Males with a powerful sense of entitlement are thrice extra more likely to commit “stealthing” throughout intercourse, based on a brand new College of the Sunshine Coast research.
Stealthing, which has been criminalized in most Australian states over the previous 5 years, is a type of sexual violence that includes the removing of a condom earlier than or throughout intercourse with no associate’s information or consent.
The newest survey of the attitudes of greater than 100 males builds on a rising physique of UniSC-led analysis into the psychology behind the bodily and mentally dangerous conduct recognized scientifically as Non-Consensual Condom Removing (NCCR).
Proof means that 8 to 32 % of girls and 5 to 19 % of males have skilled it.
Scientific psychologist and lead researcher Dr Andrew Allen stated the research recognized two deeply held perception patterns that would predict males’s intention to “stealth”.
“The primary was a way of entitlement or grandiosity, in different phrases believing that guidelines do not apply to you; and males who confirmed this sample had been greater than thrice extra more likely to report arousal and intent to have interaction in stealthing,” Dr Allen stated.
“The second was punitiveness, or the tendency to punish others for not complying along with your needs, which is related to missing empathy and being judgmental.
“We anticipated the entitlement discovering however the position of punitiveness – suggesting that some males could also be drawn to NCCR as a type of retaliation towards a associate – has not been documented beforehand.
On the flip aspect, the research discovered that males with higher confidence in condom use had been much less more likely to commit NCCR. This means that sensible sexual well being abilities might decrease the danger elements and improve security for companions.”
Dr. Andrew Allen, College of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Allen stated the first-of-its-kind exploratory research constructed on bigger analysis with the identical collaborators from UniSC and the Cairnmillar Institute in Victoria.
“We beforehand discovered hyperlinks between narcissism, psychopathy and stealthing,” he stated. “Principally, all of those traits reinforce a constant image of self-serving beliefs and disrespect for a associate’s autonomy growing the danger of offending.”
Findings are printed in a 2026 paper within the Psychology, Crime and Legislation journal, and a 2024 paper in Psychology and Sexuality journal.
Dr Allen is a member of UniSC’s Sexual Violence Analysis and Prevention Unit and director of the UniSC Psychology Clinic.
“Additional research are important as a result of comparatively little is understood concerning the psychological elements behind this crime,” he stated.
“It not solely violates consent but additionally exposes victims to sexually transmitted infections, undesirable pregnancies and lasting emotional hurt.”
He stated the findings already had direct medical relevance.
“Psychological therapy packages may particularly handle these two cognitive patterns, whereas neighborhood prevention efforts may embody them in consent training and challenges to unhealthy gender norms.”
Queensland made stealthing unlawful in September 2024.
Supply:
College of the Sunshine Coast
Journal reference:
Allen, A., et al. (2026). The connection between early maladaptive schemas and non-consensual condom removing in an Australian pattern. Psychology, Crime & Legislation. DOI: 10.1080/1068316x.2026.2640594. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1068316X.2026.2640594.
