#darktriad — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #darktriad, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: May 24, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Dark personality traits linked to a higher tolerance for morally questionable behaviors
A study of a small group of undergraduate students found that those with more pronounced psychopathy are more likely to endorse non-violent dishonest or rule-breaking behaviors. On the other hand, students with more pronounced Machiavellianism tended to be more open to these behaviors as well, but also to personal-sexual morally debatable behaviors (e.g., abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, divorce, suicide). The paper was published in Advances in Social Sciences and Management.
The Dark Triad is a group of three socially aversive personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. It is a pattern of personality features centered on self-interest, manipulation, and reduced concern for others. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, a need for admiration, and an inflated sense of self-importance. Machiavellianism involves manipulation, strategic deceit, emotional coldness, and a willingness to use others for personal gain. Psychopathy involves impulsivity, low empathy, shallow emotions, fearlessness, and a tendency toward antisocial behavior.
These traits are called “dark” because they are often linked to harmful interpersonal behavior. A person high in Dark Triad traits may appear charming, confident, and socially skilled at first. However, they may exploit others, lie, break rules, or show little guilt when their actions hurt people. The traits are related but not identical, so a person can be high on one trait and lower on the others. In research, the Dark Triad is usually measured as personality tendencies, not as formal clinical diagnoses.
Study authors Emma P. Paulson and Terry F. Pettijohn II wanted to explore the relationship between the Dark Triad personality traits and moral judgments assessed using the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale. The authors hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of psychopathic traits would show greater endorsement of morally debatable behaviors, indicating reduced moral decision-making.
Study participants were 68 students from the Psychology Research Pool and psychology courses from a southeastern university who volunteered online through Sona Systems, an experimental management system. They received 1 research credit for their participation. Participants’ average age was 18.7 years.
Study participants completed an assessment of the Dark Triad traits (the Short Dark Triad Measure), and the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale, assessing endorsement of 30 morally debatable behaviors (e.g., prostitution, theft, political assassination, drunk driving, and abortion).
The latter scale produces three measures: honesty-dishonesty morality, personal-sexual morality, and legal-punitive morality. The honesty-dishonesty morality scale measures how justifiable a person considers dishonest or unfair behaviors, such as lying, cheating, stealing, or accepting bribes. The personal-sexual morality scale measures tolerance toward morally debated private-life issues, such as sexuality, abortion, divorce, prostitution, euthanasia, or suicide. The legal-punitive morality scale measures how justifiable a person considers illegal, coercive, violent, or punishment-related behaviors.
Results showed that participants with more pronounced psychopathy tended to score higher on the honesty-dishonesty scale, while those with more pronounced Machiavellianism tended to score higher on both the honesty-dishonesty and personal-sexual scales. In other words, participants with more pronounced psychopathy and Machiavellianism were more likely to endorse behaviors that included lying, cheating, stealing, or accepting bribes, while individuals with pronounced Machiavellianism were also more likely to accept behaviors such as abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, or suicide.
The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about dark personality traits. However, the study was conducted on a relatively small group of students and solely based on self-reports. Studies on larger groups, involving other demographics, and those using more objective measures of endorsement of morally debatable behaviors might not yield identical results.
The paper, “Relationships between the Dark Triad and Justification of Morally Debatable Behaviors in College Students,” was authored by Emma P. Paulson and Terry F. Pettijohn II.
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DarkTriad #Psychopathy #Machiavellianism #Narcissism #MoralJudgment #MorallyDebatableBehaviors #HonestyDishonesty #PersonalSexualMorality #LegalPunitiveMorality #PsychologyResearch
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DATE: May 24, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Dark personality traits linked to a higher tolerance for morally questionable behaviors
A study of a small group of undergraduate students found that those with more pronounced psychopathy are more likely to endorse non-violent dishonest or rule-breaking behaviors. On the other hand, students with more pronounced Machiavellianism tended to be more open to these behaviors as well, but also to personal-sexual morally debatable behaviors (e.g., abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, divorce, suicide). The paper was published in Advances in Social Sciences and Management.
The Dark Triad is a group of three socially aversive personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. It is a pattern of personality features centered on self-interest, manipulation, and reduced concern for others. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, a need for admiration, and an inflated sense of self-importance. Machiavellianism involves manipulation, strategic deceit, emotional coldness, and a willingness to use others for personal gain. Psychopathy involves impulsivity, low empathy, shallow emotions, fearlessness, and a tendency toward antisocial behavior.
These traits are called “dark” because they are often linked to harmful interpersonal behavior. A person high in Dark Triad traits may appear charming, confident, and socially skilled at first. However, they may exploit others, lie, break rules, or show little guilt when their actions hurt people. The traits are related but not identical, so a person can be high on one trait and lower on the others. In research, the Dark Triad is usually measured as personality tendencies, not as formal clinical diagnoses.
Study authors Emma P. Paulson and Terry F. Pettijohn II wanted to explore the relationship between the Dark Triad personality traits and moral judgments assessed using the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale. The authors hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of psychopathic traits would show greater endorsement of morally debatable behaviors, indicating reduced moral decision-making.
Study participants were 68 students from the Psychology Research Pool and psychology courses from a southeastern university who volunteered online through Sona Systems, an experimental management system. They received 1 research credit for their participation. Participants’ average age was 18.7 years.
Study participants completed an assessment of the Dark Triad traits (the Short Dark Triad Measure), and the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale, assessing endorsement of 30 morally debatable behaviors (e.g., prostitution, theft, political assassination, drunk driving, and abortion).
The latter scale produces three measures: honesty-dishonesty morality, personal-sexual morality, and legal-punitive morality. The honesty-dishonesty morality scale measures how justifiable a person considers dishonest or unfair behaviors, such as lying, cheating, stealing, or accepting bribes. The personal-sexual morality scale measures tolerance toward morally debated private-life issues, such as sexuality, abortion, divorce, prostitution, euthanasia, or suicide. The legal-punitive morality scale measures how justifiable a person considers illegal, coercive, violent, or punishment-related behaviors.
Results showed that participants with more pronounced psychopathy tended to score higher on the honesty-dishonesty scale, while those with more pronounced Machiavellianism tended to score higher on both the honesty-dishonesty and personal-sexual scales. In other words, participants with more pronounced psychopathy and Machiavellianism were more likely to endorse behaviors that included lying, cheating, stealing, or accepting bribes, while individuals with pronounced Machiavellianism were also more likely to accept behaviors such as abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, or suicide.
The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about dark personality traits. However, the study was conducted on a relatively small group of students and solely based on self-reports. Studies on larger groups, involving other demographics, and those using more objective measures of endorsement of morally debatable behaviors might not yield identical results.
The paper, “Relationships between the Dark Triad and Justification of Morally Debatable Behaviors in College Students,” was authored by Emma P. Paulson and Terry F. Pettijohn II.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DarkTriad #Psychopathy #Machiavellianism #Narcissism #MoralJudgment #MorallyDebatableBehaviors #HonestyDishonesty #PersonalSexualMorality #LegalPunitiveMorality #PsychologyResearch
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DATE: May 24, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Dark personality traits linked to a higher tolerance for morally questionable behaviors
A study of a small group of undergraduate students found that those with more pronounced psychopathy are more likely to endorse non-violent dishonest or rule-breaking behaviors. On the other hand, students with more pronounced Machiavellianism tended to be more open to these behaviors as well, but also to personal-sexual morally debatable behaviors (e.g., abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, divorce, suicide). The paper was published in Advances in Social Sciences and Management.
The Dark Triad is a group of three socially aversive personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. It is a pattern of personality features centered on self-interest, manipulation, and reduced concern for others. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, a need for admiration, and an inflated sense of self-importance. Machiavellianism involves manipulation, strategic deceit, emotional coldness, and a willingness to use others for personal gain. Psychopathy involves impulsivity, low empathy, shallow emotions, fearlessness, and a tendency toward antisocial behavior.
These traits are called “dark” because they are often linked to harmful interpersonal behavior. A person high in Dark Triad traits may appear charming, confident, and socially skilled at first. However, they may exploit others, lie, break rules, or show little guilt when their actions hurt people. The traits are related but not identical, so a person can be high on one trait and lower on the others. In research, the Dark Triad is usually measured as personality tendencies, not as formal clinical diagnoses.
Study authors Emma P. Paulson and Terry F. Pettijohn II wanted to explore the relationship between the Dark Triad personality traits and moral judgments assessed using the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale. The authors hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of psychopathic traits would show greater endorsement of morally debatable behaviors, indicating reduced moral decision-making.
Study participants were 68 students from the Psychology Research Pool and psychology courses from a southeastern university who volunteered online through Sona Systems, an experimental management system. They received 1 research credit for their participation. Participants’ average age was 18.7 years.
Study participants completed an assessment of the Dark Triad traits (the Short Dark Triad Measure), and the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale, assessing endorsement of 30 morally debatable behaviors (e.g., prostitution, theft, political assassination, drunk driving, and abortion).
The latter scale produces three measures: honesty-dishonesty morality, personal-sexual morality, and legal-punitive morality. The honesty-dishonesty morality scale measures how justifiable a person considers dishonest or unfair behaviors, such as lying, cheating, stealing, or accepting bribes. The personal-sexual morality scale measures tolerance toward morally debated private-life issues, such as sexuality, abortion, divorce, prostitution, euthanasia, or suicide. The legal-punitive morality scale measures how justifiable a person considers illegal, coercive, violent, or punishment-related behaviors.
Results showed that participants with more pronounced psychopathy tended to score higher on the honesty-dishonesty scale, while those with more pronounced Machiavellianism tended to score higher on both the honesty-dishonesty and personal-sexual scales. In other words, participants with more pronounced psychopathy and Machiavellianism were more likely to endorse behaviors that included lying, cheating, stealing, or accepting bribes, while individuals with pronounced Machiavellianism were also more likely to accept behaviors such as abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, or suicide.
The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about dark personality traits. However, the study was conducted on a relatively small group of students and solely based on self-reports. Studies on larger groups, involving other demographics, and those using more objective measures of endorsement of morally debatable behaviors might not yield identical results.
The paper, “Relationships between the Dark Triad and Justification of Morally Debatable Behaviors in College Students,” was authored by Emma P. Paulson and Terry F. Pettijohn II.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DarkTriad #Psychopathy #Machiavellianism #Narcissism #MoralJudgment #MorallyDebatableBehaviors #HonestyDishonesty #PersonalSexualMorality #LegalPunitiveMorality #PsychologyResearch
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DATE: May 23, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men with a sense of entitlement are three times more likely to consider “stealthing”
Recent research published in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law suggests that specific deep-seated psychological patterns, particularly feelings of entitlement and a desire to punish others, are linked to an interest in secretly removing a condom during sex. The findings provide evidence that targeted mental health interventions might help reduce this specific form of sexual violence by addressing dysfunctional ways of thinking.
Non-consensual condom removal, commonly known as stealthing, happens when a person secretly takes off or damages a condom before or during sex without their partner’s knowledge or consent. Because condom use symbolizes a mutual agreement regarding sexual safety, secretly altering that agreement transforms a consensual sexual encounter into an act of sexual violence.
“It not only violates consent but also exposes victims to sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and lasting emotional harm,” said Andrew Allen, a clinical psychologist, member of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, and director of the Psychology Clinic at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The emotional fallout for victims often includes diminished sexual assertiveness and profound feelings of betrayal.
To better understand the cognitive drivers behind this behavior, scientists have begun examining the underlying psychological traits of those who perpetrate it. “Further studies are vital because relatively little is known about the psychological factors behind this crime,” Allen said.
The authors of the primary study wanted to explore how stealthing relates to early maladaptive schemas. These schemas are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and feeling that usually develop in childhood as a result of unmet emotional needs. By acting as a lens through which individuals interpret the world, these ingrained beliefs can lead to manipulative or harmful interpersonal behaviors later in life.
Prior to investigating extreme behaviors like stealthing, scientists often look at broader categories of sexual coercion, such as condom use resistance. Condom use resistance involves a range of tactics, from verbal persuasion to deception, used to avoid wearing a condom during sex. While not all of these tactics are inherently violent, some men use aggressive or manipulative strategies that ignore a partner’s boundaries. The scientists designed their study to see how deeply rooted psychological schemas overlap with both general condom use resistance and the specific act of stealthing.
In the most recent study, scientists recruited 106 men residing in Australia to participate in a 20-minute online survey. The participants were between the ages of 19 and 68, with the majority identifying as heterosexual and currently in monogamous relationships. To ensure the reliability of the data, the researchers included specific attention checks and removed incomplete responses. The survey assessed the participants on 20 different early maladaptive schemas using a widely recognized psychological questionnaire.
The men also answered questions about their past use of tactics to avoid wearing condoms. To gauge the participants’ attitudes toward stealthing without putting them in legal jeopardy, the researchers presented three hypothetical scenarios involving non-consensual condom removal. One scenario involved simply taking the condom off, another involved breaking it intentionally, and the third involved continuing to have sex after the condom accidentally slipped off. The participants then rated their level of sexual arousal in response to these scenarios, as well as their intent to engage in such acts.
The findings indicated that men who possessed an entitlement or grandiosity schema were highly responsive to the stealthing scenarios. “The first was a sense of entitlement or grandiosity, in other words believing that rules don’t apply to you; and men who showed this pattern were more than three times more likely to report arousal and intent to engage in stealthing,” Allen said. The results suggest that feelings of superiority can lead individuals to justify taking sexual access regardless of their partner’s autonomy.
Additionally, the researchers observed a link between stealthing arousal and another specific pattern of thinking. “The second was punitiveness, or the tendency to punish others for not complying with your wishes, which is associated with lacking empathy and being judgmental,” Allen said.
