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

Afroditi Pina; Alisha Bell; Kimberley Griffin; Eduardo Vasquez

doi:10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1213

Authors

Afroditi Pina University of Kent
Alisha Bell Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE-FP), School of Psychology, University of Kent.
Kimberley Griffin University of Kent
Eduardo A. Vasquez Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE-FP), School of Psychology, University of Kent.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1213

Keywords:

Image Based Sexual Abuse, IBSA, perpetrators, moral disengagement, dark tetrad

Abstract

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.

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Author Biographies

Afroditi Pina, University of Kent

Dr Afroditi Pina is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Forensic Psychology and a member of the Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE-FP) at the University of Kent. Her primary research interests include sexual violence against women and men, including rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. She has been a data collection manager in research evaluating the mandatory use of the Polygraph as a means for managing offenders in the community for the Ministry of Justice, as well as examining the use and exposure to pornography of young people and children for the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Her recent research focuses on online social media use and antisocial behaviours, including cyber-harassment, image based sexual abuse and cybercrime.

ORCID: 0000-0001-8850-5625

Kimberley Griffin, University of Kent

Kimberley Griffin holds an MSc in Forensic Psychology from the University of Kent and currently works as an Advanced KERS Worker (Kent Enablement Recovery Service) at Kent County Council

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