New scientific research suggests that bisexual women may have psychological traits more like those found more often in men. A Canadian study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that bisexual women are more likely to exhibit traits of what is known as the Dark Triad. This triad is called dark because these three traits are negative ones associated with “problem” people, so the LGBTQ community will probably not be happy with this news.
The Dark Triad is a psychological construct encompassing three interrelated personality traits. These include narcissism, which is characterized by excessive self-love, entitlement, and a lack of empathy. Narcissists tend to have grandiose self-views and exploit others to maintain their inflated egos. Then there is Machiavellianism which involves manipulative and cunning behavior, often with a focus on personal gain at the expense of others. Machiavellians are skilled at deception and often lack moral principles.
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The third trait is psychopathy which is marked by impulsivity, thrill-seeking, and a lack of remorse or empathy. Psychopaths can be charming and manipulative, but they often engage in antisocial behavior.
It’s important to note that the Dark Triad refers to subclinical levels of these traits, meaning they are not severe enough to qualify as mental disorders. However, high scores on these traits can still have negative consequences for individuals and their relationships.
This study aimed to explore how sex and sexual orientation influence traits related to sexuality and behavior. By comparing individuals with varying degrees of same-sex attraction to heterosexual counterparts, we sought to identify patterns associated with sexual orientation diversity. Previous research has established sex differences in personality traits, such as higher Dark Triad scores (narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) in males and lower sociosexuality (interest in casual sex) in females. These differences may be linked to variations in sexual arousal and inhibition.
A total of 1,474 female and 573 male undergraduate students from two Canadian universities participated in this study. Participants completed questionnaires assessing personality, sexual behavior, and sexual orientation. Researchers compared heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual individuals within each sex to determine whether heterosexual participants exhibited traits or behaviors characteristic of the opposite sex.
A large undergraduate sample (N=2047) confirmed established sex differences in Dark Triad traits, sociosexuality, and sexual arousal and inhibition. Non-heterosexual women exhibited some masculine-typical traits, but these tendencies were most pronounced in those identifying as mostly heterosexual or bisexual. Surprisingly, the relationship between sexual orientation and sociosexuality, as well as sexual arousal, followed a non-linear pattern, particularly among women, with a peak at intermediate levels of same-sex attraction. These findings suggest distinct developmental pathways for bisexuality and homosexuality.
Scott W. Semenyna, an assistant professor of psychology at MacEwan University and the study’s author, said, “Understanding how traits vary across sexual orientation groups gives scientists clues about better ways to classify and understand them. Patterns of personality variation also tell us what theories are more likely to apply to the development of these attraction patterns.”
“This study built on past research showing that bisexual females and males aren’t necessarily a ‘midpoint’ between exclusive same-sex attractions and heterosexual attractions, but are instead distinct groups,” he added. “This study expanded this research by considering four sexual orientation groups (heterosexual, mostly-heterosexual, bisexual, and exclusively same-sex attractions) and measuring traits like sociosexuality (interest in casual sexual behavior), sexual excitation (the tendency to become easily sexually aroused), and sexual inhibition (the tendency to suppress or constrain sexual arousal).”
