Violence against women, because of its implications, has been treated as a public health problem since 1996 (United Nations, 1996; World Health Organization, 2019). This violence can take different forms, including sexual violence. The World Health Organization (2013) defines sexual violence as being forced to have unwanted sex, to have sex out of fear of what the other person might do to you, and/or being forced to do something sexual that is humiliating or degrading to the victim. This situation can have significant physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural consequences for victims as for example, increased likelihood of PTSD, depression, anxiety, specific physical injuries, suicide, re-victimization, etc. (Classen et al., 2005; Barker et al., 2019). Understanding the factors that facilitate or predispose to this phenomenon is, therefore, necessary to prevent it.

With regard to the analysis of the variables (Table 1), direct correlations can be observed between all the variables studied. Participants’ gender shows the highest correlations with scores on aggression myth acceptance and pornography viewing, with males tending to score higher on these measures, confirming H₃. Looking at the relationship between these two variables, acceptance of sexual aggression myths (total scale) and pornography use, an r of 0.21 is obtained (p < 0.01). In terms of the Tetrad traits, the trait most closely related to pornography use was psychopathy (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). The trait most closely related to the overall scale of acceptance of sexual aggression myths was Machiavellianism (r = 0.31, p < 0.01).

Regarding the latent profile analysis (LPA), Table 2 shows the fitting values for the solutions of 1 to 6 different profiles. After analyzing these results and the elbow graph’s results (Figure 1), the most optimal solution was the one with 3 different profiles or classes, partially fulfilling H₂.

Having obtained the most optimal solution for our sample, Figure 2 plots the standardized mean scores of the 3 profiles on the grouping variables (i.e., pornography consumption and Tetrad traits). It can be observed that the first profile, composed of most of the participants (49.5%), presents low scores on all variables, consuming little pornography and scoring low on all personality traits. On the other hand, the second group, made up of 41.3% of the sample, has scores very close to the average on all variables. Finally, the last group (profile 3) could be defined as the group with the most malice. This group has the highest scores in pornography consumption and in all the traits of the Dark Tetrad, with everyday sadism as the most marked trait.

The sample was divided into different profiles; Table 3 shows the existence of differences in the standardized scores between these subgroups. The mean effects of the differences between groups can be observed on the total scale (η_p² = 0.10), as well as in the denial dimensions of the problem (η_p² = 0.07), of antagonism towards the demands (η_p² = 0.08), and exoneration of guilt (η_p² = 0.06). Post hoc comparisons revealed significant differences among the three profiles, particularly evident between profiles 1 and 3 across all dimensions, and between 1 and 2 across all dimensions except for the over-support dimension. Groups 2 and 3 were more similar, only finding significant differences when considering the total AMMSA score and the dimension of antagonism towards demands.

These results, as can be seen graphically in Figure 3, show that profile 1 (participants who scored lowest on the Dark Tetrad and pornography use) have the lowest scores on all dimensions of the Acceptance of Sexual Aggression Myths scale, supporting H₂. Conversely, profile 3 (those with the highest scores on pornography use and the Dark Tetrad) have the highest scores on the AMMSA scale, indicating greater acceptance of sexual aggression myths.

Gender differences, in line with H₃, were observed in all variables included in the study (p < 0.01). The biggest difference, attending to the effect sizes, was observed in the use of pornography and the AMMSA total score variables (Cohen’s d = 1.56 and Cohen’s d = 0.73, respectively). Notwithstanding, women were present in the three groups of the LPA with 83.9% in Profile 1, 73.4% in Profile 2, and 35.2% in Profile 3, indicating an overrepresentation in groups one and two.

For a further analysis of these results, and aiming to test H₄, a regression model was calculated with the total AMMSA score. The results are presented in Table 4. The trait that predicted AMMSA better was Machiavellianism, while sadism did not have an effect, as well as pornography use with no effect in this model. However, it is worth noting that gender also played an important role in this model accounting for a 3.61% in the observed variance change.

