If you think your partner’s high sex drive is just a sign that he or she really likes you, think again.
A new study has revealed how men with high libido are more likely to be narcissistic (a manipulative person who lacks empathy and has an exaggerated sense of self-importance) or sadists (a person who enjoys inflicting pain on others).
Researchers in Canada analyzed surveys of more than 1,100 students that collected information about their sexual desire and pornography use, and assessed them for narcissistic and sadistic personality traits.
Researchers in Canada found a positive association between pornography consumption and personality traits of narcissism and sadism.
Surveys conducted at both schools came to the same conclusion: people who reported higher sexual desire and greater pornography consumption showed stronger symptoms of narcissism and sadism.
And men had the highest scores across the board.
He studypublished in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, postulated that increased sexual desire and narcissism may be related due to a narcissist’s assertive, bold, and outgoing personality, as well as his or her arousal-seeking behavior and constant need for gratification from others.
This may lead them to have more opportunities to have sex, and their desire for arousal may cause them to loosen or abandon sexual inhibitions.
The researchers wrote: ‘The confidence, talkativeness and charm of narcissists induce positive first impressions.
“The result is greater success in dating and, presumably, mating. “More frequent sexual activity would then lead to self-inferences of high sexual desire.”
They continued: ‘Narcissists are also known to invest in their appearance, thus promoting real sexual attractiveness. Consequent dating success and subsequent sexual activity would again promote the inference of high sexual desire.’
The relationship between sadism and hypersexuality was less definitive, but a link between the two has long been theorized.
Elevated testosterone levels may be an underlying factor in both, as men, who have higher levels of the hormone, are more likely to meet the criteria for sadism and also report deeper sexual desires than women.
Additionally, the researchers postulated that “everyday” sadism and pop culture depictions of it in television shows and movies “arouse sexual arousal.”
This can lead some people, especially those with a higher sexual desire, to associate sadistic acts with sexual arousal and pleasure.
This “everyday” sadism could also lead to hypermasculinity in everyday behaviors.
However, researchers noted that sadism as part of BDSM (a term used for a variety of consensual sexual behaviors including bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadism) is not associated with negative sadistic tendencies and may be harmlessly motivated recreation. because of boredom. and desire for enhanced sexual experiences.
Still, the team said the links between sexual desires and sadism “deserve greater attention.”
To measure the relationship between these traits and sex, the researchers surveyed 1,180 students between the ages of 17 and 29 at two different universities. They were asked to report sexual desire and pornography use and complete a questionnaire measuring the Dark Tetrad aspects of their personality.
The ‘Dark Tetrad’ is a set of four negative personality traits that include narcissism and sadism.
The researchers said that “everyday” sadism in pop culture and movies, such as 50 Shades of Gray (pictured above), “arouses sexual arousal.” This could lead people with higher sexual desire to associate sadistic acts with sexual desire.
The researchers also noted that sadism as part of BDSM (shown above in 50 Shades of Grey) is not associated with the Dark Tetrad and may be harmless recreation motivated by boredom.
There is no exact number of people who suffer from narcissism, but some people with severe narcissism may be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which is estimated to affect between 0.5 and five percent of Americans. .
NPD is a diagnosable mental health condition marked by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
Similarly, some people who display extreme levels of sadism may be diagnosed with the psychiatric condition, sadistic personality disorder, and one study found that eight percent of people would meet that criterion.
Common signs include experiencing increased sexual arousal in response to involuntary extreme pain, suffering, or humiliation from other people.
It is estimated that between two and 30 percent of the population meet the criteria of being sexually sadistic, which includes couples agreeing to inflict pain or mild discomfort on each other for the sexual satisfaction of all participants.