The Attitudes of Therapists and Physicians on the Use of Sex Robots in Sexual Therapy: Online Survey and Interview Study

Abstract

Background Various types of robots have already been successfully used in medical care, and the use of new technologies is also playing an increasing role in the area of sexuality. Sex robots are marketed as advanced sex toys and sex dolls with artificial intelligence. Only a few considerations about the therapeutic use of sex robots in sexual therapy are debated in expert discussions. Objective The aim of this study was to conduct a first exploratory survey on the attitudes of sex therapists and physicians toward the therapeutic benefits of sex robots. Methods This study comprised a quantitative online survey and a qualitative interview study. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to survey the general attitudes of sex therapists and physicians regarding the benefits of sex robots in therapy. The qualitative study was designed to gain in-depth insight into the participants’ beliefs and attitudes. Therefore, semistructured interviews were conducted. The quantitative data were evaluated by statistical analysis, and the interviews were transcribed and analyzed by using a grounded theory approach. Results A total of 72 sex therapists and physicians completed our self-constructed questionnaire (response rate 15%, 72/480). Only a few respondents (11%, 8/72) said that the use of sex robots was not conceivable for them, and almost half of all therapists and physicians could imagine recommending sex robots in therapy (45%, 33/72). The attitude toward sex robots as a therapeutic tool was very heterogeneous, with gender (P=.006), age (P=.03), and occupational differences (P=.05); female therapists, older therapists, and psychologists (in contrast to physicians) were more critical toward the therapeutic use of sex robots. The analysis of the 5 interviews identified 3 high-level core themes that were representative of the participants’ responses: (1) the importance of the personal definition of sex robots for the assessment of their therapeutic benefits, (2) therapeutic benefits and dangers of sex robots, and (3) considerations on the quality of human-robot sexuality. Initial insights into the possible therapeutic use of sex robots in different disorders (eg, sexual dysfunction or pedophilia) and situations were gained from the perspective of sex therapists. Conclusions The results of this study provide a first overview of the potential therapeutic use of sex robots. Moral, ethical, and treatment-related issues in this context are still unresolved and need to be further researched. We suggest integrating the topic into the training of sex therapists to form opinions beyond media images and to show therapy possibilities. Scientists engaged in sexual research should be involved in the development of sex robots to design robots with positive effects on sexual education, sexual therapy, sexual counseling, and sexual well-being for interested groups.

Human–Robot Interaction and Sexbots: A Systematic Literature Review

“…In our review, almost no study was found regarding women using male sex robots except in [29]. In this way, both the design and the interaction are biased because there is a male hegemony seen.…”

“…There is a lack of empirical analyses of doll ownership psychological characteristics or behavioral implications, and no standardized measure of the attitudes towards sex dolls and robots and their owners exists [28]. Moreover, sex therapists and physicians have different opinions about the therapeutic benefits of sex robots [29], although the attitudes toward sex robots as a therapeutic tool were very heterogeneous, depending on gender, age, and occupational differences. Psychologists (in contrast to physicians) were more critical toward the therapeutic use of sex robots.…”

Foundations of Erobotics

“…Sometimes people want to explore on their own before engaging with others (e.g., after a trauma, a surgery, or to practice; [ 98 , 179 ]). Sometimes engaging with a partner is unsafe (e.g., people with impulse control issues; [ 99 ]). And, sometimes people do not necessarily want intimacy with humans (e.g., some doll-owners, robot fetishists, and people with objecto/agalmatophilia; [ 87 , 112 , 158 , 223 ]).…”

“…They could act as care machines to provide adapted erotic stimulation to the elderly or individuals with disability, while simultaneously mitigating controversies surrounding sexual surrogacy and sex work [ 26 , 27 , 83 , 109 ]. They could also help individuals with psychosocial, physical, and sexual difficulties [ 99 ]. For instance, under the supervision of trained (sex) therapists and educators, erobots may contribute to assessments and treatments of individuals with intimacy-related fears and anxiety via progressive exposition-desensitization [ 172 ] or help people with erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation [ 226 ].…”

Sex doll ownership: An agenda for research

“…There is minimal evidence about the nature of social attitudes regarding sex doll and robot ownership. In the data that are available, men are typically more accepting of doll ownership and use in clinical settings [15,17], as are younger participants [17]. Higher levels of religiosity have also been associated with more negative attitudes [65], which may be reflective of the view that such objects are not a creation of God.…”