Individual Differences in Men's Misperception of Women's Sexual Intent: Application and Extension of the Confluence Model

Men are more likely than women to misperceive a cross-sex companion's degree of sexual interest. The current study extends previous research by using the confluence model (Malamuth et al., 1991) to examine how narcissism and impulsive sensation-seeking are directly and indirectly associated with men's misperception of women's sexual interest. 

A community sample of young, single men (N = 470) completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews. Using path analyses, hostile masculinity and impersonal sexual orientation were proximal predictors of men's misperception of women's sexual intent. 

Additionally, narcissism was indirectly related to men's misperception through hostile masculinity. Impulsive sensation-seeking was directly and indirectly related to men's misperceptions through impersonal sexual orientation. Although there was a bivariate relationship between alcohol consumption and misperception, this relationship was not significant in the path model. 

Overall, these findings demonstrate the importance of considering how personality traits increase the risk for misperception.

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By:  Wegner R1, Abbey A1.

• 1Wayne State University. 
• Pers Individ Dif. 2016 May 1;94:16-20.

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