If you think your partner’s high sex drive is just a sign that he/she really likes you, think again.
A new study has revealed how men with a high libido are more likely to be a narcissist – a manipulative person who lacks empathy and has an exaggerated sense of self-interest – or a sadist – a person who derives pleasure from inflicting pain on others.
Researchers from Canada analyzed surveys from more than 1,100 college students that collected information about their sex drive and pornography use, and rated them for narcissistic and sadistic personality traits.
Researchers in Canada found a positive link between pornography consumption and personality traits of narcissism and sadism
Surveys at both schools came to the same conclusion: People who reported a higher sex drive and more pornography consumption showed stronger symptoms of narcissism and sadism.
And men scored the highest on all aspects.
The studypublished in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, stated that increased sexual desire and narcissism may be linked due to a narcissist’s assertive, bold, and social personality, as well as their excitement-seeking behavior and constant need for gratification from others.
This could lead to them having more opportunities for sex and their desire for excitement could lead them to let go or let go of sexual inhibitions.
The researchers wrote: ‘Narcissists’ self-confidence, smoothness and charm create positive first impressions.
‘The result is more dating success and probably also more mating success. More frequent sexual activity would then lead to self-inferences of a high sex drive.”
They continued, “Narcissists are also known to invest in their appearance, promoting actual sexual attractiveness. The resulting dating success and associated sexual activity would again favor the conclusion of a high sex drive.”
The relationship between sadism and hypersexuality has been less definitive, but a link between the two has long been theorized.
Elevated levels of testosterone 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, researchers stated that “everyday” sadism and its pop culture portrayals in TV shows and movies “spark sexual arousal.”
This can cause some people – especially those with a higher sex drive – to associate sadistic acts with sexual arousal and pleasure.
This ‘everyday’ sadism could also lead to hyper-masculinity in everyday behavior.
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 a harmless recreation which is motivated by boredom. and desire for enhanced sexual experiences.
Still, the team said the links between sexual desires and sadism “warrant more attention.”
To measure the relationship between these traits and gender, researchers surveyed 1,180 students aged 17 to 29 at two different universities. They were asked to self-report sex drive and pornography use and complete a questionnaire measuring their personality aspects of the Dark Tetrad.
The ‘Dark Tetrad’ is a set of four negative personality traits, including narcissism and sadism.
The researchers said that ‘everyday’ sadism in pop culture and films, such as 50 Shades of Gray (pictured above), ‘sparks sexual arousal’. This could lead people with a higher sex drive to associate sadistic acts with sexual desire
Researchers also noted that sadism as part of BDSM (shown above in 50 Shades of Gray) is not associated with the Dark Tetrad and may be a harmless recreation motivated by boredom.
There are no exact numbers 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 illness characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy
Similarly, some people who exhibit extreme levels of sadism may be diagnosed with sadistic personality disorder, with one study finding that eight percent of people would meet that criterion.
Common symptoms include experiencing increased sexual arousal in response to involuntary extreme pain, suffering, or the humiliation of other people.
Separate data estimates that between two and thirty percent of the population meet the criteria for being sexually sadistic, which includes partners who agree to inflict mild pain or discomfort on each other for the sexual gratification of all participants.