To validate our Master’s degree in Psychology, we have to do a thesis on a subject that we like and that questions us.
I chose, in agreement with a professor, to work on the phenomenon of sexting (the fact of sending photos, messages, videos with a sexual connotation by a technological tool), and more particularly the “nudes” among 18-25 year olds. This is an exploratory study, which means that I am using a qualitative methodology. This study is part of an era of “overexposed intimacy” (Tisseron, 2011) . Indeed, individuals are increasingly exposing their intimacy on social networks. This raises the question of the place of sexuality in this digital age. According to studies, people between the ages of 18 and 25 are the individuals who use social networks the most (Cooper et al., 2003).
The aim of my study is to investigate the factors underlying this growing phenomenon in our society. Why does such an individual engage in this practice? With whom? At what precise moment in his life? What do they want from it?
To answer these questions, I conducted qualitative interviews with individuals who were willing to talk about their experience. They were recruited through an online questionnaire. The number of people who were interviewed was 20. The interview was conducted by telephone (due to COVID-19) and lasted between 30 and 45 minutes. These interviews followed an interview grid that asked about various elements:
- The format of the sexting (photograph, video or messages with sexual connotations)
- the sexting partner
- the request (who is asking?), whether or not they feel forced to send it
- whether or not the photos show the face
- the level of nudity
- the motivations
- the positive or negative repercussions for oneself and in the relationship with others risks and benefits known before and after the practice
- the link with self-confidence, self-esteem and the relationship with the body
- the link with real sexuality
- the link with the management of emotions
There are several common elements to a practice that is nonetheless unique to each individual. First of all, the format mainly used by individuals is photos. The main people to whom “nudes” are sent are the official partner, people in a dating situation, and strangers at the end. Most of the time, in a heterosexual relationship, women feel pressure from their male partners to send nude pictures. Women in a homosexual relationship or men don’t feel this pressure. This is part of a societal context where male desires take precedence over female desires, the latter having to remain hidden until the middle of the 20th century. This is why we find a feeling of guilt after sending nude photos among women, which isn’t found among men. There is also a feeling of self-disgust, as if it were a shame to show sexual desire.
Most people don’t show their faces because of fear of being recognised if the photo is shown. This is the primary fear that we find when we ask about the known risks before, during and after the practice.
The main motivations are to please one’s partner, to receive compliments, to increase the “flame” in one’s relationship, and to compensate for the physical distance that can sometimes exist between two individuals. The main factor is the lack of self-confidence, the lack of body esteem. Indeed, a factor common to all the individuals interviewed in this study is that they need others to love their own bodies, they need their approval regarding their beauty. These are individuals who find themselves “ugly”, not within the “social norms” of beauty (muscular for men, thin and shapely for women). Most send photos to receive compliments, and when asked if they would continue if they didn’t receive compliments, the majority of individuals answer “no”. This shows the importance attached in this practice to being appreciated by others, validated by others.
With regard to actual sexuality, there is no link with the practice of sexting.
Concerning emotional regulation, there is a weak link between poor emotional regulation and sexting. This can’t be generalized; precise quantitative questionnaires would be needed to obtain reliable and generalizable results. This is a gateway for a future study.
This study allows us to have more explanations on the phenomenon of “nudes” among 18-25 year olds. There is, I think, something to try: in psychological follow-up concerning a lack of self-confidence, nude photography could be used to increase the self-confidence of individuals. Furthermore, this study provides important information for prevention campaigns.
Bibliography :
the words i learned
emotional regulation : régulation émotionnelle
reliable and generalizable results: résultats fiables et généralisables
psychological follow-up : suivi psychologique
prevention campaigns: campagne de prévention
please partner: plaire à son partenaire
risk-taking : prise de risque