The Prediction and Mediating Role of Lifetime and Daily Aggressive Sexual Fantasies: An Experience-Sampling Study

Aggressive sexual fantasies (ASF) have consistently been associated with different sexual-aggression measures and mediated the effects of other risk factors on sexual aggression. Little, however, is known about the predictors of ASF and whether they should be considered as an independent risk factor for sexual aggression or rather an expression of aggression-related sexual interests. The present study, therefore, assessed lifetime ASF cross-sectionally (N = 422; Mage = 28.14; SD = 9.76) and over a 14-day experience-sampling period (n = 230; Mage = 27.38; SD = 9.08). Of the participants, 87% reported to have experienced ASF at least once in their lives; 11% reported ASF during the experience-sampling period. Psychopathy, violent pornography consumption, sexual interest in sexual sadism, and the interactions between hypersexuality and sexual-abuse experiences, Machiavellianism, and sexual interest in sadism were associated with higher lifetime ASF. Sexual interest in sadism positively predicted ASF during the experience-sampling period, but only in men. Lifetime ASF were the strongest predictor of sexual aggression and mediated the cross-sectional associations between sexual interest in sadism, hypersexuality, and violent pornography consumption and sexual aggression. These findings support the notion that ASF are an important cognitive risk factor for sexual aggression, partially independent from sexual interest, and require stronger attention by research and practice.