The Role of Psychopathic Traits in Female Sexual Coercion

Abstract

Researchers have consistently found a relationship between psychopathy and the use of sexual coercion in samples of males with and without previous sexual arrests (Abbey, Jacques-Tiura, & LeBreton, 2011; Hare, 1991; Hersh & Gray-Little, 1998; Seto & Lalumiere, 2000). Although there is growing recognition that females also engage in sexually coercive behavior, current understanding of female coercion is limited (Bouffard, Bouffard, & Miller, 2015; Cortoni, Hanson, & Coache, 2010; Muñoz, Khan, & Cordwell, 2011). This study examined the relationship between psychopathic traits and sexual coercion tactics among a sample of 558 undergraduate females. Results indicate that the use of any previous sexual coercion tactic (coax, lie, get drunk, and assault) and higher endorsement of primary psychopathy traits significantly predict whether the females state that they will engage in future sexually coercive behaviors.