In the context of sexual encounters, this might manifest as a desire to secretly remove a condom as a form of covert retaliation against a partner. “We anticipated the entitlement finding but the role of punitiveness, suggesting that some men may be drawn to [non-consensual condom removal] as a form of retaliation against a partner, has not been documented previously,” Allen noted.
The study also found that men who felt highly confident in their ability to negotiate and apply condoms properly tended to report less arousal toward the stealthing scenarios. “On the flip side, the study found that men with greater confidence in condom use were less likely to commit [non-consensual condom removal],” Allen said. “This suggests that practical sexual health skills may lower the risk factors and increase safety for partners.” Interventions focusing on healthy sexual communication could help counteract the negative influence of maladaptive schemas.
These findings build upon another recent study published in the journal Psychology & Sexuality, conducted by the same authors in collaboration with the Cairnmillar Institute in Victoria. In that research, scientists investigated how stealthing relates to the dark triad of personality traits, which includes narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Machiavellianism involves a manipulative and cynical worldview, while narcissism is characterized by grandiosity and self-importance. Psychopathy involves a lack of empathy, high impulsivity, and callous behavior toward others.
The researchers surveyed 221 men to see if these specific personality traits predicted an inclination toward non-consensual condom removal. Similar to the newer study, the participants read hypothetical stealthing scenarios and answered questions about their arousal, past behaviors, and future intentions. “We previously found links between narcissism, psychopathy and stealthing,” Allen said.
Psychopathy emerged as the strongest predictor of intending to secretly remove a condom. The scientists noted that the impulsivity and lack of concern for others associated with psychopathy align closely with the coercive nature of stealthing. Narcissism also played a significant role in predicting these intentions, which is consistent with the newer study’s findings regarding entitlement. “Basically, all of these traits reinforce a consistent picture of self-serving beliefs and disregard for a partner’s autonomy increasing the risk of offending,” Allen said.
A related study published in Personality and Individual Differences examined the broader concept of sexual deception, which encompasses various ways people lie to secure sexual encounters. A team of scientists surveyed 1,769 adults, including a mix of men, women, and non-binary individuals, about their past use of deceptive tactics. The participants answered questions regarding whether they had ever lied about their age, income, sexually transmitted infection status, or the number of past sexual partners.
The researchers found that men and women engaged in sexual deception at similar overall rates, but the specific topics they lied about tended to differ. Men were more likely to mislead potential partners about their wealth, occupation, and physical appearance. Both men and women frequently lied about their total number of past sexual partners, while a concerning percentage admitted to lying about having been tested for sexually transmitted infections.
The study also revealed that participants belonging to sexual minority groups sometimes lied about their sexual orientation, likely as a safety measure to avoid stigma or prejudice. Much like the studies on stealthing, this broader research on sexual deception identified specific personality traits linked to manipulative behavior. Individuals with high levels of sexual narcissism and compulsive sexual behavior were more likely to use deceptive tactics to obtain sex. The authors suggest that people with intense sexual urges might feel that obtaining sex justifies the use of deception.
While these studies offer detailed insights into the psychological mechanisms behind sexual deception and stealthing, there are some limitations to consider. The reliance on self-reported online surveys means that some participants might not have answered completely honestly. This is particularly relevant when asking individuals about behaviors that are highly stigmatized or illegal, which might lead people to underreport their true actions or intentions. In addition, online data collection carries an inherent risk of participant misrepresentation, even when attention checks are utilized.
The cross-sectional design of these studies also means that scientists can only observe associations at a single point in time. This prevents them from determining whether possessing a specific personality trait directly causes a person to engage in stealthing or sexual deception. The sample sizes in the primary stealthing studies were also relatively small, which tends to limit how broadly the findings can be applied to the general population. It remains possible that systemic differences existed in unmeasured variables that the surveys failed to capture.
Future research could benefit from using larger and more diverse groups of people over an extended period. Scientists suggest that tracking behaviors over time might help establish a more direct cause-and-effect relationship between ingrained personality schemas and sexual violence. Examining past instances of stealthing alongside deep-seated psychological beliefs could provide additional insights into the predictors of this behavior. Providing monetary incentives or shorter surveys might also help researchers recruit a wider variety of participants.
At the individual level, the current research indicates a need for clinical interventions that specifically target entitlement-related beliefs. “Psychological treatment programs could specifically address these two cognitive patterns, while community prevention efforts could include them in consent education and challenges to unhealthy gender norms,” Allen said. Addressing the broader cultural norms that enable sexual coercion will be necessary to support healthy relationships and long-term behavioral change.
The study, “The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and non-consensual condom removal in an Australian sample,” was authored by Andrew Allen, Tahlia Brown, and Jonathan Mason.
The study, “Investigating the relationship between non-consensual condom removal and the dark triad of personality,” was authored by Timothy S. P. Cousins, Andrew Allen, and Jonathan Mason.
The study, “Blatant sexual deception: Content, individual differences, and implications,” was authored by Flora Oswald, Devinder Khera, Kari A. Walton, and Cory L. Pedersen.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #StealthingAwareness #ConsentMatters #NonConsensualCondomRemoval #SexualViolencePrevention #EntitlementPsychology #DarkTriad #SexualHealthEducation #ConsentCommunication #MentalHealthInterventions #SafeSexEducation
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DATE: May 23, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men with a sense of entitlement are three times more likely to consider “stealthing”
Recent research published in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law suggests that specific deep-seated psychological patterns, particularly feelings of entitlement and a desire to punish others, are linked to an interest in secretly removing a condom during sex. The findings provide evidence that targeted mental health interventions might help reduce this specific form of sexual violence by addressing dysfunctional ways of thinking.
Non-consensual condom removal, commonly known as stealthing, happens when a person secretly takes off or damages a condom before or during sex without their partner’s knowledge or consent. Because condom use symbolizes a mutual agreement regarding sexual safety, secretly altering that agreement transforms a consensual sexual encounter into an act of sexual violence.
“It not only violates consent but also exposes victims to sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and lasting emotional harm,” said Andrew Allen, a clinical psychologist, member of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, and director of the Psychology Clinic at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The emotional fallout for victims often includes diminished sexual assertiveness and profound feelings of betrayal.
To better understand the cognitive drivers behind this behavior, scientists have begun examining the underlying psychological traits of those who perpetrate it. “Further studies are vital because relatively little is known about the psychological factors behind this crime,” Allen said.
The authors of the primary study wanted to explore how stealthing relates to early maladaptive schemas. These schemas are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and feeling that usually develop in childhood as a result of unmet emotional needs. By acting as a lens through which individuals interpret the world, these ingrained beliefs can lead to manipulative or harmful interpersonal behaviors later in life.
Prior to investigating extreme behaviors like stealthing, scientists often look at broader categories of sexual coercion, such as condom use resistance. Condom use resistance involves a range of tactics, from verbal persuasion to deception, used to avoid wearing a condom during sex. While not all of these tactics are inherently violent, some men use aggressive or manipulative strategies that ignore a partner’s boundaries. The scientists designed their study to see how deeply rooted psychological schemas overlap with both general condom use resistance and the specific act of stealthing.
In the most recent study, scientists recruited 106 men residing in Australia to participate in a 20-minute online survey. The participants were between the ages of 19 and 68, with the majority identifying as heterosexual and currently in monogamous relationships. To ensure the reliability of the data, the researchers included specific attention checks and removed incomplete responses. The survey assessed the participants on 20 different early maladaptive schemas using a widely recognized psychological questionnaire.
The men also answered questions about their past use of tactics to avoid wearing condoms. To gauge the participants’ attitudes toward stealthing without putting them in legal jeopardy, the researchers presented three hypothetical scenarios involving non-consensual condom removal. One scenario involved simply taking the condom off, another involved breaking it intentionally, and the third involved continuing to have sex after the condom accidentally slipped off. The participants then rated their level of sexual arousal in response to these scenarios, as well as their intent to engage in such acts.
The findings indicated that men who possessed an entitlement or grandiosity schema were highly responsive to the stealthing scenarios. “The first was a sense of entitlement or grandiosity, in other words believing that rules don’t apply to you; and men who showed this pattern were more than three times more likely to report arousal and intent to engage in stealthing,” Allen said. The results suggest that feelings of superiority can lead individuals to justify taking sexual access regardless of their partner’s autonomy.
Additionally, the researchers observed a link between stealthing arousal and another specific pattern of thinking. “The second was punitiveness, or the tendency to punish others for not complying with your wishes, which is associated with lacking empathy and being judgmental,” Allen said.
In the context of sexual encounters, this might manifest as a desire to secretly remove a condom as a form of covert retaliation against a partner. “We anticipated the entitlement finding but the role of punitiveness, suggesting that some men may be drawn to [non-consensual condom removal] as a form of retaliation against a partner, has not been documented previously,” Allen noted.
The study also found that men who felt highly confident in their ability to negotiate and apply condoms properly tended to report less arousal toward the stealthing scenarios. “On the flip side, the study found that men with greater confidence in condom use were less likely to commit [non-consensual condom removal],” Allen said. “This suggests that practical sexual health skills may lower the risk factors and increase safety for partners.” Interventions focusing on healthy sexual communication could help counteract the negative influence of maladaptive schemas.
These findings build upon another recent study published in the journal Psychology & Sexuality, conducted by the same authors in collaboration with the Cairnmillar Institute in Victoria. In that research, scientists investigated how stealthing relates to the dark triad of personality traits, which includes narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Machiavellianism involves a manipulative and cynical worldview, while narcissism is characterized by grandiosity and self-importance. Psychopathy involves a lack of empathy, high impulsivity, and callous behavior toward others.
The researchers surveyed 221 men to see if these specific personality traits predicted an inclination toward non-consensual condom removal. Similar to the newer study, the participants read hypothetical stealthing scenarios and answered questions about their arousal, past behaviors, and future intentions. “We previously found links between narcissism, psychopathy and stealthing,” Allen said.
Psychopathy emerged as the strongest predictor of intending to secretly remove a condom. The scientists noted that the impulsivity and lack of concern for others associated with psychopathy align closely with the coercive nature of stealthing. Narcissism also played a significant role in predicting these intentions, which is consistent with the newer study’s findings regarding entitlement. “Basically, all of these traits reinforce a consistent picture of self-serving beliefs and disregard for a partner’s autonomy increasing the risk of offending,” Allen said.
A related study published in Personality and Individual Differences examined the broader concept of sexual deception, which encompasses various ways people lie to secure sexual encounters. A team of scientists surveyed 1,769 adults, including a mix of men, women, and non-binary individuals, about their past use of deceptive tactics. The participants answered questions regarding whether they had ever lied about their age, income, sexually transmitted infection status, or the number of past sexual partners.
The researchers found that men and women engaged in sexual deception at similar overall rates, but the specific topics they lied about tended to differ. Men were more likely to mislead potential partners about their wealth, occupation, and physical appearance. Both men and women frequently lied about their total number of past sexual partners, while a concerning percentage admitted to lying about having been tested for sexually transmitted infections.
The study also revealed that participants belonging to sexual minority groups sometimes lied about their sexual orientation, likely as a safety measure to avoid stigma or prejudice. Much like the studies on stealthing, this broader research on sexual deception identified specific personality traits linked to manipulative behavior. Individuals with high levels of sexual narcissism and compulsive sexual behavior were more likely to use deceptive tactics to obtain sex. The authors suggest that people with intense sexual urges might feel that obtaining sex justifies the use of deception.
While these studies offer detailed insights into the psychological mechanisms behind sexual deception and stealthing, there are some limitations to consider. The reliance on self-reported online surveys means that some participants might not have answered completely honestly. This is particularly relevant when asking individuals about behaviors that are highly stigmatized or illegal, which might lead people to underreport their true actions or intentions. In addition, online data collection carries an inherent risk of participant misrepresentation, even when attention checks are utilized.
The cross-sectional design of these studies also means that scientists can only observe associations at a single point in time. This prevents them from determining whether possessing a specific personality trait directly causes a person to engage in stealthing or sexual deception. The sample sizes in the primary stealthing studies were also relatively small, which tends to limit how broadly the findings can be applied to the general population. It remains possible that systemic differences existed in unmeasured variables that the surveys failed to capture.
Future research could benefit from using larger and more diverse groups of people over an extended period. Scientists suggest that tracking behaviors over time might help establish a more direct cause-and-effect relationship between ingrained personality schemas and sexual violence. Examining past instances of stealthing alongside deep-seated psychological beliefs could provide additional insights into the predictors of this behavior. Providing monetary incentives or shorter surveys might also help researchers recruit a wider variety of participants.
At the individual level, the current research indicates a need for clinical interventions that specifically target entitlement-related beliefs. “Psychological treatment programs could specifically address these two cognitive patterns, while community prevention efforts could include them in consent education and challenges to unhealthy gender norms,” Allen said. Addressing the broader cultural norms that enable sexual coercion will be necessary to support healthy relationships and long-term behavioral change.
The study, “The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and non-consensual condom removal in an Australian sample,” was authored by Andrew Allen, Tahlia Brown, and Jonathan Mason.
The study, “Investigating the relationship between non-consensual condom removal and the dark triad of personality,” was authored by Timothy S. P. Cousins, Andrew Allen, and Jonathan Mason.
The study, “Blatant sexual deception: Content, individual differences, and implications,” was authored by Flora Oswald, Devinder Khera, Kari A. Walton, and Cory L. Pedersen.
-------------------------------------------------
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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #StealthingAwareness #ConsentMatters #NonConsensualCondomRemoval #SexualViolencePrevention #EntitlementPsychology #DarkTriad #SexualHealthEducation #ConsentCommunication #MentalHealthInterventions #SafeSexEducation
-
DATE: May 23, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Men with a sense of entitlement are three times more likely to consider “stealthing”
Recent research published in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law suggests that specific deep-seated psychological patterns, particularly feelings of entitlement and a desire to punish others, are linked to an interest in secretly removing a condom during sex. The findings provide evidence that targeted mental health interventions might help reduce this specific form of sexual violence by addressing dysfunctional ways of thinking.
