The nuanced association between deficient empathy and sexual aggression

The relation between deficient empathy and sexual aggression is unclear. To capture the nuance of the relation, this study investigated discrete associations between five empathy deficits and four sexually aggressive strategies used to perpetrate a range of sexual acts against women in an online sample of male postsecondary students (n = 298). Associations between empathy deficits and sexual aggression were small overall. Affective dissonance (discordant affective responses to others? experiences) bore the strongest associations with sexual aggression, followed by low sexual empathy (empathy for partners during sexual interactions). Low affective resonance (concordant affective responses to others? experiences) and callous affect (a disregard for others? affective experiences) bore weaker significant associations. Low cognitive empathy (understanding others? emotions) was unrelated to sexual aggression. Furthermore, empathy deficits were more associated with the use of deception and verbal coercion than force, and not associated with victim-intoxication. These results suggest that the relation between deficient empathy and sexual aggression may be more complex than previously assumed.

Automated summary

The study found that the association between deficient empathy and sexual aggression was small, with affective dissonance and low sexual empathy showing stronger associations with sexual aggression. Low cognitive empathy was unrelated to sexual aggression.