Jennifer Lawrence photo hack: The phenomenon of the naked selfie

The generation of those not raised in the digital media era of the"selfie"may be shocked at the news of the celebrity photo hack not so much that someone would leak such pictures, but that a number ofyoung actresses would havenaked or intimatepictures of themselves.

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But it's all part of a new generation that has grown up with newtechnology that has complemented a shift in the culture of documenting one's daily life, say some experts.

"I think it's really common.Rememberall ofthesepeoplegrew upwithcell phonesso they'vebeen accustomed todocumenting thisso Ithinkthis hasbeeningrainedintheir sexuality," said Michelle Drouin, a developmentalpsychologistwho specializes insocial media and the growing use of sexting.

"This is a part of becoming a sexual person in this decade. This really is part of the sexualityof today's youth."

Intimate images of dozens of celebrities, including Academy Award winner andHunger Gamesstar Jennifer Lawrence, swimsuit model Kate Upton andMary ElizabethWinsteadhave been leaked online by an anonymous hacker who claimsto have stolen materials from more than 100 actors and singers.

That a number of young femalecelebrities would take nakedselfiesshould not surprise, suggestedDr.Pamela Rutledge, a media psychologist and director ofMedia Psychology ResearchCenter.

"They're in adifferentstandard ofhow you feel aboutyourbody.I'mnot saying in aflaunting, sexual 'Aren't I swell'kind of way. Butjustin howyou feel aboutit andhow you relate to it as an asset."

The motive behind peopletakingsuch pictures may vary whether they areimagesmadefor themselves or to be shared withtheir significant others.Winstead, for example, lashed out at anyonelooking at photos, saying she"took with my husband years ago in the privacy of our home."

'It's so easy to take a picture'

But, asDrouinsays, much of it has to do with theability in these digital times to create an image of ourselvesthat is part ofthe image thatpeoplewant to create forthepublic, or to another person.

"So do Iwant to have an image of sexuality to my significant other? Probably. It just gives you a really easy way to do that and it's so easy to take a picture," she said.

"If you really take a step back and takea look at thewhole of what's happeningin our culture, it just seems thatpeopleare being swept away in this direction andthis is what we're doing.we're documentingall of these moments, publicly, privately and it's easy to do that."

Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychologist and co-author of The Narcissism Epidemic, said whiletechnology has enabledpeople to take more self pictures than in the past, there has also been a culturalshift, oneofself focus,vanity and narcissism.

"There's just more interest in physical appearance, there's more interest in showing off. There'smore interestin self image," Twenge said.

"Even if [the picture]was intended for one or twoother people,don'tthey get to seethatlive? Why is there the need to take the picture?

Twenge said there is an element of voyeurismand narcissism involved in the naked selfie.

"Icanpointto 'Hey, Iused to be hot, Iused to be naked and hot.' It doesspeak a little bit to the shift in cultural values to be hot, or to at least once have been hot."

Rutledgesaid technology has enabled a changing sensibility when it comes to taking pictures.

"This whole taking pictures of yourselfthe whole definition haschangedand becomemuchless ofa big deal. It'sbecome much more of a passing moment thing," she said.

"Part of whatfeeds into why they're taking pictures is that you really do have thesensethat thisis just private. And with the way technologyhas been usedand as the culture becomes more and more visual,sharing thesekinds of thingsbecome less and lessof something that's weird to do and more andmore of just 'lets try it or lets do it.'"