Non-consensual condom removal, commonly known as stealthing, happens when a person secretly takes off or damages a condom before or during sex without their partner’s knowledge or consent. Because condom use symbolizes a mutual agreement regarding sexual safety, secretly altering that agreement transforms a consensual sexual encounter into an act of sexual violence.
“It not only violates consent but also exposes victims to sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and lasting emotional harm,” said Andrew Allen, a clinical psychologist, member of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, and director of the Psychology Clinic at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The emotional fallout for victims often includes diminished sexual assertiveness and profound feelings of betrayal.
To better understand the cognitive drivers behind this behavior, scientists have begun examining the underlying psychological traits of those who perpetrate it. “Further studies are vital because relatively little is known about the psychological factors behind this crime,” Allen said.
The authors of the primary study wanted to explore how stealthing relates to early maladaptive schemas. These schemas are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and feeling that usually develop in childhood as a result of unmet emotional needs. By acting as a lens through which individuals interpret the world, these ingrained beliefs can lead to manipulative or harmful interpersonal behaviors later in life.
Prior to investigating extreme behaviors like stealthing, scientists often look at broader categories of sexual coercion, such as condom use resistance. Condom use resistance involves a range of tactics, from verbal persuasion to deception, used to avoid wearing a condom during sex. While not all of these tactics are inherently violent, some men use aggressive or manipulative strategies that ignore a partner’s boundaries. The scientists designed their study to see how deeply rooted psychological schemas overlap with both general condom use resistance and the specific act of stealthing.
In the most recent study, scientists recruited 106 men residing in Australia to participate in a 20-minute online survey. The participants were between the ages of 19 and 68, with the majority identifying as heterosexual and currently in monogamous relationships. To ensure the reliability of the data, the researchers included specific attention checks and removed incomplete responses. The survey assessed the participants on 20 different early maladaptive schemas using a widely recognized psychological questionnaire.
The men also answered questions about their past use of tactics to avoid wearing condoms. To gauge the participants’ attitudes toward stealthing without putting them in legal jeopardy, the researchers presented three hypothetical scenarios involving non-consensual condom removal. One scenario involved simply taking the condom off, another involved breaking it intentionally, and the third involved continuing to have sex after the condom accidentally slipped off. The participants then rated their level of sexual arousal in response to these scenarios, as well as their intent to engage in such acts.
The findings indicated that men who possessed an entitlement or grandiosity schema were highly responsive to the stealthing scenarios. “The first was a sense of entitlement or grandiosity, in other words believing that rules don’t apply to you; and men who showed this pattern were more than three times more likely to report arousal and intent to engage in stealthing,” Allen said. The results suggest that feelings of superiority can lead individuals to justify taking sexual access regardless of their partner’s autonomy.
Additionally, the researchers observed a link between stealthing arousal and another specific pattern of thinking. “The second was punitiveness, or the tendency to punish others for not complying with your wishes, which is associated with lacking empathy and being judgmental,” Allen said.
In the context of sexual encounters, this might manifest as a desire to secretly remove a condom as a form of covert retaliation against a partner. “We anticipated the entitlement finding but the role of punitiveness, suggesting that some men may be drawn to [non-consensual condom removal] as a form of retaliation against a partner, has not been documented previously,” Allen noted.
The study also found that men who felt highly confident in their ability to negotiate and apply condoms properly tended to report less arousal toward the stealthing scenarios. “On the flip side, the study found that men with greater confidence in condom use were less likely to commit [non-consensual condom removal],” Allen said. “This suggests that practical sexual health skills may lower the risk factors and increase safety for partners.” Interventions focusing on healthy sexual communication could help counteract the negative influence of maladaptive schemas.
These findings build upon another recent study published in the journal Psychology & Sexuality, conducted by the same authors in collaboration with the Cairnmillar Institute in Victoria. In that research, scientists investigated how stealthing relates to the dark triad of personality traits, which includes narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Machiavellianism involves a manipulative and cynical worldview, while narcissism is characterized by grandiosity and self-importance. Psychopathy involves a lack of empathy, high impulsivity, and callous behavior toward others.
The researchers surveyed 221 men to see if these specific personality traits predicted an inclination toward non-consensual condom removal. Similar to the newer study, the participants read hypothetical stealthing scenarios and answered questions about their arousal, past behaviors, and future intentions. “We previously found links between narcissism, psychopathy and stealthing,” Allen said.
Psychopathy emerged as the strongest predictor of intending to secretly remove a condom. The scientists noted that the impulsivity and lack of concern for others associated with psychopathy align closely with the coercive nature of stealthing. Narcissism also played a significant role in predicting these intentions, which is consistent with the newer study’s findings regarding entitlement. “Basically, all of these traits reinforce a consistent picture of self-serving beliefs and disregard for a partner’s autonomy increasing the risk of offending,” Allen said.
A related study published in Personality and Individual Differences examined the broader concept of sexual deception, which encompasses various ways people lie to secure sexual encounters. A team of scientists surveyed 1,769 adults, including a mix of men, women, and non-binary individuals, about their past use of deceptive tactics. The participants answered questions regarding whether they had ever lied about their age, income, sexually transmitted infection status, or the number of past sexual partners.
The researchers found that men and women engaged in sexual deception at similar overall rates, but the specific topics they lied about tended to differ. Men were more likely to mislead potential partners about their wealth, occupation, and physical appearance. Both men and women frequently lied about their total number of past sexual partners, while a concerning percentage admitted to lying about having been tested for sexually transmitted infections.
The study also revealed that participants belonging to sexual minority groups sometimes lied about their sexual orientation, likely as a safety measure to avoid stigma or prejudice. Much like the studies on stealthing, this broader research on sexual deception identified specific personality traits linked to manipulative behavior. Individuals with high levels of sexual narcissism and compulsive sexual behavior were more likely to use deceptive tactics to obtain sex. The authors suggest that people with intense sexual urges might feel that obtaining sex justifies the use of deception.
While these studies offer detailed insights into the psychological mechanisms behind sexual deception and stealthing, there are some limitations to consider. The reliance on self-reported online surveys means that some participants might not have answered completely honestly. This is particularly relevant when asking individuals about behaviors that are highly stigmatized or illegal, which might lead people to underreport their true actions or intentions. In addition, online data collection carries an inherent risk of participant misrepresentation, even when attention checks are utilized.
The cross-sectional design of these studies also means that scientists can only observe associations at a single point in time. This prevents them from determining whether possessing a specific personality trait directly causes a person to engage in stealthing or sexual deception. The sample sizes in the primary stealthing studies were also relatively small, which tends to limit how broadly the findings can be applied to the general population. It remains possible that systemic differences existed in unmeasured variables that the surveys failed to capture.
Future research could benefit from using larger and more diverse groups of people over an extended period. Scientists suggest that tracking behaviors over time might help establish a more direct cause-and-effect relationship between ingrained personality schemas and sexual violence. Examining past instances of stealthing alongside deep-seated psychological beliefs could provide additional insights into the predictors of this behavior. Providing monetary incentives or shorter surveys might also help researchers recruit a wider variety of participants.
At the individual level, the current research indicates a need for clinical interventions that specifically target entitlement-related beliefs. “Psychological treatment programs could specifically address these two cognitive patterns, while community prevention efforts could include them in consent education and challenges to unhealthy gender norms,” Allen said. Addressing the broader cultural norms that enable sexual coercion will be necessary to support healthy relationships and long-term behavioral change.
The study, “The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and non-consensual condom removal in an Australian sample,” was authored by Andrew Allen, Tahlia Brown, and Jonathan Mason.
The study, “Investigating the relationship between non-consensual condom removal and the dark triad of personality,” was authored by Timothy S. P. Cousins, Andrew Allen, and Jonathan Mason.
The study, “Blatant sexual deception: Content, individual differences, and implications,” was authored by Flora Oswald, Devinder Khera, Kari A. Walton, and Cory L. Pedersen.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #StealthingAwareness #ConsentMatters #NonConsensualCondomRemoval #SexualViolencePrevention #EntitlementPsychology #DarkTriad #SexualHealthEducation #ConsentCommunication #MentalHealthInterventions #SafeSexEducation
-
DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: New study links manipulative personality traits to lower relationship intimacy expectations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/do-manipulative-people-expect-less-from-love/
New research reveals that people with highly manipulative personalities hold lower expectations for emotional closeness in their romantic relationships, with older women showing the strongest negative association. But the findings suggest that existing views on love and attachment habits shape connection more heavily than negative personality traits alone. The research was published in Personality and Individual Differences.
Developing deep intimacy is widely considered a cornerstone of psychological well-being. A supportive and trusting romantic relationship can provide a psychological buffer against life stressors and improve overall mental health. When individuals struggle to form these bonds, they often experience higher rates of loneliness and ongoing emotional distress.
Psychologists identify three socially antagonistic personality profiles collectively called the Dark Triad. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, and an excessive need for admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of remorse, impulsive behavior, and emotional coldness. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview and a manipulative, strategic approach to interacting with others.
People who score high on these traits often experience relationship difficulties. Past research links these tendencies to infidelity, low commitment, and a tendency to view romance as a game. Less focus has been placed on what these individuals actually anticipate from a partner regarding mutual sharing and emotional trust.
Intimacy goes beyond physical affection. Psychologists define intimate expectations as the anticipation of mutual self-disclosure, deep trust, and a shared sense of understanding. People who score high in intimacy expectations look for a partner who will validate their innermost feelings. Those with low expectations prefer to keep their personal thoughts hidden.
These standards are heavily influenced by a person’s underlying attachment style. Attachment theory was originally developed to describe how infants bond with their caregivers. Psychologists have since adapted this framework to understand how adult romantic partners relate to one another.
Attachment styles are generally divided into secure and insecure categories. People with a secure attachment style feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving. Insecure attachment styles, which include anxious and avoidant patterns, tend to create psychological barriers to experiencing a deeply fulfilled romantic life.
The psychological theory proposes that early social experiences create broad mental rules about whether people can be trusted. Individuals with an avoidant attachment style attempt to minimize vulnerability by keeping emotional distance. They often downplay the importance of having a responsive partner.
Those with an anxious attachment style frequently worry about abandonment and remain highly sensitive to rejection. Beliefs about romance also influence how much closeness someone desires. Some people hold highly idealized views of love, believing in concepts like true love or soulmates. These romantic ideals shape how people evaluate the potential for intimacy in their own partnerships.
Researchers Silvija Ručević and Josipa Antunović at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in Croatia set out to understand how these factors relate to one another. They wanted to evaluate whether Dark Triad profiles, attachment habits, or idealized romantic beliefs were the primary drivers of relationship expectations. They also looked at whether demographic factors like age or gender shifted these emotional patterns.
To investigate this, Ručević and Antunović surveyed 900 adults aged 18 to 74 who were currently in a romantic relationship. The sample was predominantly heterosexual and included a mix of married and dating couples. The participants completed a series of questionnaires designed to measure their levels of Dark Triad traits.
Participants responded to statements such as “I tend to manipulate others” to gauge Machiavellian tendencies. They also answered questions about their relationship anxiety, emotional avoidance, and beliefs regarding idealized romance. Finally, the researchers measured what each participant expected regarding emotional closeness and trust using a standardized intimacy scale.
The researchers analyzed the data using statistical models to see which traits and beliefs carried the most weight. They utilized a layered approach, adding variables step by step to determine which factors uniquely predicted a person’s expectations for intimacy. This layered statistical process is known as hierarchical regression.
Hierarchical regression allows researchers to see whether a newly added variable explains anything fresh about the data. By feeding age and gender into the model first, the scientists ensured that any subsequent findings about personality were not just illusions created by demographic differences. Subsequent steps introduced the personality traits, followed by the relational beliefs and attachment habits.
The results showed that general relational habits were the strongest predictors of intimacy expectations. Avoidant attachment strongly predicted a desire for less emotional closeness. In contrast, holding highly idealized romantic beliefs was the strongest predictor of expecting high levels of intimacy.
When looking specifically at the Dark Triad, the researchers found divergent effects among the three distinct traits. Machiavellianism emerged as the strongest personality predictor of low intimacy expectations. It appears that people who view social interactions as strategic endeavors are less likely to anticipate mutual trust in romance.
Narcissism displayed a slightly different pattern during the analysis. When standing alone as a single data point, narcissism had a small negative association with intimacy expectations. Once the researchers statistically removed the manipulative tendencies of Machiavellianism, narcissism weakly predicted an increase in intimacy expectations.
This statistical phenomenon is known as a suppression effect. The researchers suggest that the need for validation and approval associated with narcissism might drive a basic desire for closeness. Narcissistic individuals may still want admiration and connection, even if that interpersonal desire remains largely self-centered.
Psychopathy did not uniquely predict intimacy expectations once the other personality variables were included in the model. While psychopathy is linked to harmful behavioral outcomes like infidelity, it might not heavily impact the cognitive ideas people hold about closeness. The way individuals act in romantic relationships might simply differ from what they conceptualize in their minds.
The researchers also conducted moderation analyses to see if age or gender changed the mathematical relationships. They found that demographics influenced the connection between Machiavellianism and intimacy expectations. The negative association between manipulative traits and a desire for closeness grew much stronger in older women.
Older women with high levels of Machiavellianism reported the lowest intimacy expectations of any demographic group in the study. Younger women and men of all ages showed a relatively steady pattern. For these groups, a high Machiavellian score predicted lower intimacy expectations, but the effect remained consistent regardless of changing age.
The researchers note that women with high Machiavellianism might develop increasingly pragmatic and emotionally distant views of relationships over time. This psychological distancing could be compounded if they consistently select partners with similar antagonistic traits. Narcissism and psychopathy did not show this age or gender moderation, remaining stable across all demographic groupings.