The main aim of the present study was to clarify the relationships among the Dark Tetrad, pornography consumption, and the acceptance of sexual aggression myths by the use of variable and person-centred analyses. Our analysis reveals a clear association between higher pornography consumption, elevated Dark Tetrad traits, and increased acceptance of sexual aggression myths. This pattern suggests underlying mechanisms worth exploring further.

In a latent profile analysis, we identified three distinct groups: a majority with low scores on dark personality traits and low pornography use (49.5%), a second group with medium scores on all five measures (41.3%), and a smaller group with high scores on all traits, particularly everyday sadism (9.2%). Notably, higher Dark Tetrad trait scores were consistently associated with greater pornography consumption. These findings may reflect a combination of sensation-seeking tendencies and a possible alignment with desires for power and control found in certain pornographic content (Muris et al., 2020; Pineda et al., 2023; Trapnell et al., 2024).

Regarding the main objective of the study, the three groups showed significant differences in their acceptance of sexual aggression myths. Group 3, with higher Dark Tetrad scores and more frequent pornography consumption, demonstrated a notably higher acceptance of these myths. Our study corroborates previous research by Sánchez-Ruiz et al. (2021), indicating that the Dark Triad traits observed in our study are similarly associated with the acceptance of these myths, although in their case, they focused on rape myths. However, our study extends their work by highlighting that everyday sadism, which they did not assess, is similarly correlated with the acceptance of sexual aggression myths.

As for the analysis of the variables, we observed that Machiavellianism presents its highest correlations with the coercion, denial, and exoneration scales, indicating that those with high scores on this trait tend to use deception as a strategy for sexual purposes, and may use denial of the problem as a form of exculpation of their actions (Lyons et al., 2020). On the other hand, traits such as psychopathy and sadism also had their highest correlations with the denial and exoneration scales, which could be explained by the lack of empathy, deficits in cognitive responsiveness and lack of morality in people who score high on these scales, not understanding the severity of the problem for others and downplaying its importance (Moshagen et al., 2018; Turner et al., 2019; Willmott et al., 2024). These findings would align with the confluence model, emphasizing how these dark personality traits might shape individuals’ perceptions, which, in turn, might influence their tendencies to downplay or deny the severity of sexual aggression, perpetuating a cycle where these traits feed into and reinforce one another within the individual-environment dynamic (Seto et al., 2001; Turner et al., 2019).

In terms of predictive capacity, among the dark personality variables, Machiavellianism exhibited the strongest predictive capacity, whereas psychopathy and sadism showed minimal impact. Notably, consistent with a prior meta-analysis (Ferguson and Hartley, 2022), pornography consumption did not influence the acceptance of sexual aggression myths in the predictive model. Consequently, the disparities observed among profiles primarily align with differences in dark traits.

Trends in the variables analyzed also showed a relationship with the gender of the participants. As expected in relation to the findings of previous studies (Pineda et al., 2020, 2021a), males tended to present higher scores on the Dark Tetrad. Simultaneously, they consumed more pornography, which is also consistent with previous studies (Rostad et al., 2019; Borgogna et al., 2022), even though women were also represented in the three profiles. Finally, men also tended to accept more the myths of sexual aggression, especially those relating to denial of the problem, the use of coercive strategies, and the perception of over-support for victims. The latter could be because men do not identify with the possibility of being victims of sexual aggression and, therefore, tend to downplay the importance of the problem and its consequences. However, this relationship can also be explained by the wording of the items, which refers to the victimization of women (Gerger et al., 2007; Megías et al., 2011).

