The dark tetrad and mating effort’s influence on sexual coaxing and coercion across relationship types

ABSTRACT

Implied precedence (i.e., the persons involved having had a prior sexual relationship) increases sexual coaxing and coercion (SCC). We examined whether General personality, the Dark Tetrad (Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Sadism) and mating effort, influenced this association. HEXACO personality, Mating Effort (ME), Short Dark Triad (SD3), Sadism, and Tactics to Obtain Sex Scale (TOSS) measures were completed by 151 participants (M:F:Other = 45:103:3; mean age = 31.97, SD = 11.6). Coaxing varied more than coercion, but wasn’t affected by gender or gender-intimacy interaction. Propensity for SCC with a current partner was higher than for an ex-partner or a neighbour, and for an ex-partner compared to a neighbour. SD3, sadism, and ME scores correlated with TOSS scores. Emotionality, Machiavellianism, and ME constructs significantly predicted coaxing, but only ME uniquely predicted coercion. These results suggest individual factors to consider in relationship advisory services and campaigns.

KEYWORDS:

• Dark Tetrad
• psychopathy
• narcissism
• Machiavellianism
• sadism
• mating effort
• sexual coaxing
• sexual coercion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.