Unpacking Dark Desires: The Role of the Dark Tetrad and Schadenfreude in Sexual Fantasies

ABSTRACT

Background: The topic of dark personality traits and the emotional construct of schadenfreude have attained the spotlight over the last decade and gained popularity in terms of understanding their characteristics, behaviours and mindset. Sexual fantasies have also garnered relating interest, and a bridge between these constructs hypothetically began to take form. Methodology: In line with prior research and ideations, this study aimed to establish a meaningful and strong correlation between the constructs of the Dark Tetrad personality traits, schadenfreude and the types of sexual fantasies, while also finding significant predictors of sexual fantasies. It also attempts to add to the lack of literature on gender differentiations between such dark traits and fantasies and put an evolutionary outlook in the same. Results: The data was obtained from 124 young adults (Females = 64, Males = 60) using standardised measures of The Short Dark Triad Scale, The Short Sadistic Impulse Scale, The Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire, and 3 scenarios to assess Schadenfreude. Conclusion: The study provides a major insight into how dark personality traits, emotions and fantasies manifest in subclinical populations with accounted gender differentiation, and puts forth a case of the vastness and depth of the dark tetrad and schadenfreude, accounting for their influential roles in manifesting specific sexual fantasies.