Its psychological impact on victims is well-documented since being classed as a criminal offence in 2015.

But despite this, new research reveals that a majority of people would endorse the use of revenge porn when punishing a former partner.

Perhaps surprisingly, it's women - not men - who most approve of publicly sharing explicit material without consent.

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Online threat: A greater propensity to engage in revenge porn also co-inced with psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism, researchers from the University of Kent have found

KEY FINDINGS - A third of people reported a likelihood to engage in revenge porn activity - 99 per cent expressed at least some approval of revenge porn - 87 per cent expressed some excitement of amusement with revenge porn Advertisement

Psychologists at the University of Kent studied one hundred adults aged 18-54, 80 per cent of whom were female.

Nearly a third of participants (29 per cent) reported a likelihood to engage in revenge porn activity.

But a staggering 99 per cent expressed at least some approval of revenge porn being posted online when presented with a scenario about a partner walking out on them.

The researchers also found that 87 per cent of participants expressed at least some excitement or amusement with revenge porn.

Led by Dr Afroditi Pina at the University's School of Psychology, the team also established a link between revenge porn proclivity and specific psychological characteristics.

Specifically, a greater propensity to engage in revenge porn also co-inced with psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism.

Specifically, a greater propensity to engage in revenge porn also co-inced with psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism

The researchers concluded that, although most participants would be 'unlikely to commit an act of revenge porn themselves', there is an 'acceptance' among the majority of behaviour they know is 'frequently occurring online'.

This, they say, could have significant implications 'especially if one considers the facilitating role of online bystanders in the rapid dissemination of revenge porn materials'.



