The study’s authors surveyed 1,087 men, comparing the personalities of those who regularly sent surprise dick pics vs those who didn’t.
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While most of the guys said it was their way of getting the recipient to respond with sexually explicit photos of themselves, some simply took snaps of their penis to satisfy their own sexual or personal needs. Experts say this is textbook narcissistic behaviour.
“A narcissist is essentially somebody who is self-obsessed to an extreme degree,” forensic psychologist Darrel Turner told Health. “This is someone who has a high level of confidence and belief in themselves, but to a very unhealthy and harmful extent—to the point at which it actually distorts their sense of reality about themselves, other people, and the world around them. It can also lead them into manipulative and exploitative behaviour, because they will prioritise their own needs above anyone else’s.”
So far, semi-funny. But here’s where things get uncomfortable: over 14 per cent admitted they hoped to elicit feelings of fear by sending the photos. 10 per cent did it to disgust the other person and 8 per cent to make them angry. Another 8 per cent’s aim was to invoke a sense of shame.
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Thankfully, 82 per cent of all the senders had seemingly good (albeit totally wrong) intentions: they thought the recipient would actually get turned on by giving them a glimpse at their junk.
“By sending unsolicited genital images, most men hoped to elicit sexual arousal in the recipient(s), though a minority hoped to elicit negative feelings,” the study states. “In general, men who sent dick pics reported higher levels of narcissism as well as ambivalent and hostile sexism.”
Bottom line? Put it away, fellas. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
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