Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40887461›Full record

SynthesisJournal of personality2026

The Relation Between Psychopathy and Sexual Aggression: A Meta-Analysis.

Melissa Packer West, Tianwei V Du, Kaela Van Til, Joshua D Miller, Donald R Lynam

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of personality, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Melissa Packer WestDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7161-5860
Tianwei V DuDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0603-1353
Kaela Van TilDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6939-8796
Joshua D MillerDepartment of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1280-2863
Donald R LynamDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8306-498X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivePsychopathy is a multifaceted, hierarchical construct that has been linked to aggression and antisocial behavior. The triarchic model of psychopathy comprises three underlying, distinct trait domains: boldness, disinhibition, and meanness. Understanding how psychopathy at general and factor levels relates to sexual aggression is critical given its connection and the serious repercussions of sexual aggression.

methodThis preregistered meta-analysis (k = 117) examined the relationship between psychopathy at the total construct and triarchic levels and sexual aggression in adult samples. A relative weights analysis was used to produce triarchic psychopathy scores from commonly used psychopathy measures and the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM).

resultsPsychopathy evinced a moderate, positive relationship with general sexual aggression as well as most specific forms of sexual aggression except for rape and child molestation. At the triarchic level, meanness and disinhibition related positively and boldness negatively to sexual aggression. Other moderation analyses revealed significant heterogeneity in study methods and characteristics that can explain variability in psychopathy's relations with sexual aggression.

conclusionsPsychopathy relates moderately to various forms of sexual aggression. The relationship depends on multiple factors. Understanding these mechanisms can inform prevention, treatment, and risk assessment of damaging sexual acts.

Indexed as

AggressionAntisocial Personality DisorderSex OffensesSexual BehaviorAdultFemaleHumansMalemeta‐analysispersonalitypsychopathysexual aggressiontriarchic model of psychopathy

Identifiers

PMID40887461
PMCPMC13163617

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.