While the results offer a nuanced look at relationship dynamics, the study has limitations. The research relied entirely on self-reported surveys. This method can introduce psychological bias, as participants might not always answer honestly about socially undesirable motives or actions.
The study also used a cross-sectional design, meaning the data was collected at a single static point in time. Because the data is observational, it cannot prove that these personality traits cause a specific set of intimacy expectations. Longitudinal studies tracking couples over years would be needed to establish how these mental frameworks evolve.
The researchers point out that their non-clinical community sample resulted in relatively low overall scores for the socially antagonistic traits. The statistical effects, while observable, were modest in mathematical size. This indicates that intimacy is a multifaceted concept shaped by a wide variety of personal and environmental factors.
Understanding the roots of low intimacy expectations can help psychologists develop better relationship therapies. If a counselor knows a patient views relationships strictly as strategic alliances, they can tailor their therapy sessions accordingly. Addressing these underlying cognitive frameworks is often necessary before attempting to change outward romantic behaviors.
Future research could explore how cultural backgrounds or specific partner interactions alter these internal relationship maps. Intimacy expectations might be shaped by broader societal norms just as much as individual psychology. By integrating cognitive beliefs and personality analysis, researchers can better map out why some individuals struggle to build healthy romantic bonds.
The study, “Behind the mask of love: Associations among dark triad traits, attachment avoidance and anxiety, romantic beliefs, and intimacy expectations,” was authored by Silvija Ručević and Josipa Antunović.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/do-manipulative-people-expect-less-from-love/
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DarkTriad #Machiavellianism #RelationshipIntimacy #AttachmentTheory #RomanticBeliefs #Narcissism #Psychopathy #IntimacyExpectations #OlderWomen #RelationshipMentalHealth
-
DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: New study links manipulative personality traits to lower relationship intimacy expectations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/do-manipulative-people-expect-less-from-love/
New research reveals that people with highly manipulative personalities hold lower expectations for emotional closeness in their romantic relationships, with older women showing the strongest negative association. But the findings suggest that existing views on love and attachment habits shape connection more heavily than negative personality traits alone. The research was published in Personality and Individual Differences.
Developing deep intimacy is widely considered a cornerstone of psychological well-being. A supportive and trusting romantic relationship can provide a psychological buffer against life stressors and improve overall mental health. When individuals struggle to form these bonds, they often experience higher rates of loneliness and ongoing emotional distress.
Psychologists identify three socially antagonistic personality profiles collectively called the Dark Triad. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, and an excessive need for admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of remorse, impulsive behavior, and emotional coldness. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview and a manipulative, strategic approach to interacting with others.
People who score high on these traits often experience relationship difficulties. Past research links these tendencies to infidelity, low commitment, and a tendency to view romance as a game. Less focus has been placed on what these individuals actually anticipate from a partner regarding mutual sharing and emotional trust.
Intimacy goes beyond physical affection. Psychologists define intimate expectations as the anticipation of mutual self-disclosure, deep trust, and a shared sense of understanding. People who score high in intimacy expectations look for a partner who will validate their innermost feelings. Those with low expectations prefer to keep their personal thoughts hidden.
These standards are heavily influenced by a person’s underlying attachment style. Attachment theory was originally developed to describe how infants bond with their caregivers. Psychologists have since adapted this framework to understand how adult romantic partners relate to one another.
Attachment styles are generally divided into secure and insecure categories. People with a secure attachment style feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving. Insecure attachment styles, which include anxious and avoidant patterns, tend to create psychological barriers to experiencing a deeply fulfilled romantic life.
The psychological theory proposes that early social experiences create broad mental rules about whether people can be trusted. Individuals with an avoidant attachment style attempt to minimize vulnerability by keeping emotional distance. They often downplay the importance of having a responsive partner.
Those with an anxious attachment style frequently worry about abandonment and remain highly sensitive to rejection. Beliefs about romance also influence how much closeness someone desires. Some people hold highly idealized views of love, believing in concepts like true love or soulmates. These romantic ideals shape how people evaluate the potential for intimacy in their own partnerships.
Researchers Silvija Ručević and Josipa Antunović at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in Croatia set out to understand how these factors relate to one another. They wanted to evaluate whether Dark Triad profiles, attachment habits, or idealized romantic beliefs were the primary drivers of relationship expectations. They also looked at whether demographic factors like age or gender shifted these emotional patterns.
To investigate this, Ručević and Antunović surveyed 900 adults aged 18 to 74 who were currently in a romantic relationship. The sample was predominantly heterosexual and included a mix of married and dating couples. The participants completed a series of questionnaires designed to measure their levels of Dark Triad traits.
Participants responded to statements such as “I tend to manipulate others” to gauge Machiavellian tendencies. They also answered questions about their relationship anxiety, emotional avoidance, and beliefs regarding idealized romance. Finally, the researchers measured what each participant expected regarding emotional closeness and trust using a standardized intimacy scale.
The researchers analyzed the data using statistical models to see which traits and beliefs carried the most weight. They utilized a layered approach, adding variables step by step to determine which factors uniquely predicted a person’s expectations for intimacy. This layered statistical process is known as hierarchical regression.
Hierarchical regression allows researchers to see whether a newly added variable explains anything fresh about the data. By feeding age and gender into the model first, the scientists ensured that any subsequent findings about personality were not just illusions created by demographic differences. Subsequent steps introduced the personality traits, followed by the relational beliefs and attachment habits.
The results showed that general relational habits were the strongest predictors of intimacy expectations. Avoidant attachment strongly predicted a desire for less emotional closeness. In contrast, holding highly idealized romantic beliefs was the strongest predictor of expecting high levels of intimacy.
When looking specifically at the Dark Triad, the researchers found divergent effects among the three distinct traits. Machiavellianism emerged as the strongest personality predictor of low intimacy expectations. It appears that people who view social interactions as strategic endeavors are less likely to anticipate mutual trust in romance.
Narcissism displayed a slightly different pattern during the analysis. When standing alone as a single data point, narcissism had a small negative association with intimacy expectations. Once the researchers statistically removed the manipulative tendencies of Machiavellianism, narcissism weakly predicted an increase in intimacy expectations.
This statistical phenomenon is known as a suppression effect. The researchers suggest that the need for validation and approval associated with narcissism might drive a basic desire for closeness. Narcissistic individuals may still want admiration and connection, even if that interpersonal desire remains largely self-centered.
Psychopathy did not uniquely predict intimacy expectations once the other personality variables were included in the model. While psychopathy is linked to harmful behavioral outcomes like infidelity, it might not heavily impact the cognitive ideas people hold about closeness. The way individuals act in romantic relationships might simply differ from what they conceptualize in their minds.
The researchers also conducted moderation analyses to see if age or gender changed the mathematical relationships. They found that demographics influenced the connection between Machiavellianism and intimacy expectations. The negative association between manipulative traits and a desire for closeness grew much stronger in older women.
Older women with high levels of Machiavellianism reported the lowest intimacy expectations of any demographic group in the study. Younger women and men of all ages showed a relatively steady pattern. For these groups, a high Machiavellian score predicted lower intimacy expectations, but the effect remained consistent regardless of changing age.
The researchers note that women with high Machiavellianism might develop increasingly pragmatic and emotionally distant views of relationships over time. This psychological distancing could be compounded if they consistently select partners with similar antagonistic traits. Narcissism and psychopathy did not show this age or gender moderation, remaining stable across all demographic groupings.
While the results offer a nuanced look at relationship dynamics, the study has limitations. The research relied entirely on self-reported surveys. This method can introduce psychological bias, as participants might not always answer honestly about socially undesirable motives or actions.
The study also used a cross-sectional design, meaning the data was collected at a single static point in time. Because the data is observational, it cannot prove that these personality traits cause a specific set of intimacy expectations. Longitudinal studies tracking couples over years would be needed to establish how these mental frameworks evolve.
The researchers point out that their non-clinical community sample resulted in relatively low overall scores for the socially antagonistic traits. The statistical effects, while observable, were modest in mathematical size. This indicates that intimacy is a multifaceted concept shaped by a wide variety of personal and environmental factors.
Understanding the roots of low intimacy expectations can help psychologists develop better relationship therapies. If a counselor knows a patient views relationships strictly as strategic alliances, they can tailor their therapy sessions accordingly. Addressing these underlying cognitive frameworks is often necessary before attempting to change outward romantic behaviors.
Future research could explore how cultural backgrounds or specific partner interactions alter these internal relationship maps. Intimacy expectations might be shaped by broader societal norms just as much as individual psychology. By integrating cognitive beliefs and personality analysis, researchers can better map out why some individuals struggle to build healthy romantic bonds.
The study, “Behind the mask of love: Associations among dark triad traits, attachment avoidance and anxiety, romantic beliefs, and intimacy expectations,” was authored by Silvija Ručević and Josipa Antunović.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/do-manipulative-people-expect-less-from-love/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DarkTriad #Machiavellianism #RelationshipIntimacy #AttachmentTheory #RomanticBeliefs #Narcissism #Psychopathy #IntimacyExpectations #OlderWomen #RelationshipMentalHealth
-
DATE: May 22, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: New study links manipulative personality traits to lower relationship intimacy expectations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/do-manipulative-people-expect-less-from-love/
New research reveals that people with highly manipulative personalities hold lower expectations for emotional closeness in their romantic relationships, with older women showing the strongest negative association. But the findings suggest that existing views on love and attachment habits shape connection more heavily than negative personality traits alone. The research was published in Personality and Individual Differences.
Developing deep intimacy is widely considered a cornerstone of psychological well-being. A supportive and trusting romantic relationship can provide a psychological buffer against life stressors and improve overall mental health. When individuals struggle to form these bonds, they often experience higher rates of loneliness and ongoing emotional distress.
Psychologists identify three socially antagonistic personality profiles collectively called the Dark Triad. Narcissism involves grandiosity, entitlement, and an excessive need for admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of remorse, impulsive behavior, and emotional coldness. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview and a manipulative, strategic approach to interacting with others.
People who score high on these traits often experience relationship difficulties. Past research links these tendencies to infidelity, low commitment, and a tendency to view romance as a game. Less focus has been placed on what these individuals actually anticipate from a partner regarding mutual sharing and emotional trust.
Intimacy goes beyond physical affection. Psychologists define intimate expectations as the anticipation of mutual self-disclosure, deep trust, and a shared sense of understanding. People who score high in intimacy expectations look for a partner who will validate their innermost feelings. Those with low expectations prefer to keep their personal thoughts hidden.
These standards are heavily influenced by a person’s underlying attachment style. Attachment theory was originally developed to describe how infants bond with their caregivers. Psychologists have since adapted this framework to understand how adult romantic partners relate to one another.
Attachment styles are generally divided into secure and insecure categories. People with a secure attachment style feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving. Insecure attachment styles, which include anxious and avoidant patterns, tend to create psychological barriers to experiencing a deeply fulfilled romantic life.
The psychological theory proposes that early social experiences create broad mental rules about whether people can be trusted. Individuals with an avoidant attachment style attempt to minimize vulnerability by keeping emotional distance. They often downplay the importance of having a responsive partner.
Those with an anxious attachment style frequently worry about abandonment and remain highly sensitive to rejection. Beliefs about romance also influence how much closeness someone desires. Some people hold highly idealized views of love, believing in concepts like true love or soulmates. These romantic ideals shape how people evaluate the potential for intimacy in their own partnerships.
Researchers Silvija Ručević and Josipa Antunović at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in Croatia set out to understand how these factors relate to one another. They wanted to evaluate whether Dark Triad profiles, attachment habits, or idealized romantic beliefs were the primary drivers of relationship expectations. They also looked at whether demographic factors like age or gender shifted these emotional patterns.
To investigate this, Ručević and Antunović surveyed 900 adults aged 18 to 74 who were currently in a romantic relationship. The sample was predominantly heterosexual and included a mix of married and dating couples. The participants completed a series of questionnaires designed to measure their levels of Dark Triad traits.
Participants responded to statements such as “I tend to manipulate others” to gauge Machiavellian tendencies. They also answered questions about their relationship anxiety, emotional avoidance, and beliefs regarding idealized romance. Finally, the researchers measured what each participant expected regarding emotional closeness and trust using a standardized intimacy scale.
The researchers analyzed the data using statistical models to see which traits and beliefs carried the most weight. They utilized a layered approach, adding variables step by step to determine which factors uniquely predicted a person’s expectations for intimacy. This layered statistical process is known as hierarchical regression.
Hierarchical regression allows researchers to see whether a newly added variable explains anything fresh about the data. By feeding age and gender into the model first, the scientists ensured that any subsequent findings about personality were not just illusions created by demographic differences. Subsequent steps introduced the personality traits, followed by the relational beliefs and attachment habits.
The results showed that general relational habits were the strongest predictors of intimacy expectations. Avoidant attachment strongly predicted a desire for less emotional closeness. In contrast, holding highly idealized romantic beliefs was the strongest predictor of expecting high levels of intimacy.
When looking specifically at the Dark Triad, the researchers found divergent effects among the three distinct traits. Machiavellianism emerged as the strongest personality predictor of low intimacy expectations. It appears that people who view social interactions as strategic endeavors are less likely to anticipate mutual trust in romance.
Narcissism displayed a slightly different pattern during the analysis. When standing alone as a single data point, narcissism had a small negative association with intimacy expectations. Once the researchers statistically removed the manipulative tendencies of Machiavellianism, narcissism weakly predicted an increase in intimacy expectations.
This statistical phenomenon is known as a suppression effect. The researchers suggest that the need for validation and approval associated with narcissism might drive a basic desire for closeness. Narcissistic individuals may still want admiration and connection, even if that interpersonal desire remains largely self-centered.
