title: Sex differences in same-sex direct aggression and sociosexuality: the role of risky impulsivity.
abstract: Sex differences in same-sex direct aggression and sociosexuality are among the most robust in the literature. The present article evaluated the hypothesis that both can be explained by a sex difference in the willingness to take impulsive risks. Self-report data were gathered from 3,775 respondents (1,514 female) on same-sex aggression, sociosexuality, and risky impulsivity. Risky impulsivity was higher for men than for women (d = .34) and path analysis showed it to be a common cause of same-sex aggression and sociosexuality for both sexes. However, it did not completely mediate the sex differences in same-sex aggression and sociosexuality. The results suggest that same-sex aggression and sociosexual behavior share a common psychological mechanism, but that fully explaining sex differences in aggression requires a more sensitive assay of impulsive risk and a consideration of dyadic processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK. c.p.cross@durham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Catharine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cross
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011594:Psychometrics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult