Perceptions of Image-Based Sexual Abuse Among the American Public

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) involves the sharing or distribution of erotic material without the consent of the subject in the material. A common scenario of IBSA revolves around an individual sharing erotic material of their former intimate partner following the dissolution of the relationship in order to humiliate or harass that former partner for a perceived wrongdoing. This scenario has caused IBSA to be referred to as “revenge porn” in the past, but that phrase does not capture the full breadth of IBSA behaviors and motivations. IBSA is a relatively new phenomenon, having emerged in the last decade, and few studies have examined public perceptions of the activity. In the present study, the attitudes of a national sample (_n_ = 1,023) of Americans were examined on IBSA-related issues. Results of this study showed that the general public largely disapproves of IBSA and supports its criminalization; however, the public also attributes blame to the victims of IBSA. Several factors influence these perceptions including sex, race, age, parental status, political orientation, and sexting history.

Examining Perceptions of Sextortion in the General Population

The non-consensual sharing of sexual images of another (or threats thereof) represents an increasingly important and pervasive issue in forensic psychology. However, despite recent legislative developments within the United Kingdom, there still exists a need for greater understanding of perceptions within the general public of the dangers and manifestations of image-based sexual abuse and the process by which people are being (s)extorted using their private images. Ten participants (Mage = 24.8 years; SD = 9.33; 70% female) took part in semi-structured interviews which were analysed using an inductive thematic analytic approach, wherein the themes of [1] Education as a Prevention against Image Based Sexual Abuse, [2] Victim Blaming Prevalence in Society, [3] Stereotypes about Victim and Perpetrator, and [4] Low Priority for Criminal Justice were explored. Taken together, data suggests that although there exists a ‘working knowledge’ of image-based sexual abuse, the concept of sextortion is understood to a lesser extent with clear implications for the need for educational policies to better inform younger members of society of associated dangers and legalities.

Image Based Sexual Abuse proclivity and victim blaming: The role of dark personality traits and moral disengagement

Image Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA) denotes the creation, distribution, and/or threat of distribution of intimate images of another person online without their consent. The present study aims to extend emerging research on perpetration of IBSA with the development and preliminary validation for the moral disengagement in IBSA scale, while also examining the role of the dark triad, sadism, and sexism in a person’s likelihood to perpetrate IBSA. One hundred and twenty English speaking participants (76 women, 44 men; mean age=33 years) were recruited via social media. Machiavellianism and psychopathy were found to predict IBSA proclivity, whilst rivalry narcissism predicted greater feelings of excitement and amusement towards IBSA. Moral disengagement predicted IBSA proclivity and blaming the victim. It was also positively related to greater feelings of amusement and excitement towards IBSA. This suggests a distinct personality profile of IBSA perpetrators, and that moral disengagement mechanisms play a role in facilitating and reinforcing this behaviour.

‘They’re you know, their audience’: How women are (ab)used to cement the heterosexual bonds between men

This paper explores how young people (aged 18–24 years) in Ireland attribute young men's sexual harassment and violence against women both to the situational demands of what we call ‘heteromasculine homosociality’ and young men's negotiation of role taking with women. Interpreting young people's explanations for sexual violence, the paper argues that through different forms of sexual harassment and violence, women are (ab)used to cement the heterosexual bonds between men. The argument is explored by drawing on young people's explanations of three forms of sexual harassment and violence: verbal violence, unwanted sexual touching and assault and image-based sexual abuse. The data comes from 28 interviews with young people as part of a European-funded research study that aims to explore both the discourses that young people use in their understandings of gender and violence against women and how young men may be supported in combatting violence against women. Among other implications, we suggest that as well as deconstructing attitudes towards women, prevention work and interventions with men must also focus on men's beliefs about the normative basis for masculine status and belonging between men.

Just Checking It Out? Motivations for and Behavioral Associations With Visiting “Slutpages” in the United States and Australia

“Slutpages” are a pernicious form of online image-based evaluative voyeurism (OIBEV), whereby (sexualized) images of women are posted on webpages for (predominantly) male groups to rate and comment. Despite media and public concern, OIBEV sites have garnered limited empirical study. This paper presents the first analysis of OIBEV site visitation motivations across United States and Australian samples. Participants comprised a convenience sample of 1148 young adults aged 18 to 29 years (M = 22.54, SD = 2.50); 53.0% women, 47.0% men; 54% residing in the U.S. and 46% in Australia. Respondents completed an online questionnaire. Overall, 23% of United States and 16% of Australian respondents had visited OIBEV sites. OIBEV site visitation was uniquely associated with gender and country (with men and United States being more likely to visit OIBEV sites), requesting and disseminating sexts and having one’s own image shared. Cyberbullying perpetration was associated with reduced odds of OIBEV site visitation. Motivations differed by gender, with men (80%) being most likely to visit sites to “check them out” while women were equally likely to check it out (41%) or to see if they were depicted (36%). For men, unique predictors of OIBEV site visitation were having requested, disseminated and received disseminated sexts, lower levels of anxiety and reduced likelihood of cyberbullying perpetration. For women, OIBEV site visitation was uniquely associated with being a United States resident, sext dissemination victimization, receipt of disseminated sexts, higher levels of anxiety but reduced stress. Our findings confirm that OIBEV sites represent a highly gendered form of online image-based sexual abuse, and may have important mental health implications, given the associations with increased anxiety. Our results support the need for “slutpage” education for adolescents and young adults to address social and peer norms that encourage and support non-consensual use of intimate images.

Seeking Justice and Redress for Victim-Survivors of Image-Based Sexual Abuse

Despite apparent political concern and action—often fuelled by high-profile cases and campaigns—legislative and institutional responses to image-based sexual abuse in the UK have been ad hoc, piecemeal and inconsistent. In practice, victim-survivors are being consistently failed: by the law, by the police and criminal justice system, by traditional and social media, website operators, and by their employers, universities and schools. Drawing on data from the first multi-jurisdictional study of the nature and harms of, and legal/policy responses to, image-based sexual abuse, this article argues for a new joined-up approach that supports victim-survivors of image-based sexual abuse to ‘reclaim control’. It argues for a comprehensive, multi-layered, multi-institutional and multi-agency response, led by a government- and industry-funded online or e-safety organisation, which not only recognises the diversity of victim-survivor experiences and the intersection of image-based sexual abuse with other forms of sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination, but which also enables victim-survivors to reclaim control within and beyond the criminal justice system.