Psychopathy did not uniquely predict intimacy expectations once the other personality variables were included in the model. While psychopathy is linked to harmful behavioral outcomes like infidelity, it might not heavily impact the cognitive ideas people hold about closeness. The way individuals act in romantic relationships might simply differ from what they conceptualize in their minds.
The researchers also conducted moderation analyses to see if age or gender changed the mathematical relationships. They found that demographics influenced the connection between Machiavellianism and intimacy expectations. The negative association between manipulative traits and a desire for closeness grew much stronger in older women.
Older women with high levels of Machiavellianism reported the lowest intimacy expectations of any demographic group in the study. Younger women and men of all ages showed a relatively steady pattern. For these groups, a high Machiavellian score predicted lower intimacy expectations, but the effect remained consistent regardless of changing age.
The researchers note that women with high Machiavellianism might develop increasingly pragmatic and emotionally distant views of relationships over time. This psychological distancing could be compounded if they consistently select partners with similar antagonistic traits. Narcissism and psychopathy did not show this age or gender moderation, remaining stable across all demographic groupings.
While the results offer a nuanced look at relationship dynamics, the study has limitations. The research relied entirely on self-reported surveys. This method can introduce psychological bias, as participants might not always answer honestly about socially undesirable motives or actions.
The study also used a cross-sectional design, meaning the data was collected at a single static point in time. Because the data is observational, it cannot prove that these personality traits cause a specific set of intimacy expectations. Longitudinal studies tracking couples over years would be needed to establish how these mental frameworks evolve.
The researchers point out that their non-clinical community sample resulted in relatively low overall scores for the socially antagonistic traits. The statistical effects, while observable, were modest in mathematical size. This indicates that intimacy is a multifaceted concept shaped by a wide variety of personal and environmental factors.
Understanding the roots of low intimacy expectations can help psychologists develop better relationship therapies. If a counselor knows a patient views relationships strictly as strategic alliances, they can tailor their therapy sessions accordingly. Addressing these underlying cognitive frameworks is often necessary before attempting to change outward romantic behaviors.
Future research could explore how cultural backgrounds or specific partner interactions alter these internal relationship maps. Intimacy expectations might be shaped by broader societal norms just as much as individual psychology. By integrating cognitive beliefs and personality analysis, researchers can better map out why some individuals struggle to build healthy romantic bonds.
The study, “Behind the mask of love: Associations among dark triad traits, attachment avoidance and anxiety, romantic beliefs, and intimacy expectations,” was authored by Silvija Ručević and Josipa Antunović.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/do-manipulative-people-expect-less-from-love/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DarkTriad #Machiavellianism #RelationshipIntimacy #AttachmentTheory #RomanticBeliefs #Narcissism #Psychopathy #IntimacyExpectations #OlderWomen #RelationshipMentalHealth
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Are there escape from #narcissists #psychopaths #darktriad help groups?
There must be somewhere to go where there is help from former victims who get it.
#Disabled &/or severely ill people too on a limited income. If I was healthy with money I wouldn’t be trapped here.
They’re all counseling after escaping.
I need to get out first! -
Are there escape from #narcissists #psychopaths #darktriad help groups?
There must be somewhere to go where there is help from former victims who get it.
Disabled &/or severely ill people too on a limited income. If I was healthy with money I wouldn’t be trapped here.
It’s all recovery groups. I need to escape first! -
@DerLogiker @georgetakei Trump is worse, actually.
Letter to congressional leaders from psychiatrists: 'President Trump exhibits what forensic mental health experts have, across dozens of independent assessments, identified as the “Dark Triad” of personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.'
They describe the evidence that he's dangerously unstable, that his "judgment is, by every visible measure, severely compromised" and that "he is a constitutional emergency."
"Top psychiatrists issue urgent letter to Congress about Trump's mental instability" https://www.alternet.org/psychiatrists-trump/
#Trump #DarkTriad #narcissism #narcissist #Machiavellian #Machiavellianism #psychopath #psychopathy #unstable #25thAmendment #2547th #25th
-
@DerLogiker @georgetakei Trump is worse, actually.
Letter to congressional leaders from psychiatrists: 'President Trump exhibits what forensic mental health experts have, across dozens of independent assessments, identified as the “Dark Triad” of personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.'
They describe the evidence that he's dangerously unstable, that his "judgment is, by every visible measure, severely compromised" and that "he is a constitutional emergency."
"Top psychiatrists issue urgent letter to Congress about Trump's mental instability" https://www.alternet.org/psychiatrists-trump/
#Trump #DarkTriad #narcissism #narcissist #Machiavellian #Machiavellianism #psychopath #psychopathy #unstable #25thAmendment #2547th #25th
-
@DerLogiker @georgetakei Trump is worse, actually.
Letter to congressional leaders from psychiatrists: 'President Trump exhibits what forensic mental health experts have, across dozens of independent assessments, identified as the “Dark Triad” of personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.'
They describe the evidence that he's dangerously unstable, that his "judgment is, by every visible measure, severely compromised" and that "he is a constitutional emergency."
"Top psychiatrists issue urgent letter to Congress about Trump's mental instability" https://www.alternet.org/psychiatrists-trump/
#Trump #DarkTriad #narcissism #narcissist #Machiavellian #Machiavellianism #psychopath #psychopathy #unstable #25thAmendment #2547th #25th
-
@DerLogiker @georgetakei Trump is worse, actually.
Letter to congressional leaders from psychiatrists: 'President Trump exhibits what forensic mental health experts have, across dozens of independent assessments, identified as the “Dark Triad” of personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.'
They describe the evidence that he's dangerously unstable, that his "judgment is, by every visible measure, severely compromised" and that "he is a constitutional emergency."
"Top psychiatrists issue urgent letter to Congress about Trump's mental instability" https://www.alternet.org/psychiatrists-trump/
#Trump #DarkTriad #narcissism #narcissist #Machiavellian #Machiavellianism #psychopath #psychopathy #unstable #25thAmendment #2547th #25th
-
@DerLogiker @georgetakei Trump is worse, actually.
Letter to congressional leaders from psychiatrists: 'President Trump exhibits what forensic mental health experts have, across dozens of independent assessments, identified as the “Dark Triad” of personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.'
They describe the evidence that he's dangerously unstable, that his "judgment is, by every visible measure, severely compromised" and that "he is a constitutional emergency."
"Top psychiatrists issue urgent letter to Congress about Trump's mental instability" https://www.alternet.org/psychiatrists-trump/
#Trump #DarkTriad #narcissism #narcissist #Machiavellian #Machiavellianism #psychopath #psychopathy #unstable #25thAmendment #2547th #25th
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The greatest threat to #Empath personality-types is not in fact the #DarkTriad personalities that target them, but the adoption of #Altruist traits by the Empath
Put bluntly, you can’t help anyone unless you first help yourself, and you can’t walk a mile in another person’s shoes unless you first know yourself
But, that is why the #Narcissist favours altruism-themed shaming as an abuse tactic, weaving it through every stage of Narcissistic Abuse; it is not merely effective, it is the most harmful. The fact that Western society endows altruism with implicit moral authority is secondary, a bonus, which lets them get away with it in public.
-
The greatest threat to #Empath personality-types is not in fact the #DarkTriad personalities that target them, but the adoption of #Altruist traits by the Empath
Put bluntly, you can’t help anyone unless you first help yourself, and you can’t walk a mile in another person’s shoes unless you first know yourself
But, that is why the #Narcissist favours altruism-themed shaming as an abuse tactic, weaving it through every stage of Narcissistic Abuse; it is not merely effective, it is the most harmful. The fact that Western society endows altruism with implicit moral authority is secondary, a bonus, which lets them get away with it in public.
-
The greatest threat to #Empath personality-types is not in fact the #DarkTriad personalities that target them, but the adoption of #Altruist traits by the Empath
Put bluntly, you can’t help anyone unless you first help yourself, and you can’t walk a mile in another person’s shoes unless you first know yourself
But, that is why the #Narcissist favours altruism-themed shaming as an abuse tactic, weaving it through every stage of Narcissistic Abuse; it is not merely effective, it is the most harmful. The fact that Western society endows altruism with implicit moral authority is secondary, a bonus, which lets them get away with it in public.
-
The greatest threat to #Empath personality-types is not in fact the #DarkTriad personalities that target them, but the adoption of #Altruist traits by the Empath
Put bluntly, you can’t help anyone unless you first help yourself, and you can’t walk a mile in another person’s shoes unless you first know yourself
But, that is why the #Narcissist favours altruism-themed shaming as an abuse tactic, weaving it through every stage of Narcissistic Abuse; it is not merely effective, it is the most harmful. The fact that Western society endows altruism with implicit moral authority is secondary, a bonus, which lets them get away with it in public.
-
The greatest threat to #Empath personality-types is not in fact the #DarkTriad personalities that target them, but the adoption of #Altruist traits by the Empath
Put bluntly, you can’t help anyone unless you first help yourself, and you can’t walk a mile in another person’s shoes unless you first know yourself
But, that is why the #Narcissist favours altruism-themed shaming as an abuse tactic, weaving it through every stage of Narcissistic Abuse; it is not merely effective, it is the most harmful. The fact that Western society endows altruism with implicit moral authority is secondary, a bonus, which lets them get away with it in public.
-
Every #Psychopath always causes as much harm as possible satisfying their selfish desires at the expense of others as they are able to get away with
Not as little harm as necessary to get what they want
As much as they can
Always
The only difference to single out the #CriminalPsychopath is that their core delusion has progressed to the extent that even while in custody they are convinced they’re getting away with it. So yes, the full horror of psychopathy is on display for all to see. But that’s it. That’s the only difference. Optics.
-
Every #Psychopath always causes as much harm as possible satisfying their selfish desires at the expense of others as they are able to get away with
Not as little harm as necessary to get what they want
As much as they can
Always
The only difference to single out the #CriminalPsychopath is that their core delusion has progressed to the extent that even while in custody they are convinced they’re getting away with it. So yes, the full horror of psychopathy is on display for all to see. But that’s it. That’s the only difference. Optics.
-
Every #Psychopath always causes as much harm as possible satisfying their selfish desires at the expense of others as they are able to get away with
Not as little harm as necessary to get what they want
As much as they can
Always
The only difference to single out the #CriminalPsychopath is that their core delusion has progressed to the extent that even while in custody they are convinced they’re getting away with it. So yes, the full horror of psychopathy is on display for all to see. But that’s it. That’s the only difference. Optics.
-
Every #Psychopath always causes as much harm as possible satisfying their selfish desires at the expense of others as they are able to get away with
Not as little harm as necessary to get what they want
As much as they can
Always
The only difference to single out the #CriminalPsychopath is that their core delusion has progressed to the extent that even while in custody they are convinced they’re getting away with it. So yes, the full horror of psychopathy is on display for all to see. But that’s it. That’s the only difference. Optics.
-
Every #Psychopath always causes as much harm as possible satisfying their selfish desires at the expense of others as they are able to get away with
Not as little harm as necessary to get what they want
As much as they can
Always
The only difference to single out the #CriminalPsychopath is that their core delusion has progressed to the extent that even while in custody they are convinced they’re getting away with it. So yes, the full horror of psychopathy is on display for all to see. But that’s it. That’s the only difference. Optics.
-
What interested me was when Factor-1 gets its own scales rather than mixing it with Factor-2, my scores rise substantially. That's because when you shift all the explosive impulsiveness and recklessness from a general #psychopathy checklist, my form becomes far more obvious
Anyway, you are welcome to ask questions about what being a #psychopath is like
#mentalhealth #personalitydisorders #clusterb #apd #aspd #darktriad
-
What interested me was when Factor-1 gets its own scales rather than mixing it with Factor-2, my scores rise substantially. That's because when you shift all the explosive impulsiveness and recklessness from a general #psychopathy checklist, my form becomes far more obvious
Anyway, you are welcome to ask questions about what being a #psychopath is like
#mentalhealth #personalitydisorders #clusterb #apd #aspd #darktriad
-
What interested me was when Factor-1 gets its own scales rather than mixing it with Factor-2, my scores rise substantially. That's because when you shift all the explosive impulsiveness and recklessness from a general #psychopathy checklist, my form becomes far more obvious
Anyway, you are welcome to ask questions about what being a #psychopath is like
#mentalhealth #personalitydisorders #clusterb #apd #aspd #darktriad
-
What interested me was when Factor-1 gets its own scales rather than mixing it with Factor-2, my scores rise substantially. That's because when you shift all the explosive impulsiveness and recklessness from a general #psychopathy checklist, my form becomes far more obvious
Anyway, you are welcome to ask questions about what being a #psychopath is like
#mentalhealth #personalitydisorders #clusterb #apd #aspd #darktriad
-
"“Based on our findings, there does not appear to be a specific attraction between light and dark personalities,” Kesenheimer told PsyPost. “Rather, individuals with light personalities are more likely to place trust in people who are typically rejected by others.”"
“It is important to clarify that light personalities – loving and trusting individuals – do not actively choose dark personalities (nor is the reverse true),” Kesenheimer added. “Instead, the key finding is that individuals with light personalities are less likely to reject those whom others tend to reject. This highlights how a general tendency to see the good in people, while often positive, may also reduce selectivity in romantic contexts.”
-
1- When I was younger) I thought that the lessons of #WWII would forever inoculate us against overt fascism.
2- When I was younger) I though that humanity, in general, had evolved past the point were SF scenarios of #DystopianTech , making existential decisions for us, could ever really happen.
Only took ~15 yrs of #DarkTriad #AlgorithmSocialMedia , elevating all batsh!t ideas to mainstream, to trigger both.
#DisasterCapitalist #Technofeudalism plus #Technofascism means
#The21stCenturySucks -
CW: Too boring for words.
I am drafting a "rules of association". It is partly an exercise, and partly an guess at of something that may become real.
