Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology

New psychology research reveals men’s motives for sending unsolicited dick pics

by Eric W. Dolan
September 8, 2019
in Social Psychology
(Photo credit: Руслан Галиуллин)

(Photo credit: Руслан Галиуллин)

[Subscribe to PsyPost Premium to enjoy an ad-free experience! Click here to sign up.]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Men who send unsolicited images of their private parts primarily do so with the hopes of receiving either similar images or sexual interactions in return, according to a new study published in the Journal of Sex Research.

“We were interested in this topic because, until now, there had not been any empirical research into the motives men having for sending unsolicited pictures of their genitals. There were plenty of hypotheses, theoretical musings, and anecdotal postulations, but no actual scientific investigation,” said study author Cory L. Pedersen of Kwantlen Polytechnic University and founder of the ORGASM Research Lab.

In the study, 1,087 heterosexual men completed surveys to assess demographic information, narcissism, sexual behavior, sexism, and motivations behind sending genital pictures. About half of the men reported sending unsolicited genital images, while the other half did not.

The researchers found that men who sent unsolicited images tended to be younger, more narcissistic, and more sexist. The most common motivation for sending such an image was hoping to receive sexual pictures in return, followed by hoping to turn on the recipient.

Only about 18% of men reported sending unsolicited images for their own satisfaction. Most men also hoped to make the person who received the image feel excited or attractive.

“People should revel in the importance of science. That is, people often believe that the main reason men send unsolicited dick pics is because they dislike women/are sexist and wish to anger, shame, or otherwise express their hostility toward women,” Pedersen told PsyPost.

“This study revealed something quite different. This study revealed that the main reasons men send dick pics are for those of transaction (‘I’ll show you mine and you show me yours’) or partner hunting (‘you’ve seen my dick, let’s hook-up’).”

“Further, the reactions that men most desire from recipients are positive (feelings of attractiveness, for instance), not negative, as people often expect,” Pedersen said.

“That doesn’t mean to suggest we should blindly accept this type of activity — or not censure men for sending unsolicited images. Consent is sexy, and the sending of unsolicited images violates consent. But it does mean that without science to guide our understanding of people’s behaviour, we may surely be making unfounded assumptions.”

But that’s not to say that all men have good intentions when they send an unsolicited image. About 10% agreed with the statement “Sending dick pics gives me a feeling of control over the person that I have sent it to,” and nearly 6% agreed that “I feel a sense of dislike towards women and sending dick pics is satisfying.”

“Our results indicate that a significant minority of men reported sending dick pics with the intention of eliciting negative emotions in the recipients, primarily shock, fear, and disgust,” the researchers said in their study.

“We still need to examine women’s responses and reactions to receiving unsolicited dick pics, because again, the assumption is that women universally find the receipt of such images repugnant. Without science, we don’t yet know the varied responses women have to receiving dick pics (and they certainly must be varied, as women are not all the same and human sexuality itself is exceptionally diverse),” Pedersen added.

“We are in the process of collecting data regarding women’s reactions to receiving unsolicited dick pics in order to more fully understand this phenomenon.”

The study, “I’ll Show You Mine so You’ll Show Me Yours: Motivations and Personality Variables in Photographic Exhibitionism“, was authored by Flora Oswald, Alex Lopes, Kaylee Skoda, Cassandra L. Hesse, and Cory L. Pedersen.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin5Send
Previous Post

Study finds a link between infectious diseases and racism in the United States

Next Post

Heightened connectivity between two brain networks is associated with anger and aggression

STAY CONNECTED

Find these awesome psychology shirts and more at the PsyPost Store!

TRENDING

New study identifies perceived mattering as a core psychological component of happy marriages

Engaging in LGBQ activism is associated with positive psychological functioning among sexual minorities

People with social anxiety more likely to become overdependent on conversational artificial intelligence agents

Breathing exercises show potential in modulating Alzheimer’s biomarkers, study finds

Diversity of the gut microbiota is associated with the severity of depression

New psychology research reveals the “bullshit blind spot”

RECENT

Neuroscience research sheds light on how LSD alters the brain’s “gatekeeper”

New study on orienteering suggests cognitive flexibility can be developed through sports training

Contrary to prior research, Brazilian study finds economic scarcity is not linked to racial perception

Individuals prompted to experience gratitude and indebtedness are more likely to behave in prosocial ways

Engaging in LGBQ activism is associated with positive psychological functioning among sexual minorities

Vegans are perceived as less suitable for jobs stereotypically associated with masculinity, study finds

People with social anxiety more likely to become overdependent on conversational artificial intelligence agents

New study highlights several key predictors of gratitude to God

Currently Playing

New psychology research reveals the “bullshit blind spot”

New psychology research reveals the “bullshit blind spot”

New psychology research reveals the “bullshit blind spot”

Cognitive Science
Higher prenatal testosterone exposure is linked to Machiavellianism and psychopathy, study suggests

Higher prenatal testosterone exposure is linked to Machiavellianism and psychopathy, study suggests

Dark Triad
New study identifies perceived mattering as a core psychological component of happy marriages

New study identifies perceived mattering as a core psychological component of happy marriages

Relationships and Sexual Health
Childhood adversity associated with increased emotional response to others’ suffering in adulthood

Childhood adversity associated with increased emotional response to others’ suffering in adulthood

Mental Health
New study sheds light on cognitive mechanisms linked to hypnosis

Chronic intake of refined carbohydrates between meals is associated with decreased cognitive performance, study finds

Cognitive Science
Mindfulness might hinder prosocial behavior among individuals with high intelligence

Mindfulness might hinder prosocial behavior among individuals with high intelligence

Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.