When "No" Stops Mattering: The Psychology of Stolen Consent

The Erosion of Consent in the Digital AgeIn this episode of PsyberSpace®, Leslie Poston discusses the systematic erosion of consent both online and offline, and its devastating psychological consequences. Key topics include non-consensual AI-generated sexual imagery, the mass theft of creative work to train AI systems, the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for social media content, and the influence of manosphere ideology on young men. Poston explores the dehumanization and objectification that results from these trends, the psychological theories behind them, and provides insights into moral disengagement and learned helplessness. The episode concludes with strategies for resisting these harmful practices and emphasizes the importance of maintaining and teaching respect for consent.00:00 Introduction to the Erosion of Consent01:15 Understanding Objectification and Its Harms02:25 AI and Non-Consensual Imagery05:20 Data Colonialism and Creative Theft07:52 Exploitation for Social Media Clout11:01 Manosphere Ideology and Consent14:52 Surveillance and Privacy Violations18:46 Psychological Consequences of Consent Erosion23:08 Paths to Resistance and Hope26:36 Conclusion and Call to ActionResearch will be added to the PsyberSpace.com main website ★ Support this podcast ★