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

Abstract

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.