Cybercrimes

Open Access: No.

Abstract

The present research investigates the psychosocial factors influencing the enjoyment and proclivity to perpetrate nonconsensual intimate images (NCII) dissemination among 553 heterosexual, cisgender men living in Italy (Mage = 24.60, SD = 3.25). Overall, high levels of sexist beliefs were positively associated with rape myths endorsement and masculine gender role stress, which may contribute to women’s sexual objectification. Women’s objectification was directly linked to the increased likelihood of NCII dissemination. Hostile sexism, rape myths, and masculine stress were indirectly associated with abuse perpetration. A significant role was also played by approval seeking. Results are discussed, focusing on the implementation of evidence-based prevention programs.

Relevance

This study found that:

1. Both “benevolent sexism and hostile sexism were positively associated with participants’ rape myths endorsement”,
2. “there is “a positive association between hostile sexism and individuals’ levels of masculine gender role stress”,
3. “young, heterosexual men who are more concerned with their public images may be more likely to experience stress when the stereotypical gender hierarchy is being subverted”,
4. “a significant, positive association emerged between rape myth endorsement and participants’ propensity to sexually objectify women, thus providing additional evidence that individuals who downplay sexual abusers’ responsibility may be keener to treat women as sexual objects, rather than individuals”,
5. there is “a positive association between masculine gender role stress and women’s sexual objectification”,
6. there is “a positive association…between the sexual objectification of women and NCII-EPP [nonconsensual intimate image abuse enjoyment and propensity], thus highlighting the role of core hegemonic masculinity mandates on young, heterosexual men’s perception of sexual abuse in cyberspace”,
7. hostile sexism is “positively associated with NCII dissemination proclivity through the mediation of rape myths endorsement and women’s sexual objectification” as well as “through the mediation of masculine gender role stress and women’s sexual objectification “, and,
8. “the dehumanization of women resulting from rape myths endorsement…and rom heterosexual men’s attempt to tackle masculine gender role-related stress…may facilitate individuals’ proclivity to perpetrate NCII dissemination.”

Citation

Berlin, E., & Rollero, C. (2025). “In This Situation, I Would do the Same”: Psychosocial Risk Factors Underlying Heterosexual Men’s Attitudes Toward the Nonconsensual Dissemination of Intimate Images. Violence Against Women. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012251409170