Personality Characteristics and Adaptive Strategies to Cope with Negative Emotional States and Deviant Sexual Fantasies in Sexual Aggressors

Abstract

Research has shown that personality is related to strategies used to cope with stressful situations. No study, however, has investigated the link between personality and coping strategies learned in treatment programs. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine whether the personality of sexual aggressors was related to the strategies used to cope with negative emotional states and deviant sexual fantasies. Personality was assessed using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory–I and coping strategies with the Coping Strategy Report. Two personality profiles were identified: dramatic and anxious. Results showed that respondents with an anxious profile were less likely to use strategies to cope with conflicts and were less effective in coping with deviant sexual fantasies. Moreover, respondents with an anxious profile reported avoidance strategies as most effective to cope with negative moods, whereas those with a dramatic profile reported approach strategies as most effective.