Work

Understanding the link between Sextortion and Suicide

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Sextortion is an emerging threat, facilitated by the use of online environments where perpetrators gain the trust of vulnerable individuals in order to obtain sexually explicit material and then use it to coerce victims for the purposes of sexual, personal or financial gain. There is presently no research exploring what may lead a victim of sextortion to choose suicide. The present study examined three cases of sextortion and suicide. A thematic analysis of publicly available online material identified common themes in these cases: fear, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, humiliation, self-blame, general distress, typical antecedents of suicidal behaviour. The implications are discussed.

Source: Huddersfield Research Portal (University of Huddersfield)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3402356

Authors: Nilsson, Mirjana Gavrilović, Calli.Tzani-Pepelasis, Ioannou, Maria, Lester, David

Institutions: University of Edinburgh, University of Huddersfield, Stockton University

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2941399506

FWCI: 2.701

Cites: 16

Cited by: 45

Related to: 10