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Revenge pornography: the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility

Adrian J. Scott (Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK) (School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia)
Jeff Gavin (Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK) (School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia)

Journal of Criminal Psychology

ISSN: 2009-3829

Article publication date: 16 October 2017

Issue publication date: 11 April 2018

1205

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing on gender-role stereotypes and defensive attribution theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility in the context of revenge pornography.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 239 university students read one of two versions of a hypothetical scenario, responded to items concerning their perceptions of the situation described, and responded to items concerning their sexting experience.

Findings

Men were more likely to believe the situation was serious when it involved a male perpetrator and a female victim rather than vice versa. However, perpetrator-victim sex did not influence women’s perceptions. Participants without sexting experience were more likely than participants with sexting experience to believe the situation was serious, and to hold the victim responsible.

Originality/value

Whilst there is a growing body of literature regarding revenge pornography from a legal perspective, there is little research on perceptions of revenge pornography situations. As the use of intimate images in relationships continues to rise, it is important to understand people’s attitudes and the extra-legal factors that shape them.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Conflict of interest: the authors declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this paper.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Rebecca Posner during the running of the research.

Citation

Scott, A.J. and Gavin, J. (2018), "Revenge pornography: the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 162-172. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-05-2017-0024

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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