Why would someone send me that?! Exploring the prevalence, contexts, motivations, and predictors of sending unsolicited sexual images

Technology has afforded the development of new ways to perpetrate non-consensual sexual acts, one being sending unsolicited sexual images (USIs). This thesis examined this underexplored act by examining the prevalence, contexts and motivations associated with, and predictors (i.e., personality, contact sexual offending, exhibitionistic behaviour) of sending USIs. These queries were investigated by conducting an anonymous online survey with North American adults. Approximately one in ten participants reported sending a USI. Most participants reported sending USIs to recipients they were in an established relationship with and through Snapchat. The most common motivational category endorsed for sending USIs was acting in a transactional mindset (i.e., trying to get something in return from the recipient of their USI). Sexual narcissism and sociosexual orientation were found to positively predict and psychopathy was found to negatively predict sending USIs. History engaging in contact sexual offending and exhibitionistic behaviours did not significantly predict sending USIs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Forensic Psychology

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Fisico, Rebecca

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Harkins, Leigh

• Unsolicited sexual image
• Motivations
• Personality
• Sexual offending
• Technology

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1339

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1339