(Don’t) Look at Me! How the Assumed Consensual or Non-Consensual Distribution Affects Perception and Evaluation of Sexting Images

Abstract

The non-consensual sharing of an intimate image is a serious breach of a person’s right to privacy and can lead to severe psychosocial consequences. However, little research has been conducted on the reasons for consuming intimate pictures that have been shared non-consensually. This study aims to investigate how the supposed consensual or non-consensual distribution of sexting images affects the perception and evaluation of these images. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The same intimate images were shown to all participants. However, one group assumed that the photos were shared voluntarily, whereas the other group were told that the photos were distributed non-consensually. While the participants completed several tasks such as rating the sexual attractiveness of the depicted person, their eye-movements were being tracked. The results from this study show that viewing behavior and the evaluation of sexting images are influenced by the supposed way of distribution. In line with objectification theory men who assumed that the pictures were distributed non-consensually spent more time looking at the body of the depicted person. This so-called ‘objectifying gaze’ was also more pronounced in participants with higher tendencies to accept myths about sexual aggression or general tendencies to objectify others. In conclusion, these results suggest that prevention campaigns promoting ‘sexting abstinence’ and thus attributing responsibility for non-consensual distribution of such images to the depicted persons are insufficient. Rather, it is necessary to emphasize the illegitimacy of the non-consensual distribution of sexting images, especially among male consumers of the material.

Sexual Boundary Violations via Digital Media Among Students

“…The definition of sexting differs depending on the type of media being investigated, as well as – within academic research – on the form (text, photo, and video), the content (ranging from suggestive to explicit in terms of the degree of nudity and the sexual activity depicted), intention (ranging from non-sexual to sexual) and the medium (generally digital forms, from email through to instant messaging). A further factor is the degree to which participants freely engage in sexting (see Döring, 2014 ; Dekker et al, 2019 ).…”

“…This tendency is most prevalent in debates where the repercussions of adolescent use of pornography are discussed (see for example, Smith et al, 2014 ). Similarly, in recent years the phenomenon of sexting has increasingly gained attention and been a topic of debate ( Dekker et al, 2019 ). In international publications, sexting is generally classified as a deviant behavior, and accordingly it is discussed from the perspective of the risks it entails ( Hasinoff, 2015 ; García-Gómez, 2019 ).…”

Orientierungen Jugendlicher auf sexuelle Grenzverletzungen mittels digitaler Medien

“…Dies zeigte sich etwa in der Problematisierung der Auswirkungen jugendlicher Pornografienutzung (Smith, Thompson, und Davidson 2014). Auch Sexting-Praktiken haben in den letzten Jahren vor allem unter einer problematisierenden Perspektive Aufmerksamkeit erhalten (Dekker et al 2019;Döring 2014a). In internationalen Veröffentlichungen wird Sexting überwiegend als normabweichendes Verhalten eingeordnet und dementsprechend innerhalb eines Devianzdiskurses, insbesondere unter einer Risikoperspektive diskutiert (García-Gómez 2019).…”

The Role of Individual Differences in Cyber Dating Abuse Perpetration

“…39 Online forms of sexual aggression and abuse have also been attributed to myths and attributions that minimize experiences of abuse, including the victims are lying or exaggerating the nature of the impact, the perpetrators were provoked or justified in their behavior, and the victims deserved or needed to be controlled based on their behaviors or other characteristics. 40,41 Rationale, aim, and hypotheses Given the potential co-occurrence of online and offline forms of relational abuse, it is important to develop an understanding of attitudes and traits that may contribute to online CDA. As vulnerable narcissism, hegemonic masculinity, and sexual aggression myths have been linked to the engagement in offline relational abuse and IPV, the current study will investigate whether these variables are also linked to the perpetration of online relational abuse, specifically, CDA.…”