Ignorance or intent? Motivations and predictive factors for the sending of unsolicited sexual images

The internet has enabled the exchange of graphic, sexual images. There is a fundamental lack of empirical research conducted on the motives for sending self-taken sexual images, both solicited and unsolicited. The incentives for the sending of such images are unknown, as well as the prevalence of the behaviour in general. Using an online questionnaire (n = 403), we identified senders’ attitudes, and tested Dark Triad traits of those who sent unsolicited sexual images. In addition to designing a new scale for measuring attitudes towards sending nudes, we created a predictive model for the sending of unsolicited nude images for both men and women. Our results suggest that the sending of unsolicited graphic images by men is predicted by psychopathy, self-rated mate value, and an accepting attitude towards sending nudes, whereas in women it is predicted by narcissism and a liberal attitude towards sending nudes. Our results also identified that more women were sending unsolicited sexual images than men. However, the content of such images varied by the gender of the subject; men mostly took picture their genitals, while women’s images predominantly featured their breasts and buttocks. We conclude that female senders can be characterised as sex-positive individuals, who use their physical features to gain validation from recipients, and that male senders may have darker intentions and motives. Not only is an image of genitals more visually shocking than one of a secondary sex-characteristic – the implications of high sub-clincal psychopathy scores in our male senders may warrant some concern