New research has discovered that a majority of people would endorse the use of revenge porn.

The study, by psychologists at the University of Kent, also found that people who actually post revenge porn online have a distinct personality profile.

The study, which included 100 adults between the ages of 18 and 54 — with a majority (82) female — found that only 29 percent reported a likelihood they would engage in revenge porn activity.

However, 99 percent of the people expressed at least some approval — such as not feeling remorse — of revenge porn being posted online when presented with a scenario about a partner walking out on them.

Another key finding: 87 percent of the participants expressed at least some excitement or amusement with revenge porn.

Revenge porn is the act of sharing intimate, sexually graphic images and/or videos of another person online, such as Facebook.

The research team, led by Dr. Afroditi Pina, also established there is a link between revenge porn proclivity and specific psychological characteristics.

The researchers found a positive correlation between a greater propensity to engage in revenge porn and higher levels of the “Dark Triad” of psychological characteristics: endorsing psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism.

It was found that psychopathic traits, like impulsivity and a lack of empathy, were most strongly linked with revenge porn perpetration.

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

This could have significant implications, “especially if one considers the facilitating role of online bystanders in the rapid dissemination of revenge porn materials,” the researchers add.

The study was published in the International Journal of Technoethics.

Source: University of Kent

Study Finds Most People Endorse Revenge Porn