Baby It’s Cold Outside

Use and Interpretation of Sexual Coercion in Relation to Psychopathic Traits

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that psychopathic traits are associated with risk taking spread across a variety of domains. One domain concerns sexual risk-taking, usually conceptualized as unsafe sex and promiscuity. However, psychopaths also may engage in sexual violence, including the use of coercive tactics in order to obtain sex. The present study was designed in two parts (counterbalanced) to further our understanding of the relation between psychopathic traits and sexual coercion. Part 1 will investigate the association between psychopathic traits, sexual risk, and use of both overt (e.g., using physical force, use of drugs or alcohol) and covert (e.g., massaging, sweet talking, guilt-tripping) sexual coercion strategies. Part 2 will examine whether psychopathic traits alter perceptions of sexual coercion. In particular, participants will be presented with a vignette that varies according to the level of sexual coercion (low/high), type of sexual coercion (verbal/physical/both), and whether sexual consent was granted following the use of these strategies or not. Following the vignette, participants will be asked to complete a judgment questionnaire concerning perceptions of consent, level of violence/coercion, criminal culpability, guilt, and sentencing severity. We predict that psychopathic traits will be associated with greater endorsement of use of sexual coercion, and a response pattern that indicates minimization of violence and blame for the vignettes.

Faculty Mentor: Kristine Peace

Department: Psychology (Honours)