Cybercrimes
Revenge Pornography, Beyond the Screen: The Effect of Online Disinhibition and the Dark Personality.
Open Access: Yes.
Abstract
So-called “revenge pornography,” the non-consensual distribution of explicit images or videos, is a widespread and harmful online phenomenon. Despite growing research examining influential risk factors , findings remain inconsistent. The present study examined the predictive influence of Dark Triad (DT) personality traits and online disinhibition on beliefs supportive of revenge pornography. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that DT traits significantly predicted offense-supportive beliefs. Machiavellianism emerged as the strongest overall predictor, while online disinhibition contributed minimal, non-significant variance across all models. Findings suggest that DT traits, particularly Machiavellianism, influence attitudes supportive of revenge pornography. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Relevance
This study showed that Dark Triad traits, particularly Machiavellianism (characterized by strategic manipulation, cynicism, and moral disengagement), are associated with stronger endorsement of offense-supportive beliefs surrounding revenge pornography. These beliefs include: minimization of victim harm and increased attribution of responsibility to victims.
Citation
Turner, J., Tully, R., & Johnson, D. (2026). Revenge Pornography, Beyond the Screen: The Effect of Online Disinhibition and the Dark Personality. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2026.2697161
