Women with high levels of psychopathy are more likely to engage in physical, verbal, and indirect aggression against other women. While women generally favor covert competitive tactics, those with specific dark personality traits may bypass these social norms to target rivals directly.

Psychopathic women are more likely to use physical aggression

New research provides evidence that **women with high levels of psychopathy are more likely to engage in physical, verbal, and indirect aggression against other women**. The study indicates that **while women generally favor covert competitive tactics, those with specific dark personality traits may bypass these social norms to target rivals directly**. These findings were published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences.

The analysis showed that women who scored higher on the Intrasexual Competition Scale also tended to score higher on Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism. This indicates that women with these traits are more likely to view other women as rivals. Narcissism was the exception, as it did not correlate with intrasexual competition.

Psychopathy emerged as the most consistent predictor of aggressive behavior. Women with higher levels of psychopathy were significantly more likely to report using physical aggression. This finding is notable because it contradicts the general evolutionary trend of women avoiding physical risks. It appears that the lack of empathy and impulsivity associated with psychopathy may override the instinct for self-preservation in competitive scenarios.

Psychopathy also predicted the use of verbal and indirect aggression. This suggests that women high in this trait utilize a versatile arsenal of competitive tactics. They do not limit themselves to covert methods but are willing to employ whatever strategy is available. They appear less concerned with the social or physical repercussions of their actions.

Sadism showed a specific relationship with verbal aggression. Women who scored high on sadism were more likely to use verbal attacks against others. The researchers propose that verbal aggression offers immediate feedback. The perpetrator can instantly see the distress they cause the victim.

This immediate reaction aligns with the sadistic desire to derive pleasure from another’s suffering. In contrast, sadism did not predict indirect aggression. Indirect tactics like rumor-spreading take time to cause harm. The delayed nature of indirect aggression may be less satisfying to individuals with high levels of sadism.

The researchers also found a negative relationship between narcissism and verbal aggression. Women with higher narcissism scores were less likely to engage in verbal attacks. Narcissists often seek to maintain a superior self-image. Engaging in overt verbal altercations might be viewed as beneath them or damaging to their social standing.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-92559-001

I won’t be an armchair psychologist, but I’ve had encounters with women who reflected that pattern of behavior. It’s a weird uncanny feeling trying to tell these adults that like…you can’t throw boiling water at someone who upset you, and then they just blankly stare, going on autopilot until you stop talking. This person also engaged in physical altercations with men as well. Women in particular were not seen as victims though. If they fought with men, afterwards they might come around to apologizing / talking it out. Altercations with women were always the other persons fault with no chance of reconciliation.

Interesting, and I hope more research expands on that.

So the ones that behave as if they were on a mexican telenovela with the gossip and the intrigue and the passive agression are actually the healthy ones?

I’m kinda annoyed that the writing both in the title and beginning of summary do not say “than __”

They are more likely _than what_?

I know it should be obvious to the reader but sometimes it’s not and it makes a huge difference. 

Than other woman? Than male psychopaths? Than the general population? 

Interesting… So all the women flipping out on social media can be labeled psychopaths now?