The Influence of Fantasy Proneness, Dissociation, and Vividness of Mental Imagery on Male’s Aggressive Sexual Fantasies

Abstract

Many researchers have studied the prevalence and content of men's aggressive sexual fantasies, including their link with rape-supportive cognition. However, little to no research has examined the link between imaginal ability and the use of such fantasies. Based on existing research and theory, we propose that men who hold hostile beliefs towards women will use aggressive sexual fantasies more often if they possess a greater ability to engage in a 'rich fantasy life'. Operationally, we argue this involves: (1) a proneness to fantasize in general; (2) an ability to vividly envision mental imagery; and (3) frequent experiences of dissociation. To test this, the present study hypothesized that a latent variable termed 'Rich Keywords: sexual fantasies, sexual aggression, fantasy proneness, dissociation, vividness IntroductionA considerable proportion of non-offending males report using sexual fantasies about nonconsensual sex or forcing a woman to have sex (Crépault & Couture, 1980; Gold & Clegg, 1990; Greendlinger & Byrne, 1987; Joyal, Cossette, & Lapierre, 2015; Larue et al., 2014;Williams, Cooper, Howell, Yuille, & Paulhus, 2009). For example, Crépault and Couture (1980) found that 33% of males (N = 94) reported using sexual fantasies about raping a woman. Similarly, Larue et al. (2014) found that 33% of their male sample (N = 107) fantasized about non-consensual violence. Williams et al. (2009) found that 68% of male undergraduates (N = 103) reported using sexual fantasies about 'sexual assault'.These findings are concerning because the rates far exceed the cut-off for being statistically rare (< 2.3%) or statistically unusual (< 15.9%) (Joyal et al., 2015). Moreover, these kinds of sexual fantasies are thought to be an etiological factor for rape. Indeed, in their unified model of sexual coercion against women, Knight and Sims-Knight (2003) argued that 'aggressive sexual fantasies' are a core component in two of their three proposed etiological pathways. In Pathway 1, 'callous/unemotional traits' (influenced by early physical/verbal abuse) disinhibit males' sex drive, which in turn, disinhibits aggressive sexual fantasies, leading to sexual coercion. In Pathway 2, 'sexual abuse' directly disinhibits males' sex drive, which again disinhibits aggressive sexual fantasies. This model has been empirically supported using structural equation modeling with both adult and juvenile offender samples (Knight & Sims-Knight, 2003;, as well as community males (Knight & Sims-Knight, 2003).While this model offers an account for why aggressive sexual fantasies are used, it provides less insight into the origin of aggressive fantasy themes. However, Marshall and Barbaree (1990) -in their integrated theory -argue that some males form hostile beliefs about women due to feelings of inadequacy that result from an inability to form close relationships with women. As a result, they introduce themes of power, control, dominance, and even aggression into their sexual fantasies as a way to bolster their sense of masculin...

Sexual Fantasies and Harmful Sexual Interests: Exploring Differences in Sexual Memory Intensity and Sexual Fantasy Characteristics

“…As those with harmful sexual interests continue to engage in sexual fantasizing, their fantasy characteristics can increase and vice versa, hypothetically leading to the formation of an offence script that resembles preferred sexual memories (McGuire et al, 1965; Ward & Hudson, 2000). Thus, sexual memories that possess intense visual clarity and other sensory information may encourage repeated use of corresponding sexual fantasies due to enhanced sexual arousal and desire, heightening contextual risk of behavioral enactment, especially among fantasy-prone individuals (Bartels et al, 2020). Taken together, future research would benefit from exploring how sexual fantasy characteristics and memory intensity translate to harmful sexual behaviors, including the predictive utility of sexual memory intensity specifically.…”

Fantasy Sexual Material Use by People with Attractions to Children

“…A range of approaches might thus be used to explore this more deliberative experience of fantasy, in line with the DPM-SF. In support of this notion, Bartels and colleagues reported how having people engage in cognitive tasks (e.g., consciously performing bilateral eye movements) while engaging in sexual fantasizing reduced important markers of the experience of fantasizing [ 35 , 36 ]. For example, those who engaged in fantasizing while moving their eyes from side-to-side reported how their fantasies were less vivid, less positive, and less arousing than participants who were not asked to engage in eye movements.…”

High risk sexual fantasies and sexual offending: An overview of fundamentals and interventions

“…A second personality trait that may play a moderating role is fantasy proneness, defined as a deep and profound involvement in fantasy and imagina tion (Rhue & Lynn, 1987). Individuals scoring high on fantasy proneness measures have been found to engage in more frequent sexual fantasizing, including that which involves deviant content (Bartels, Harkins, & Beech, 2020). However, further research is needed to determine the correlation between fantasy proneness and offending behavior.…”

“…For example, a man may sexually fantasize about rape if it is congru ent with the belief that women are sexual objects who will enjoy sex even if it is forced upon them. Indeed, rape-supportive beliefs in community men have been found to be correlated with sexual fantasies about dominance (Bartels & Gannon, 2009;Zurbriggen & Yost, 2004) and rape (Greendlinger & Byrne, 1987), and hostile beliefs about women have been found to be associated with sexually aggressive fantasies (Bartels et al, 2020).…”

“…Since both the task and the imagery compete for working memory resources, the experience of the mental imagery becomes impaired. The DPM-ST proposes that sexual fantasizing requires the resources of working memory as it involves finding, manipulating, and holding in mind the information needed to construct sexual mental imagery (Bartels et al, 2020). Based on this premise, Bartels et al (2018) recruited a non-forensic sample to examine whether the imagery-competing task of bilateral eye-movements (performed while fantasizing sexually) led to an impairment in sexual fantasy content.…”