Starting with the standard rules for an "unincorporated association": (https://www.acnc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021-07/download_template_rules_for_unincorporated_associations_with_notes_pdf_639kb_.pdf)
But I am tired of organisations infiltrated by arseholes, and I wonder if it is possible to put standards of behaviour front and centre.
I am inspired by Mastodon's "No Nazis", but I am not sure it is either specific, nor general enough.Please help. Does your group have something-like this? What have I missed, and, in the interests of sanity, what has been double-defined?
---
17. Membership hurdles.
17.1 The association insists on the following psychological characteristics and standards of behaviour from all members.
17.2 No member will be accepted, and existing members will be expelled if they fail any of these hurdles.
17.3 The psychological characteristics. Members must not be:
i. psychopaths,
ii. sociopaths,
iii. narcissists,
iv. liars,
v. egomaniacs.
17.4 The standards of behaviour. Members must never indulge in :
i. crime,
ii. racism,
iii. misogyny,
iv. criticism of person,
v. aggression, threats, shaming,
vi. coercive control,
vii.prejudice, bigotry.
17.5 The association explicitly rejects the notion that a person’s ability can replace or diminish their need to clear these hurdles. The most able and talented member will be expelled if they fail.#rules #DarkTriad #constitution #legalese #IANAL #arseholes #governance
-
CW: Too boring for words.
I am drafting a "rules of association". It is partly an exercise, and partly an guess at of something that may become real.
Starting with the standard rules for an "unincorporated association": (https://www.acnc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021-07/download_template_rules_for_unincorporated_associations_with_notes_pdf_639kb_.pdf)
But I am tired of organisations infiltrated by arseholes, and I wonder if it is possible to put standards of behaviour front and centre.
I am inspired by Mastodon's "No Nazis", but I am not sure it is either specific, nor general enough.Please help. Does your group have something-like this? What have I missed, and, in the interests of sanity, what has been double-defined?
---
17. Membership hurdles.
17.1 The association insists on the following psychological characteristics and standards of behaviour from all members.
17.2 No member will be accepted, and existing members will be expelled if they fail any of these hurdles.
17.3 The psychological characteristics. Members must not be:
i. psychopaths,
ii. sociopaths,
iii. narcissists,
iv. liars,
v. egomaniacs.
17.4 The standards of behaviour. Members must never indulge in :
i. crime,
ii. racism,
iii. misogyny,
iv. criticism of person,
v. aggression, threats, shaming,
vi. coercive control,
vii.prejudice, bigotry.
17.5 The association explicitly rejects the notion that a person’s ability can replace or diminish their need to clear these hurdles. The most able and talented member will be expelled if they fail.#rules #DarkTriad #constitution #legalese #IANAL #arseholes #governance
-
CW: Too boring for words.
I am drafting a "rules of association". It is partly an exercise, and partly an guess at of something that may become real.
Starting with the standard rules for an "unincorporated association": (https://www.acnc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021-07/download_template_rules_for_unincorporated_associations_with_notes_pdf_639kb_.pdf)
But I am tired of organisations infiltrated by arseholes, and I wonder if it is possible to put standards of behaviour front and centre.
I am inspired by Mastodon's "No Nazis", but I am not sure it is either specific, nor general enough.Please help. Does your group have something-like this? What have I missed, and, in the interests of sanity, what has been double-defined?
---
17. Membership hurdles.
17.1 The association insists on the following psychological characteristics and standards of behaviour from all members.
17.2 No member will be accepted, and existing members will be expelled if they fail any of these hurdles.
17.3 The psychological characteristics. Members must not be:
i. psychopaths,
ii. sociopaths,
iii. narcissists,
iv. liars,
v. egomaniacs.
17.4 The standards of behaviour. Members must never indulge in :
i. crime,
ii. racism,
iii. misogyny,
iv. criticism of person,
v. aggression, threats, shaming,
vi. coercive control,
vii.prejudice, bigotry.
17.5 The association explicitly rejects the notion that a person’s ability can replace or diminish their need to clear these hurdles. The most able and talented member will be expelled if they fail.#rules #DarkTriad #constitution #legalese #IANAL #arseholes #governance
-
CW: Too boring for words.
I am drafting a "rules of association". It is partly an exercise, and partly an guess at of something that may become real.
Starting with the standard rules for an "unincorporated association": (https://www.acnc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021-07/download_template_rules_for_unincorporated_associations_with_notes_pdf_639kb_.pdf)
But I am tired of organisations infiltrated by arseholes, and I wonder if it is possible to put standards of behaviour front and centre.
I am inspired by Mastodon's "No Nazis", but I am not sure it is either specific, nor general enough.Please help. Does your group have something-like this? What have I missed, and, in the interests of sanity, what has been double-defined?
---
17. Membership hurdles.
17.1 The association insists on the following psychological characteristics and standards of behaviour from all members.
17.2 No member will be accepted, and existing members will be expelled if they fail any of these hurdles.
17.3 The psychological characteristics. Members must not be:
i. psychopaths,
ii. sociopaths,
iii. narcissists,
iv. liars,
v. egomaniacs.
17.4 The standards of behaviour. Members must never indulge in :
i. crime,
ii. racism,
iii. misogyny,
iv. criticism of person,
v. aggression, threats, shaming,
vi. coercive control,
vii.prejudice, bigotry.
17.5 The association explicitly rejects the notion that a person’s ability can replace or diminish their need to clear these hurdles. The most able and talented member will be expelled if they fail.#rules #DarkTriad #constitution #legalese #IANAL #arseholes #governance
-
CW: Too boring for words.
I am drafting a "rules of association". It is partly an exercise, and partly an guess at of something that may become real.
Starting with the standard rules for an "unincorporated association": (https://www.acnc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021-07/download_template_rules_for_unincorporated_associations_with_notes_pdf_639kb_.pdf)
But I am tired of organisations infiltrated by arseholes, and I wonder if it is possible to put standards of behaviour front and centre.
I am inspired by Mastodon's "No Nazis", but I am not sure it is either specific, nor general enough.Please help. Does your group have something-like this? What have I missed, and, in the interests of sanity, what has been double-defined?
---
17. Membership hurdles.
17.1 The association insists on the following psychological characteristics and standards of behaviour from all members.
17.2 No member will be accepted, and existing members will be expelled if they fail any of these hurdles.
17.3 The psychological characteristics. Members must not be:
i. psychopaths,
ii. sociopaths,
iii. narcissists,
iv. liars,
v. egomaniacs.
17.4 The standards of behaviour. Members must never indulge in :
i. crime,
ii. racism,
iii. misogyny,
iv. criticism of person,
v. aggression, threats, shaming,
vi. coercive control,
vii.prejudice, bigotry.
17.5 The association explicitly rejects the notion that a person’s ability can replace or diminish their need to clear these hurdles. The most able and talented member will be expelled if they fail.#rules #DarkTriad #constitution #legalese #IANAL #arseholes #governance
-
[P] I mean, typies have ALWAYS had narcissism down pat, it's just that they express it as a group-self rather than an individual unit. I mean, invading Greenland because your group-self is "YO 'MURRIKA!" is pretty evidently narcissism beating morality. So neurotypicals have always rocked the narcissistic casbah, but it feels like typie group-selves are edging in on ASPD too! So I checked the research! And would you look at that...
#psychology #actuallyautistic #neurotypicals #darktriad
-1
-
Vampires and the Dark Triad #vampires #DarkTriadTheory #darktriad #psychology
-
Vampires symbolize the Dark Triad traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—highlighting human fears surrounding morality and immortality. These narratives expose how charming individuals can conceal predatory behaviors. #vampires #darktriad https://youtu.be/LCTTC3g0bAA?si=WhAIC0AvpsjxD5t5
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Vampires symbolize the Dark Triad traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—highlighting human fears surrounding morality and immortality. These narratives expose how charming individuals can conceal predatory behaviors. #vampires #darktriad https://connectparanormal.net/2026/01/14/vampires-and-the-dark-triad-understanding-human-nature/
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Kink Communities: Beyond the Stereotypes
Originally Published on December 16th, 2025 at 08:00 amA Major UK Study Reveals Some Surprising Facts About Kink Communities
Media portrayals of niche sexual interests like BDSM, pet play, and furries often lean into sensationalism, painting participants as psychologically deviant or driven by singular, extreme fetishes. These stereotypes, while dramatic, rarely reflect the lived experiences of people within these communities. This leaves a significant gap between public perception of kink communities and reality.
A recent scientific investigation, “A Survey of the United Kink-dom,” offers a rare, data-driven look into these worlds. Published in The Journal of Sex Research, this study surveyed 470 UK-based participants involved in five distinct interest groups:
- BDSM
- Age play
- Pet play
- Furries
- Balloon fetishists
The research provides one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on the demographics, psychology, and behaviors of these communities.
This article distills the five most surprising and stereotype-busting findings from this rigorous research. By moving past the hype and focusing on the evidence, we can begin to build a more nuanced and accurate understanding of kink communities and their members.
1. Most People Are Into More Than One Thing
Contrary to the idea that people belong to distinct and separate fetish groups, the study found a very high degree of overlapping interests. The data shows that having a single, isolated interest is actually the exception, not the rule.
Only 19% of the 470 participants reported having just one of the five paraphilic interests investigated. The majority had two (37.8%) or three (31.5%).
This finding is significant because it suggests these interests are not isolated quirks. They are often part of a broader exploration of non-normative identity and sexuality. The researchers identified specific patterns of co-occurrence.
For instance, there was a strong link between pet play and furry interests. This makes sense due to their shared themes of animal personification. Similarly, BDSM, which is defined by power dynamics, showed significant overlap with pet play. This is another of the groups in the study that centrally involve power exchange roles.
Check out the latest research on fetishes and criminality:
Read more articles about BDSM.
2. Kink Communities Deviate Sharply from Population Norms
When the researchers compared their sample to UK national statistics on sexual orientation and relationship styles, they found dramatic differences.
Across all five groups studied, participants reported significantly lower levels of heterosexual identity and much higher rates of gay/lesbian and bisexual identities than the general population.
For example, while 94.6% of the UK population identifies as heterosexual, the rate within the BDSM group was just 37.8%.
The study also found substantially higher rates of non-monogamy compared to population estimates. A 2.4% rate from a representative Canadian sample was used as a benchmark in the absence of equivalent UK data.
This finding supports a growing body of research suggesting these communities often function as welcoming spaces for individuals whose identities and relationship models are marginalized elsewhere. The study’s authors summarize the scale of this difference concisely:
Findings demonstrated groups differed significantly from population patterns of sexual orientation and relationship style, with effect sizes for these comparisons being large.
3. The “Psychopathic Dominant” is a Myth
A persistent and damaging stereotype suggests that individuals who enjoy dominant roles in BDSM must harbor “darker” personality traits. These traits inlcude:
- Narcissism
- Machiavellianism
- Psychopathy
This idea pathologizes practitioners by linking consensual power exchange with antisocial characteristics.
The “United Kink-dom” study directly tested this hypothesis by measuring these “Dark Triad” traits across different BDSM role identities:
- Dominant
- Submissive
- Switch (individuals who enjoy both roles)
The results were definitive: there were no significant differences in Dark Triad traits based on BDSM role.
People who identified with dominant roles did not score higher on measures of Machiavellianism, narcissism, or psychopathy than those in submissive or switch roles. This finding provides strong empirical evidence that debunks a harmful myth and supports previous research showing that BDSM practitioners generally have mental health profiles comparable to the general population.
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?
Stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
4. The Study Found Little Support for the Most Damaging Stereotypes in Kink Communities
The study carefully and sensitively investigated the most stigmatizing stereotypes the links between
- Age play and pedophilia
- Pet play/furries and zoophilia
The researchers’ goal was to see if these consensual adult role-playing activities were being used as a substitute for harmful, non-consensual interests.
The findings were more complex than a simple “myth-busted” headline would suggest.
For age play, the data showed that the vast majority of participants did not report any pedophilic arousal. However, a minority (14.1%) did report some level of arousal to pedophilic fantasy.
The researchers provide crucial context, noting that while their data “largely does not support stereotypes,” this rate of self-reported arousal is higher than the estimated prevalence of pedophilia in the general population (up to 5%).
A similar pattern emerged for pet play and furries within Kink Communities.
While most participants in these groups expressed “repulsion” to the idea of sex with animals, a minority reported some arousal to zoophilic fantasy (23.6% of pet players and 28.9% of furries).
Again, the researchers note that these rates are higher than the general population estimate for zoophilia (up to 8%).
For the overwhelming majority, consensual adult role-play is distinct from harmful acts, but the data reveals a nuanced reality that defies simple caricature.
5. Kink Can Be a Non-Sexual Identity
A common assumption is that participation in kink communities is always and exclusively about sexual gratification. However, the study’s data challenges this idea, revealing that for many, these interests are a multifaceted part of their identity that isn’t always tied to sex.
A significant minority of participants, particularly among pet players and furries, reported that they did not pair their interests with sexual acts.
Across the groups, “10–35% reported never pairing this with sex,” with furries (35.1%) and pet players (26.7%) being the most likely to engage non-sexually. Furthermore, when asked how much they viewed their interest as part of their “sexual orientation,” the study found a “bimodal distribution.”
This means participants tended to answer at the extremes: many saw it as absolutely central to their sexual identity, while many others saw it as not at all important.
This highlights that for a substantial portion of these communities, the appeal is not primarily sexual. Instead, it lies in social connection, psychological expression, and creative world-building – crystallized in practices like developing a detailed “fursona,” or animal character, which can be entirely separate from sexual gratification.
A More Complex Picture of Kink Communities
The “A Survey of the United Kink-dom” study provides a powerful, evidence-based counter-narrative to the prevailing stereotypes about kink communities.
