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An exploratory study of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence in online romantic interactions

Can the Internet's toxic disinhibition exacerbate sexual aggression

Bibliographic Data

ID21563009
AuthorsLinda R Zhong (Griffith University, corresponding author), Mark R Kebbell (0000-0003-0660-2902, Griffith University), Julianne Webster (Griffith University), Julianne L Webster
Year2020
Volume108
Pages106314
Publication date2020-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueComputers in Human Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0747-5632 • E-ISSN: 1873-7692
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.chb.2020.106314
OpenAlexW3007327007
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited63

An investigation of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (TFSV) was conducted with 340 university students. Participants rated five TFSV scenarios concerning online sexual harassment, image-based sexual exploitation, cyberstalking, gender- and sexuality-based harassment, and sexual assault and/or coercion. Each scenario depicted a perpetrator and victim conversing online. Victims' responses were randomised from a possible selection of four (i.e., no response, flirty response, respectful rejection, and aggressive rejection). Participants rated for: (1) appropriateness of the perpetrators' and victims' behaviour; (2) attribution of responsibility between the perpetrator and victim; and (3) likelihood to perpetrate TFSV. In addition, scores for participants' experiences of sexual aggression and the Internet's toxic disinhibition were recorded. Perpetrators were rated as significantly more inappropriate and responsible than victims. Participants' sexual aggression and toxic disinhibition were positive predictors of reporting a higher likelihood to perpetrate TFSV. A moderation effect showed that TFSV could be exacerbated by a combination of sexual aggression and toxic disinhibition

Aggression · Criminology · Developmental psychology · Disinhibition · Harassment · Human sexuality · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Moderation · Poison control · Psychiatry · Sexual coercion · Sexual violence · Clinical Psychology · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Medicine · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Psychology · Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment

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Unique citing works17
Citations per year5,67
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 17

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