Previous literature reviews regarding sexual violence prevention have offered different suggestions about how to improve the programs designed to this end (e.g., by increasing the hours of the program, incorporating multiple sessions or focusing on bystanders; Kovalenko et al., 2020; Orchowski et al., 2020). However, there is limited literature regarding the disparities in the populations benefiting from these programs. In this regard, certain authors have emphasized the significance of targeting specific groups (DeGue et al., 2014). Based on our findings, we suggest enhancing program effectiveness by targeting individuals whose personality traits and patterns of pornography use indicate a higher susceptibility to accepting sexual aggression myths. This focused approach may effectively address and engage those more likely involved in such behaviours (Trottier et al., 2021). Our study’s findings may also have implications for the criminal justice system, particularly regarding how dark personalities and sexually aggressive attitudes influence juror decision-making. Research by Willmott (2018) and Lilley et al. (2023) shows that jurors with higher psychopathic traits and rape myth beliefs are more likely to render biased verdicts, even post-deliberation. Understanding these biases could lead to more effective jury selection and training reforms, potentially enhancing trial fairness and outcomes.

However, locating this group might be a challenge when it comes to non-research related fields, and thus non-anonymous situations (Galán et al., 2023). Therefore, several alternative measures are currently being developed to address the issues of self-report-based assessments in this field (Rico-Bordera et al., in press). Additionally, future research should focus on developing and validating tools that more accurately assess the impact of pornography consumption and examine how different types of pornography may influence attitudes toward sexual aggression. Furthermore, longitudinal studies could provide valuable insights into how these relationships evolve over time, offering a clearer understanding of causal pathways and the long-term effects of pornography consumption on sexually aggressive attitudes.

The present research has several limitations. First, it’s important to note the limitation posed by the convenience sampling method employed. Specifically, this method resulted in a sample composition of 74% Western women, potentially impacting the broader generalizability of the findings. Another important limitation of the sample is the lack of data on participants’ sexual orientation, which may be an important factor influencing the variables of interest. Future research should consider including sexual orientation in the assessment to provide a more comprehensive understanding of its potential impact on the findings. Furthermore, as previously mentioned the study uses a cross-sectional design, which limits the ability to draw conclusions about causal relationships between Dark Tetrad traits, pornography consumption, and acceptance of sexual aggression myths. Longitudinal research could better clarify the directionality of these relationships over time.

As for the scales used, the use of self-reported instruments is a very common criticism of these studies given that participants may falsify the answers or offer responses that are marked by social desirability. This is even more significant in the case of socially reprehensible constructs. However, research in this field shows that people with high scores in the Dark Tetrad tend to be sincere, not caring about the image they show to the outside world since they have nothing to gain or lose in the field of research (Galán et al., 2023). Concerning the dark personality traits, it is relevant that they present important overlaps, reaching r = 0.70 between sadism and psychopathy, which may have contributed to the distinguished composition of the groups, without observing any intersections in the profiles. An additional limitation concerns the measurement of psychopathy and dark personality traits. The factorial structure and validity of these traits are debated, with scales like the PPTS and PPTS-R showing inconsistent results (Boduszek et al., 2018, 2022). This underscores the need for further research to improve and standardize psychopathy assessments. Regarding the instrument used to measure the acceptance of modern myths of sexual aggression, some scales, such as coercion or antagonism towards demands presented low internal consistency indices, which could have affected the results.

Finally, the last limitation concerns the measure used to assess pornography use, given the absence of validated measures for this purpose (Fisher and Kohut, 2020). The use of a more specific tool would be more appropriate given the typology of pornography that may influence the acceptance of aggression myths (i.e., degrading, violent, demeaning, objectifying, etc.). In this context, as mentioned in the discussion previous studies, have not found such a relationship between pornography use and sexual aggression, and even a weak correlation when speaking about violent pornography (Borgogna et al., 2022). However, it is worth mentioning that these small differences in the associations between the types of pornography and sexual aggression might be understood from a feminist perspective, considering a large part of pornography as violent or degrading towards women (De Miguel, 2021; Tranchese and Sugiura, 2021).

In conclusion, through an analysis of latent profiles, we have shown that there are different profiles according to the traits of the Dark Tetrad (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism). Specifically, there is a profile (composed of 9.4% of our participants) with high scores on the Tetrad, a higher consumption of pornography, and which is more accepting of the myths of sexual aggression. This may serve as a possible starting point for sexual violence prevention programs, focusing efforts on those who are more likely to accept these myths.