Coercive and Precocious Sexuality as a Fundamental Aspect of Psychopathy

Abstract

Sexual behavior is closely associated with delinquency and crime. Although psychopaths, by definition, have many short-term sexual relationships, it has not been shown that sexuality is a core aspect of psychopathy. A Darwinian view of psychopathy led to the hypothesis that psychopaths have a unique sexuality involving early, frequent, and coercive sex. Our subjects were 512 sex offenders assessed on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R). Five variables reflecting early, frequent, and coercive sex loaded on the same principal component in exploratory factor analysis on a subset of the sample, whereas PCL-R items pertaining to adult sexual behavior did not. Confirmatory factor analysis of the remaining subjects yielded a measurement model containing three inter-correlated factors - the traditional two PCL-R factors, and coercive and precocious sexuality. Taxometric analyses gave evidence of a natural discontinuity underlying coercive and precocious sexuality. Coercive and precocious sexuality yielded statistically significant associations with other study variables predicted by the Darwinian hypothesis. The present findings are consistent with prior empirical findings and support the hypothesis that psychopathy has been a nonpathological, reproductively viable, alternate life history strategy.

Recent Advances in Psychopathy Research

“…The theory is complex, but its components are testable. Moreover, the proposal of anomalous early hemispheric specialization fits not only with reported structural asymmetries but also with the left hemisphere activation deficits observed in adult psychopathic offenders 39,40 and documented language-attentionperception asymmetries. 41,42 Dr Gao and colleagues 27 also underscore the need for more physiological research on youth with psychopathic traits.…”

A Test of Two Typologies of Sexual Homicide

“…This involves sexual promiscuity and impulsive, thrill-seeking behavior to have many sexual encounters. Psychopaths invest only minimally in their partners; they also engage in sexual behavior, including sexual coercion, at early ages (Harris et al, 2007).…”

Psychopathic traits in adolescence: a review

“…In a study with undergraduate students (Kosson, Kelly, & White, 1997), the items of factor 1 related to the use of physical force in sexual aggression, while those of factor 2 related to the use of talking or persuasion in order to engage in sexual activities. In another study, higher scores in sexual aggressors correlated positively with the rape of fertile aged women and negatively with pedophiles and child abusers (Harris, Rice, Hilton, Lalumiére, & Quinsey, 2007). The same study suggested a Darwinian view associating psychopathic conduct with early, coercive and frequent sex, intending reproduction.…”