A study of pornography consumption, sexual objectification, and dark triad traits and its association with acceptance of image-based sexual abuse and victim-blaming myths

• Main Author: Lim, Jazlyn Yanshan
• Other Authors: Ho Moon-Ho Ringo
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/156686
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Recent years have borne witness to the rise of creation, distribution and/or threats to distribute intimate or sexual images without consent, a term known as “image-based sexual abuse” (IBSA; McGlynn & Rackley, 2017). Beyond damaged reputations, IBSA victims may suffer from emotional distress, which may be aggravated by victim-blaming reactions (Vitis, 2020). Ergo, the growth in the number of individuals committing IBSA offences is a cause of concern. This study investigated how pornography consumption, sexual objectification, and dark triad influenced attitudes on IBSA and victim blaming. A sample of 291 participants completed a survey including a demographic form, Consumption of Pornography Scale – General (COPS G), Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale – Perpetrator (ISOS-P), Short Dark Triad (SD3), and Sexual Image Abuse Myth Acceptance (SIAMA). Results showed that sexual objectification (p < .001, η2 = 0.15) and dark triad traits (p < .05, η2 = 0.11) significantly predicted IBSA myth acceptance. Whereas, pornography consumption did not predict IBSA myth acceptance, p > .05. All three variables failed to predict victim blaming attitudes. This paper discusses the IBSA situation in the local scene and explored potential factors to be considered when developing efforts to prevent IBSA offences. Keywords: Image-based sexual abuse, pornography, sexual objectification, dark triad (DT), Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopath, victim-blaming, Singapore