The findings paint a picture of a world that is far more diverse, psychologically comparable to the general population, and less pathological than often portrayed.
It reveals communities that are highly interconnected, disproportionately queer and non-monogamous, and driven by a wide range of motivations that often extend well beyond sex.
This research underscores that the lived reality of people with non-normative sexual interests is more complex and far more human than caricature allows. As data replaces caricature, the central question is no longer if these communities are pathological, but how their complex networks of identity, creativity, and non-normative relationships challenge our broader cultural definitions of sexuality itself.
Be Part of the Kink Community Conversation
Do you participate in a kink community? How do you view kink communities? Drop a comment below and tell me about your non-explicit experiences!
For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
#agePlay #BDSM #darkTriad #furries #JournalOfSexResearch #kinkCommunities #LGBTQ #nonMonogamy #petPlay #psychologyOfSexuality #sexResearch #sexualDiversity #sexualIdentity #sexualStereotypes #stigma -
Kink Communities: Beyond the Stereotypes
Originally Published on December 16th, 2025 at 08:00 amA Major UK Study Reveals Some Surprising Facts About Kink Communities
Media portrayals of niche sexual interests like BDSM, pet play, and furries often lean into sensationalism, painting participants as psychologically deviant or driven by singular, extreme fetishes. These stereotypes, while dramatic, rarely reflect the lived experiences of people within these communities. This leaves a significant gap between public perception of kink communities and reality.
A recent scientific investigation, “A Survey of the United Kink-dom,” offers a rare, data-driven look into these worlds. Published in The Journal of Sex Research, this study surveyed 470 UK-based participants involved in five distinct interest groups:
- BDSM
- Age play
- Pet play
- Furries
- Balloon fetishists
The research provides one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on the demographics, psychology, and behaviors of these communities.
This article distills the five most surprising and stereotype-busting findings from this rigorous research. By moving past the hype and focusing on the evidence, we can begin to build a more nuanced and accurate understanding of kink communities and their members.
1. Most People Are Into More Than One Thing
Contrary to the idea that people belong to distinct and separate fetish groups, the study found a very high degree of overlapping interests. The data shows that having a single, isolated interest is actually the exception, not the rule.
Only 19% of the 470 participants reported having just one of the five paraphilic interests investigated. The majority had two (37.8%) or three (31.5%).
This finding is significant because it suggests these interests are not isolated quirks. They are often part of a broader exploration of non-normative identity and sexuality. The researchers identified specific patterns of co-occurrence.
For instance, there was a strong link between pet play and furry interests. This makes sense due to their shared themes of animal personification. Similarly, BDSM, which is defined by power dynamics, showed significant overlap with pet play. This is another of the groups in the study that centrally involve power exchange roles.
Check out the latest research on fetishes and criminality:
Read more articles about BDSM.
2. Kink Communities Deviate Sharply from Population Norms
When the researchers compared their sample to UK national statistics on sexual orientation and relationship styles, they found dramatic differences.
Across all five groups studied, participants reported significantly lower levels of heterosexual identity and much higher rates of gay/lesbian and bisexual identities than the general population.
For example, while 94.6% of the UK population identifies as heterosexual, the rate within the BDSM group was just 37.8%.
The study also found substantially higher rates of non-monogamy compared to population estimates. A 2.4% rate from a representative Canadian sample was used as a benchmark in the absence of equivalent UK data.
This finding supports a growing body of research suggesting these communities often function as welcoming spaces for individuals whose identities and relationship models are marginalized elsewhere. The study’s authors summarize the scale of this difference concisely:
Findings demonstrated groups differed significantly from population patterns of sexual orientation and relationship style, with effect sizes for these comparisons being large.
3. The “Psychopathic Dominant” is a Myth
A persistent and damaging stereotype suggests that individuals who enjoy dominant roles in BDSM must harbor “darker” personality traits. These traits inlcude:
- Narcissism
- Machiavellianism
- Psychopathy
This idea pathologizes practitioners by linking consensual power exchange with antisocial characteristics.
The “United Kink-dom” study directly tested this hypothesis by measuring these “Dark Triad” traits across different BDSM role identities:
- Dominant
- Submissive
- Switch (individuals who enjoy both roles)
The results were definitive: there were no significant differences in Dark Triad traits based on BDSM role.
People who identified with dominant roles did not score higher on measures of Machiavellianism, narcissism, or psychopathy than those in submissive or switch roles. This finding provides strong empirical evidence that debunks a harmful myth and supports previous research showing that BDSM practitioners generally have mental health profiles comparable to the general population.
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?
Stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
4. The Study Found Little Support for the Most Damaging Stereotypes in Kink Communities
The study carefully and sensitively investigated the most stigmatizing stereotypes the links between
- Age play and pedophilia
- Pet play/furries and zoophilia
The researchers’ goal was to see if these consensual adult role-playing activities were being used as a substitute for harmful, non-consensual interests.
The findings were more complex than a simple “myth-busted” headline would suggest.
For age play, the data showed that the vast majority of participants did not report any pedophilic arousal. However, a minority (14.1%) did report some level of arousal to pedophilic fantasy.
The researchers provide crucial context, noting that while their data “largely does not support stereotypes,” this rate of self-reported arousal is higher than the estimated prevalence of pedophilia in the general population (up to 5%).
A similar pattern emerged for pet play and furries within Kink Communities.
While most participants in these groups expressed “repulsion” to the idea of sex with animals, a minority reported some arousal to zoophilic fantasy (23.6% of pet players and 28.9% of furries).
Again, the researchers note that these rates are higher than the general population estimate for zoophilia (up to 8%).
For the overwhelming majority, consensual adult role-play is distinct from harmful acts, but the data reveals a nuanced reality that defies simple caricature.
5. Kink Can Be a Non-Sexual Identity
A common assumption is that participation in kink communities is always and exclusively about sexual gratification. However, the study’s data challenges this idea, revealing that for many, these interests are a multifaceted part of their identity that isn’t always tied to sex.
A significant minority of participants, particularly among pet players and furries, reported that they did not pair their interests with sexual acts.
Across the groups, “10–35% reported never pairing this with sex,” with furries (35.1%) and pet players (26.7%) being the most likely to engage non-sexually. Furthermore, when asked how much they viewed their interest as part of their “sexual orientation,” the study found a “bimodal distribution.”
This means participants tended to answer at the extremes: many saw it as absolutely central to their sexual identity, while many others saw it as not at all important.
This highlights that for a substantial portion of these communities, the appeal is not primarily sexual. Instead, it lies in social connection, psychological expression, and creative world-building – crystallized in practices like developing a detailed “fursona,” or animal character, which can be entirely separate from sexual gratification.
A More Complex Picture of Kink Communities
The “A Survey of the United Kink-dom” study provides a powerful, evidence-based counter-narrative to the prevailing stereotypes about kink communities.
The findings paint a picture of a world that is far more diverse, psychologically comparable to the general population, and less pathological than often portrayed.
It reveals communities that are highly interconnected, disproportionately queer and non-monogamous, and driven by a wide range of motivations that often extend well beyond sex.
This research underscores that the lived reality of people with non-normative sexual interests is more complex and far more human than caricature allows. As data replaces caricature, the central question is no longer if these communities are pathological, but how their complex networks of identity, creativity, and non-normative relationships challenge our broader cultural definitions of sexuality itself.
Be Part of the Kink Community Conversation
Do you participate in a kink community? How do you view kink communities? Drop a comment below and tell me about your non-explicit experiences!
For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
#agePlay #BDSM #darkTriad #furries #JournalOfSexResearch #kinkCommunities #LGBTQ #nonMonogamy #petPlay #psychologyOfSexuality #sexResearch #sexualDiversity #sexualIdentity #sexualStereotypes #stigma -
Kink Communities: Beyond the Stereotypes
Originally Published on December 16th, 2025 at 08:00 amA Major UK Study Reveals Some Surprising Facts About Kink Communities
Media portrayals of niche sexual interests like BDSM, pet play, and furries often lean into sensationalism, painting participants as psychologically deviant or driven by singular, extreme fetishes. These stereotypes, while dramatic, rarely reflect the lived experiences of people within these communities. This leaves a significant gap between public perception of kink communities and reality.
A recent scientific investigation, “A Survey of the United Kink-dom,” offers a rare, data-driven look into these worlds. Published in The Journal of Sex Research, this study surveyed 470 UK-based participants involved in five distinct interest groups:
- BDSM
- Age play
- Pet play
- Furries
- Balloon fetishists
The research provides one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on the demographics, psychology, and behaviors of these communities.
This article distills the five most surprising and stereotype-busting findings from this rigorous research. By moving past the hype and focusing on the evidence, we can begin to build a more nuanced and accurate understanding of kink communities and their members.
1. Most People Are Into More Than One Thing
Contrary to the idea that people belong to distinct and separate fetish groups, the study found a very high degree of overlapping interests. The data shows that having a single, isolated interest is actually the exception, not the rule.
Only 19% of the 470 participants reported having just one of the five paraphilic interests investigated. The majority had two (37.8%) or three (31.5%).
This finding is significant because it suggests these interests are not isolated quirks. They are often part of a broader exploration of non-normative identity and sexuality. The researchers identified specific patterns of co-occurrence.
For instance, there was a strong link between pet play and furry interests. This makes sense due to their shared themes of animal personification. Similarly, BDSM, which is defined by power dynamics, showed significant overlap with pet play. This is another of the groups in the study that centrally involve power exchange roles.
Check out the latest research on fetishes and criminality:
Read more articles about BDSM.
2. Kink Communities Deviate Sharply from Population Norms
When the researchers compared their sample to UK national statistics on sexual orientation and relationship styles, they found dramatic differences.
Across all five groups studied, participants reported significantly lower levels of heterosexual identity and much higher rates of gay/lesbian and bisexual identities than the general population.
For example, while 94.6% of the UK population identifies as heterosexual, the rate within the BDSM group was just 37.8%.
The study also found substantially higher rates of non-monogamy compared to population estimates. A 2.4% rate from a representative Canadian sample was used as a benchmark in the absence of equivalent UK data.
This finding supports a growing body of research suggesting these communities often function as welcoming spaces for individuals whose identities and relationship models are marginalized elsewhere. The study’s authors summarize the scale of this difference concisely:
Findings demonstrated groups differed significantly from population patterns of sexual orientation and relationship style, with effect sizes for these comparisons being large.
3. The “Psychopathic Dominant” is a Myth
A persistent and damaging stereotype suggests that individuals who enjoy dominant roles in BDSM must harbor “darker” personality traits. These traits inlcude:
- Narcissism
- Machiavellianism
- Psychopathy
This idea pathologizes practitioners by linking consensual power exchange with antisocial characteristics.
The “United Kink-dom” study directly tested this hypothesis by measuring these “Dark Triad” traits across different BDSM role identities:
- Dominant
- Submissive
- Switch (individuals who enjoy both roles)
The results were definitive: there were no significant differences in Dark Triad traits based on BDSM role.
People who identified with dominant roles did not score higher on measures of Machiavellianism, narcissism, or psychopathy than those in submissive or switch roles. This finding provides strong empirical evidence that debunks a harmful myth and supports previous research showing that BDSM practitioners generally have mental health profiles comparable to the general population.
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?
Stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
4. The Study Found Little Support for the Most Damaging Stereotypes in Kink Communities
The study carefully and sensitively investigated the most stigmatizing stereotypes the links between
- Age play and pedophilia
- Pet play/furries and zoophilia
The researchers’ goal was to see if these consensual adult role-playing activities were being used as a substitute for harmful, non-consensual interests.
The findings were more complex than a simple “myth-busted” headline would suggest.
For age play, the data showed that the vast majority of participants did not report any pedophilic arousal. However, a minority (14.1%) did report some level of arousal to pedophilic fantasy.
The researchers provide crucial context, noting that while their data “largely does not support stereotypes,” this rate of self-reported arousal is higher than the estimated prevalence of pedophilia in the general population (up to 5%).
A similar pattern emerged for pet play and furries within Kink Communities.
While most participants in these groups expressed “repulsion” to the idea of sex with animals, a minority reported some arousal to zoophilic fantasy (23.6% of pet players and 28.9% of furries).
Again, the researchers note that these rates are higher than the general population estimate for zoophilia (up to 8%).
For the overwhelming majority, consensual adult role-play is distinct from harmful acts, but the data reveals a nuanced reality that defies simple caricature.
5. Kink Can Be a Non-Sexual Identity
A common assumption is that participation in kink communities is always and exclusively about sexual gratification. However, the study’s data challenges this idea, revealing that for many, these interests are a multifaceted part of their identity that isn’t always tied to sex.
A significant minority of participants, particularly among pet players and furries, reported that they did not pair their interests with sexual acts.
Across the groups, “10–35% reported never pairing this with sex,” with furries (35.1%) and pet players (26.7%) being the most likely to engage non-sexually. Furthermore, when asked how much they viewed their interest as part of their “sexual orientation,” the study found a “bimodal distribution.”
This means participants tended to answer at the extremes: many saw it as absolutely central to their sexual identity, while many others saw it as not at all important.
This highlights that for a substantial portion of these communities, the appeal is not primarily sexual. Instead, it lies in social connection, psychological expression, and creative world-building – crystallized in practices like developing a detailed “fursona,” or animal character, which can be entirely separate from sexual gratification.
A More Complex Picture of Kink Communities
The “A Survey of the United Kink-dom” study provides a powerful, evidence-based counter-narrative to the prevailing stereotypes about kink communities.
The findings paint a picture of a world that is far more diverse, psychologically comparable to the general population, and less pathological than often portrayed.
It reveals communities that are highly interconnected, disproportionately queer and non-monogamous, and driven by a wide range of motivations that often extend well beyond sex.
