Primary and Secondary Psychopathy and Mate Preference: Do Psychopaths Find Their Counterparts Attractive
Abstract
Previous literature suggests psychopaths are attractive for romantic relationships, and that they engage in assortative mating. The aim of this study was to identify whether this is due to the affective (primary) or behavioural (secondary) components of psychopathy and if there are differences in longevity. 167 female and 48 male participants were recruited primarily through a university participant panel and the data were collected via an online survey programme. In this study participants ranked the attractiveness (long and short term relationships) of personality vignettes, 3 of each high and low primary and secondary psychopathy profiles which were paired with pictures of individuals of the opposite sex an of average attractiveness. Participants then completed the Psychopathy sub-scale of the Short Dark Triad. The present study builds on the work of Blanchard, Lyons and Centifanti (2016) by addressing limitations and using a more specific form of analysis. The results found no patterns of assortative mating, however a significant interaction was identified between longevity of attractiveness attractiveness and the vignette type, with a significant preference being found in both sexes for high primary and high secondary vignettes in short term relationships, suggesting both primary and secondary psychopaths are attractive for short term relationships.
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