in my marriage. It is because of this I feel justified in my decision to seek out paid sex. (Hammond & van Hooff, 2019)

Lisa (45)

I'm a mum, I am on my own, I'm a busy person. Sometimes I just want easy unattached sex. Plus I'm not interested in a relationship... looking for sex services (see figure 1) seemed like the simplest option. (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021)

Previous literature has found there to be multiple motivations for the reasons individuals use sex work services. The above case studies are a few examples of the motivations research has highlighted.

Sex work services have been deeply embedded in society and have been for centuries. Due to the somewhat taboo nature of the industry, it has been increasingly politicised and subject to debate.

Much research and literature surrounding sex work services investigates those providing the services and less so on the clients of those providers. These clients have been prone to scrutiny and typically viewed as males wanting to use and extort female sex workers.

There are many motivations for engaging in sex work services.
Literature surrounding women's uses of sex work services is sparse with much of the research surrounding mens motivations and uses of the services.
Through the use of psychological science and theories, studies have been conducted into understanding the different motivations for individuals engagement in sex work services.
Recommended length: 180 to 330 words.

Focus questions:

What are the motivations for sexual relations?
What are sex work services?
Who is using sex work services?
What are the motivations for using sex work services?

Sexual motivation

Motivation can be understood as a particular interest in a distinct goal in which one's behaviour is directed towards (Hill & Preston, 1996). Furthermore, the psychological concept of sexual motivation investigates the reasons and driving forces of engaging in sexual activity (Zheng & Armstrong, 2023). Across the human species, the process and concept of mating is a universal (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). When initially thinking of a mating relationship, one may think of the most common mating relationship which consists of a formal marriage union (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). This union is where formal reproductive alliances are formed between a husband and wife (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). However, mating relationships consist of more than just the typical long-term relationships, short-term mating relations are also distinctly prominent (Buss & Schmitt, 1993).

Short-term mating relationships can last for on a scales from months, days, hours, down to even minutes (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). These mating relationships are more well known, for example, as affairs or one-night stands (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). Therefore, Buss and Schmitt (1993) presents a spectrum of mating relationships which range from short-term to long-term relationships, with intermediate durations of mating, such as dating or brief marriages, residing between these two end points. Here it is illustrated that mating is an essential part of life for the majority of humans, whether these are short or long term interactions, both males and females demonstrate a motivation to engage in sexual relations (Buss & Schmitt, 1993).

The underlying drives for sexual motivation (Book chapter, 2011) can be initially presented as self-explanatory, for example to relieve tension, experience pleasure, and reproduce (Meston & Buss, 2007). However, literature has indicated this phenomenon to be more complex than initially understood, as a study conducted by Meston and Buss (2007) identified 237 differing motivations humans have for engaging in sexual activity.

Theory of sexual motivation

Self-determination theory (SDT) determines that individual's motivation is due to one's need for an adequate sense of self through the maintenance of psychological needs (Wood et al, 2018). These needs are presented as competence, referring to an individual's efficacy and confidence, autonomy, meaning one's agency and authenticity and finally relatedness, which understands the need for connectedness and relation with others (Wood et al, 2018). SDT distinguishes between differing forms of motivation, specifically intrinsic and extrinsic motivations (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

Intrinsic motivation relates to engaging in a behaviour because of one's innate interest or the enjoyment gained (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Therefore individuals may partake in sexual activity due to intrinsic motivators, such as the pleasurable and intimate nature of the activity that results in enjoyment (Wood et al, 2018). Extrinsic motivations rather, refers to one being motivated due to a distinguishable outcome that is attainable (Ryan & Deci, 2000). As such sexual motivations can also be endorsed extrinsically, for example sexual activity in order to please a partner (Wood et al, 2018).

Alternatively, sexual strategies theory takes an evolutionary perspective on human mating and sexual relations (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). Buss and Schmitt (1993) found theories of sexual activity to exclusively investigate sex within long-term relations or marriages, fundamentally ignoring short-term mating. Therefore, the theory of sexual strategies was proposed to

Self-determination theory: sexual motivation is driven by intrinsic, engagement in pleasing sexual activity is motivated by the self and extrinsic factors, sexual motivation that is driven by external factors (Zheng & Armstrong, 2023). Self-determination theory may be a too simplistic way of understanding sexual motivation (Zheng & Armstrong, 2023).
Sexual strategies theory: human mating is of complex nature and inherently strategic. Strategies refers to goal-directed and problem solving behaviours that are not consciously planned or explicitly expressed (Buss & Schmitt, 1993)
talk about ow several theoriectical perspectives assume the context of ongoing romantic relationships or loneg-term mateship (2007)

Motivation by gender

Men are seen as being more sexually motivated by physical dimensions, for example the attractiveness of a potential sexual partners physical appearance (Meston & Buss, 2007). Where men are seen to be more sexually motivated by visual cues, women indicate a more emotion motivation towards sexual activity (Meston & Buss, 2007).