This research underscores that the lived reality of people with non-normative sexual interests is more complex and far more human than caricature allows. As data replaces caricature, the central question is no longer if these communities are pathological, but how their complex networks of identity, creativity, and non-normative relationships challenge our broader cultural definitions of sexuality itself.
Be Part of the Kink Community Conversation
Do you participate in a kink community? How do you view kink communities? Drop a comment below and tell me about your non-explicit experiences!
For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
#agePlay #BDSM #darkTriad #furries #JournalOfSexResearch #kinkCommunities #LGBTQ #nonMonogamy #petPlay #psychologyOfSexuality #sexResearch #sexualDiversity #sexualIdentity #sexualStereotypes #stigma -
Kink Communities: Beyond the Stereotypes
Originally Published on December 16th, 2025 at 08:00 amA Major UK Study Reveals Some Surprising Facts About Kink Communities
Media portrayals of niche sexual interests like BDSM, pet play, and furries often lean into sensationalism, painting participants as psychologically deviant or driven by singular, extreme fetishes. These stereotypes, while dramatic, rarely reflect the lived experiences of people within these communities. This leaves a significant gap between public perception of kink communities and reality.
A recent scientific investigation, “A Survey of the United Kink-dom,” offers a rare, data-driven look into these worlds. Published in The Journal of Sex Research, this study surveyed 470 UK-based participants involved in five distinct interest groups:
- BDSM
- Age play
- Pet play
- Furries
- Balloon fetishists
The research provides one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on the demographics, psychology, and behaviors of these communities.
This article distills the five most surprising and stereotype-busting findings from this rigorous research. By moving past the hype and focusing on the evidence, we can begin to build a more nuanced and accurate understanding of kink communities and their members.
1. Most People Are Into More Than One Thing
Contrary to the idea that people belong to distinct and separate fetish groups, the study found a very high degree of overlapping interests. The data shows that having a single, isolated interest is actually the exception, not the rule.
Only 19% of the 470 participants reported having just one of the five paraphilic interests investigated. The majority had two (37.8%) or three (31.5%).
This finding is significant because it suggests these interests are not isolated quirks. They are often part of a broader exploration of non-normative identity and sexuality. The researchers identified specific patterns of co-occurrence.
For instance, there was a strong link between pet play and furry interests. This makes sense due to their shared themes of animal personification. Similarly, BDSM, which is defined by power dynamics, showed significant overlap with pet play. This is another of the groups in the study that centrally involve power exchange roles.
Check out the latest research on fetishes and criminality:
Read more articles about BDSM.
2. Kink Communities Deviate Sharply from Population Norms
When the researchers compared their sample to UK national statistics on sexual orientation and relationship styles, they found dramatic differences.
Across all five groups studied, participants reported significantly lower levels of heterosexual identity and much higher rates of gay/lesbian and bisexual identities than the general population.
For example, while 94.6% of the UK population identifies as heterosexual, the rate within the BDSM group was just 37.8%.
The study also found substantially higher rates of non-monogamy compared to population estimates. A 2.4% rate from a representative Canadian sample was used as a benchmark in the absence of equivalent UK data.
This finding supports a growing body of research suggesting these communities often function as welcoming spaces for individuals whose identities and relationship models are marginalized elsewhere. The study’s authors summarize the scale of this difference concisely:
Findings demonstrated groups differed significantly from population patterns of sexual orientation and relationship style, with effect sizes for these comparisons being large.
3. The “Psychopathic Dominant” is a Myth
A persistent and damaging stereotype suggests that individuals who enjoy dominant roles in BDSM must harbor “darker” personality traits. These traits inlcude:
- Narcissism
- Machiavellianism
- Psychopathy
This idea pathologizes practitioners by linking consensual power exchange with antisocial characteristics.
The “United Kink-dom” study directly tested this hypothesis by measuring these “Dark Triad” traits across different BDSM role identities:
- Dominant
- Submissive
- Switch (individuals who enjoy both roles)
The results were definitive: there were no significant differences in Dark Triad traits based on BDSM role.
People who identified with dominant roles did not score higher on measures of Machiavellianism, narcissism, or psychopathy than those in submissive or switch roles. This finding provides strong empirical evidence that debunks a harmful myth and supports previous research showing that BDSM practitioners generally have mental health profiles comparable to the general population.
Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?
Stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!
4. The Study Found Little Support for the Most Damaging Stereotypes in Kink Communities
The study carefully and sensitively investigated the most stigmatizing stereotypes the links between
- Age play and pedophilia
- Pet play/furries and zoophilia
The researchers’ goal was to see if these consensual adult role-playing activities were being used as a substitute for harmful, non-consensual interests.
The findings were more complex than a simple “myth-busted” headline would suggest.
For age play, the data showed that the vast majority of participants did not report any pedophilic arousal. However, a minority (14.1%) did report some level of arousal to pedophilic fantasy.
The researchers provide crucial context, noting that while their data “largely does not support stereotypes,” this rate of self-reported arousal is higher than the estimated prevalence of pedophilia in the general population (up to 5%).
A similar pattern emerged for pet play and furries within Kink Communities.
While most participants in these groups expressed “repulsion” to the idea of sex with animals, a minority reported some arousal to zoophilic fantasy (23.6% of pet players and 28.9% of furries).
Again, the researchers note that these rates are higher than the general population estimate for zoophilia (up to 8%).
For the overwhelming majority, consensual adult role-play is distinct from harmful acts, but the data reveals a nuanced reality that defies simple caricature.
5. Kink Can Be a Non-Sexual Identity
A common assumption is that participation in kink communities is always and exclusively about sexual gratification. However, the study’s data challenges this idea, revealing that for many, these interests are a multifaceted part of their identity that isn’t always tied to sex.
A significant minority of participants, particularly among pet players and furries, reported that they did not pair their interests with sexual acts.
Across the groups, “10–35% reported never pairing this with sex,” with furries (35.1%) and pet players (26.7%) being the most likely to engage non-sexually. Furthermore, when asked how much they viewed their interest as part of their “sexual orientation,” the study found a “bimodal distribution.”
This means participants tended to answer at the extremes: many saw it as absolutely central to their sexual identity, while many others saw it as not at all important.
This highlights that for a substantial portion of these communities, the appeal is not primarily sexual. Instead, it lies in social connection, psychological expression, and creative world-building – crystallized in practices like developing a detailed “fursona,” or animal character, which can be entirely separate from sexual gratification.
A More Complex Picture of Kink Communities
The “A Survey of the United Kink-dom” study provides a powerful, evidence-based counter-narrative to the prevailing stereotypes about kink communities.
The findings paint a picture of a world that is far more diverse, psychologically comparable to the general population, and less pathological than often portrayed.
It reveals communities that are highly interconnected, disproportionately queer and non-monogamous, and driven by a wide range of motivations that often extend well beyond sex.
This research underscores that the lived reality of people with non-normative sexual interests is more complex and far more human than caricature allows. As data replaces caricature, the central question is no longer if these communities are pathological, but how their complex networks of identity, creativity, and non-normative relationships challenge our broader cultural definitions of sexuality itself.
Be Part of the Kink Community Conversation
Do you participate in a kink community? How do you view kink communities? Drop a comment below and tell me about your non-explicit experiences!
For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
#agePlay #BDSM #darkTriad #furries #JournalOfSexResearch #kinkCommunities #LGBTQ #nonMonogamy #petPlay #psychologyOfSexuality #sexResearch #sexualDiversity #sexualIdentity #sexualStereotypes #stigma -
Kink Communities: Beyond the Stereotypes
Originally Published on December 16th, 2025 at 08:00 amA Major UK Study Reveals Some Surprising Facts About Kink Communities
Media portrayals of niche sexual interests like BDSM, pet play, and furries often lean into sensationalism, painting participants as psychologically deviant or driven by singular, extreme fetishes. These stereotypes, while dramatic, rarely reflect the lived experiences of people within these communities. This leaves a significant gap between public perception of kink communities and reality.
A recent scientific investigation, “A Survey of the United Kink-dom,” offers a rare, data-driven look into these worlds. Published in The Journal of Sex Research, this study surveyed 470 UK-based participants involved in five distinct interest groups:
- BDSM
- Age play
- Pet play
- Furries
- Balloon fetishists
The research provides one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on the demographics, psychology, and behaviors of these communities.
This article distills the five most surprising and stereotype-busting findings from this rigorous research. By moving past the hype and focusing on the evidence, we can begin to build a more nuanced and accurate understanding of kink communities and their members.
1. Most People Are Into More Than One Thing
Contrary to the idea that people belong to distinct and separate fetish groups, the study found a very high degree of overlapping interests. The data shows that having a single, isolated interest is actually the exception, not the rule.
Only 19% of the 470 participants reported having just one of the five paraphilic interests investigated. The majority had two (37.8%) or three (31.5%).
This finding is significant because it suggests these interests are not isolated quirks. They are often part of a broader exploration of non-normative identity and sexuality. The researchers identified specific patterns of co-occurrence.
For instance, there was a strong link between pet play and furry interests. This makes sense due to their shared themes of animal personification. Similarly, BDSM, which is defined by power dynamics, showed significant overlap with pet play. This is another of the groups in the study that centrally involve power exchange roles.
Check out the latest research on fetishes and criminality:
Read more articles about BDSM.
2. Kink Communities Deviate Sharply from Population Norms
When the researchers compared their sample to UK national statistics on sexual orientation and relationship styles, they found dramatic differences.
Across all five groups studied, participants reported significantly lower levels of heterosexual identity and much higher rates of gay/lesbian and bisexual identities than the general population.
For example, while 94.6% of the UK population identifies as heterosexual, the rate within the BDSM group was just 37.8%.
The study also found substantially higher rates of non-monogamy compared to population estimates. A 2.4% rate from a representative Canadian sample was used as a benchmark in the absence of equivalent UK data.
This finding supports a growing body of research suggesting these communities often function as welcoming spaces for individuals whose identities and relationship models are marginalized elsewhere. The study’s authors summarize the scale of this difference concisely:
Findings demonstrated groups differed significantly from population patterns of sexual orientation and relationship style, with effect sizes for these comparisons being large.
3. The “Psychopathic Dominant” is a Myth
A persistent and damaging stereotype suggests that individuals who enjoy dominant roles in BDSM must harbor “darker” personality traits. These traits inlcude:
- Narcissism
- Machiavellianism
- Psychopathy
This idea pathologizes practitioners by linking consensual power exchange with antisocial characteristics.
The “United Kink-dom” study directly tested this hypothesis by measuring these “Dark Triad” traits across different BDSM role identities:
- Dominant
- Submissive
- Switch (individuals who enjoy both roles)
The results were definitive: there were no significant differences in Dark Triad traits based on BDSM role.
People who identified with dominant roles did not score higher on measures of Machiavellianism, narcissism, or psychopathy than those in submissive or switch roles. This finding provides strong empirical evidence that debunks a harmful myth and supports previous research showing that BDSM practitioners generally have mental health profiles comparable to the general population.
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4. The Study Found Little Support for the Most Damaging Stereotypes in Kink Communities
The study carefully and sensitively investigated the most stigmatizing stereotypes the links between
- Age play and pedophilia
- Pet play/furries and zoophilia
The researchers’ goal was to see if these consensual adult role-playing activities were being used as a substitute for harmful, non-consensual interests.
The findings were more complex than a simple “myth-busted” headline would suggest.
For age play, the data showed that the vast majority of participants did not report any pedophilic arousal. However, a minority (14.1%) did report some level of arousal to pedophilic fantasy.
The researchers provide crucial context, noting that while their data “largely does not support stereotypes,” this rate of self-reported arousal is higher than the estimated prevalence of pedophilia in the general population (up to 5%).
A similar pattern emerged for pet play and furries within Kink Communities.
While most participants in these groups expressed “repulsion” to the idea of sex with animals, a minority reported some arousal to zoophilic fantasy (23.6% of pet players and 28.9% of furries).
Again, the researchers note that these rates are higher than the general population estimate for zoophilia (up to 8%).
For the overwhelming majority, consensual adult role-play is distinct from harmful acts, but the data reveals a nuanced reality that defies simple caricature.
5. Kink Can Be a Non-Sexual Identity
A common assumption is that participation in kink communities is always and exclusively about sexual gratification. However, the study’s data challenges this idea, revealing that for many, these interests are a multifaceted part of their identity that isn’t always tied to sex.
A significant minority of participants, particularly among pet players and furries, reported that they did not pair their interests with sexual acts.
Across the groups, “10–35% reported never pairing this with sex,” with furries (35.1%) and pet players (26.7%) being the most likely to engage non-sexually. Furthermore, when asked how much they viewed their interest as part of their “sexual orientation,” the study found a “bimodal distribution.”
This means participants tended to answer at the extremes: many saw it as absolutely central to their sexual identity, while many others saw it as not at all important.
This highlights that for a substantial portion of these communities, the appeal is not primarily sexual. Instead, it lies in social connection, psychological expression, and creative world-building – crystallized in practices like developing a detailed “fursona,” or animal character, which can be entirely separate from sexual gratification.
A More Complex Picture of Kink Communities
The “A Survey of the United Kink-dom” study provides a powerful, evidence-based counter-narrative to the prevailing stereotypes about kink communities.
The findings paint a picture of a world that is far more diverse, psychologically comparable to the general population, and less pathological than often portrayed.
It reveals communities that are highly interconnected, disproportionately queer and non-monogamous, and driven by a wide range of motivations that often extend well beyond sex.
This research underscores that the lived reality of people with non-normative sexual interests is more complex and far more human than caricature allows. As data replaces caricature, the central question is no longer if these communities are pathological, but how their complex networks of identity, creativity, and non-normative relationships challenge our broader cultural definitions of sexuality itself.
Be Part of the Kink Community Conversation
Do you participate in a kink community? How do you view kink communities? Drop a comment below and tell me about your non-explicit experiences!
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Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
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