“In This Situation, I Would do the Same”: Psychosocial Risk Factors Underlying Heterosexual Men's Attitudes Toward the Nonconsensual Dissemination of Intimate Images

The present research investigates the psychosocial factors influencing the enjoyment and proclivity to perpetrate nonconsensual intimate images (NCII) dissemination among 553 heterosexual, cisgender men living in Italy (<i>M_age</i> = 24.60, SD = 3.25). Overall, high levels of sexist beliefs were positively associated with rape myths endorsement and masculine gender role stress, which may contribute to women's sexual objectification. Women's objectification was directly linked to the increased likelihood of NCII dissemination. Hostile sexism, rape myths, and masculine stress were indirectly associated with abuse perpetration. A significant role was also played by approval seeking. Results are discussed, focusing on the implementation of evidence-based prevention programs.