Sex work services

Introduce sex work services and the stigma and stereotypes surrounding the industry.
Recently clients of sex work services have also been stigmatised (Hammond, 2015).

What are sex work services?

The sex industry (Wikipedia) consists of a spectrum of services in which sexual activity is accessed. Much literature and research into sex work services specifically discusses sex work as a transactional act, in which someone is paying for the service (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021). Most commonly, literature discusses specifically individuals paying for sex.

Who uses sex work services?

Both men and women alike employ the use of sex work services. There is a large stigma surrounding the use of sex work services. That being that it is predominantly men seeking to use sex work services and women in turn being the providers of it, however sex work clients are increasingly women (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021)

What motivates the use of sex work services?

The motivations for using sex work services are more than just sexual physical contact.
Introduce the "push" and "pull" factors of sex services. Push factors: areas of life that is lacking therefore it is treated with sex work services, pull factors: allurement factors such as adverts, pictures, stereotypes that are pulling individuals towards these services (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021).

Physical motivation

As outlined there are many reasons why humans are motivated to engage in sexual relations. While it is not the only reason, physical sexual encounters are a strong motivator for the using of sex work services.

Physical contact

Clients of sex services have expressed wanting physical contact and no more (see figure 2). Clients pay for these encounters to have no emotional attachment (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021).
Unsatisfactory sexual relations within current committed relationship, for example marriage (Hammond & van Hooff, 2019).

Experimentation

A key reason why both men and women engage in sexual services is to experiment and have new experiences (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021).
Purchasing sex was more convenient that asking or persuading a partner to engage in a specific act (Pitts et al, 2004).

Physical attraction

Research has found that both men and women are prone to employing the use of sex work services due to the desire to be with someone who looks a certain way and has physical features that are attracted to (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021).

Emotional motivation

As individuals we crave connection and companionship. Research supports that many seek sex services to provide for them the emotional connection they are lacking in the current stage of life (Hammond & van Hoff, 2019). For example, men have reported being unsuccessful in engaging a romantic partner and therefore have turned to paying for sexual relations to achieve a level of emotional intimacy (Hammond & van Hooff, 2019).

Intimacy and companionship

Supporting men to experience emotional intimacy that they may be unable to express in other setting or situations as their masculinity may be called into question (Birch, Baldry & Hartley, 2017).
Women alike seek sex services to fill the lacking intimacy in their lives (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021).

Power and control

Women have reported seeking sex services due to the amount of power and control they can employ over the sexual encounter. Suggesting that in conventional relations, women have less or equal power status than compared to men (Kingston, Hammond & Redman, 2021).

Stress and trauma

Conclusion

Recommended length: 150 to 330 words
The motivations for using sex work services are complex and and unique to the individuals themselves. While the physical desire for sexual relations is a core motivation for some, research studies have allowed for investigation into the broader motives individuals have to use sex work services.
While the stereotype of sex work clients are men of women providers, research has found to disprove this stereotype as women too engage in sex work services. Majority of women expressing the some of the same motivations as men
Discuss how theories relate to the differing motivations to use sex work services

References

Birch, P., Baldry, E., & Hartley, V. H. (2017). Procuring sexual services: Evidencing masculinity diversity and difference through sex work research. Sexuality & Culture, 21(4), 1106-1119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-017-9439-5

Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P (1993). Sexual strategies theory: An evolutionary perspective on human mating. Psychological Review, 100(2), 204-232. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.100.2.204

Hammond, N. (2015). Men who pay for sex and the sex work movement? Client responses to stigma and increased regulation of commercial sex policy. Social Policy and Society: A Journal of the Social Policy Association, 14(1), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746414000360

Hammond, N., & van Hooff, J. (2020). “This is me, this is what I am, I am a man”: The Masculinities of men who pay for sex with women. The Journal of Sex Research, 57(5), 650-663. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1644485

Kingston, S., Hammond, N., & Redman, S. (2021). Transformational sexualities: Motivations of women who pay for sexual services. Sexualities, 24(4), 527-548. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460720904646

Meston, C. M., & Buss, D. M. (2007). Why humans have sex. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 36(4), 477-507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9175-2

Pitts, M. K., Smith, A. M. A, Grierson, J., O’Brien, M., & Misson, S. (2004). Who pays for sex and why? An analysis of social and motivational factors associated with male clients of sex workers. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 33(4), 353-358. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ASEB.0000028888.48796.4f

Zheng, S., & Armstrong. H. L. (2023). Exploring the association between sexual motivation and quality of life in China and the United Kingdom. PloS One, 18(12), e0293566 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293566

External links

Sex work clients are increasingly women - and they are seeking more than pleasure (ABC News, 2019)
Stigma and stereotypes about sex work hinder regulatory reform (The Conversation, 2017)

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