ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we explore image-based sexual abuse, an emerging type of digital sexual violence in which sexual images are distributed non-consensually online. Using digital, sexual and social opportunities drawn from data from a large sample (N = 60,000) of young Danes, we investigate if this new type of offense can be explained by the effects of self-control. The chapter represents one of the few quantitative explorations of image-based sexual abuse in the Nordic countries to date. Drawing on the general theory of crime, we find that poorer self-control is associated with higher risk of committing image-based sexual abuse, although the effect is moderate and partly mediated through digital, sexual and social opportunities. Receiving images without consent from those pictured is an especially strong predictor that someone has committed image-based sexual abuse. Conversely, young Danes are less likely to commit image-based sexual abuse if they are female, sexually inexperienced or drink alcohol infrequently. The findings suggest future paths for how prevention campaigns could address the risks of digital sexual violence.
