The role of impulsivity in the relation between Dark Tetrad personality traits and paraphilic interest: an EEG study

A paraphilic interest is defined as a sexual interest in an atypical target (e.g., animals, children) or activity (e.g., being urinated, showing own genitals unexpectedly). Two factors have been found to correlate with the development of a paraphilic fantasy into a paraphilic behavior: impulsivity and personality traits, in particular those of the so-called “Dark Tetrad”: Machiavellianism, sadism, psychopathy and narcissism. The study, conducted using a general population of students (N=52), had the goal to examine whether a relationship exists between the Dark Tetrad personality traits and paraphilic interest. Furthermore, since past research found that high rates of impulsivity are associated with the reduction of the amplitude of P3 and N2 ERPs in the Go/No-Go Task and that impulsivity is associated to both Dark Tetrad and paraphilic interest, we examine the role of impulsivity in the relation between Dark Tetrad personality traits and paraphilic interest, using electrophysiological ERPs. The study identified a positive correlation between Dark Tetrad personality traits and engagement in paraphilic activities. In particular, our study assessed that sadism and psychopathy are the most predictors of engagement in paraphilic activities. Furthermore, psychopathy has been found as most correlated to fetish, masochist and sadist activities. Unexpectedly, impulsivity has not been found to have any moderation effect or interaction with paraphilic interest and Dark Tetrad personality traits. Lastly, contrary to our expectations, the results do not show any significant correlation between the reduction of N2 and P3 and high scores in paraphilic interest or Dark Tetrad personality traits, except for sadism that showed a negative and significant correlation with P3.

A paraphilic interest is defined as a sexual interest in an atypical target (e.g., animals, children) or activity (e.g., being urinated, showing own genitals unexpectedly). Two factors have been found to correlate with the development of a paraphilic fantasy into a paraphilic behavior: impulsivity and personality traits, in particular those of the so-called “Dark Tetrad”: Machiavellianism, sadism, psychopathy and narcissism. The study, conducted using a general population of students (N=52), had the goal to examine whether a relationship exists between the Dark Tetrad personality traits and paraphilic interest. Furthermore, since past research found that high rates of impulsivity are associated with the reduction of the amplitude of P3 and N2 ERPs in the Go/No-Go Task and that impulsivity is associated to Dark Tetrad and paraphilic interest, we examine the role of impulsivity in the relation between Dark Tetrad personality traits and paraphilic interest, using electrophysiological ERPs. The study identified a positive correlation between Dark Tetrad personality traits and engagement in paraphilic activities. In particular, our study assessed that sadism and psychopathy are the most predictors of engagement in paraphilic activities. Furthermore, psychopathy has been found as most correlated to fetish, masochist and sadist activities. Unexpectedly, impulsivity has not been found to have any moderation effect or interaction with paraphilic interest and Dark Tetrad personality traits. Lastly, contrary to our expectations, the results do not show any significant correlation between the reduction of N2 and P3 and high scores in paraphilic interest or Dark Tetrad personality traits, except for sadism that showed a negative and significant correlation with P3.