Deakin research: Why psychopaths, narcissists prefer meeting romantic partners in person

Swiping right could be the safer way to date, with new research showing offline casanovas are more likely to be psychopaths.

Recent Deakin University research has found narcissists, psychopaths and sadists prefer to meet romantic partners face-to-face. Picture: iStock

Psychopaths and narcissists prefer to meet romantic partners in person rather than online, new research has found.

With online scams and catfishing increasing, many people may feel safer avoiding online dating apps, but research from Deakin University’s School of Psychology found people with elevated dark tetrad (D4) personality traits show a preference for face-to-face meetings.

D4 personality traits include psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism.

Deakin’s team surveyed about 500 men and women aged between 18 and 70, measuring their D4 personality traits, dating preferences including what they’re looking for in a partner and preferred dating method, and any past dating experiences.

Lead author Dr Richelle Mayshak said initial research suggested people who preferred using face-to-face dating methods, and those who scored higher in grandiose narcissism, were more likely to engage in anti-social dating behaviours like harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and physical or verbal aggression.

Dr Mayshak said people with D4 traits often expressed the desire to find long-term partnerships. Picture: iStock

However, the Geelong Advertiser recently revealed 10 Geelong residents had faced court during the past two years after coming into contact with their victim on a dating app or website,

Dr Mayshak said when participants were asked what they were looking for, it appeared those with dark personality traits wanted many of the same connections as lighter personality trait counterparts.

“For example, people with elevated D4 traits often expressed the desire to find long-term partnerships, valued connecting with others, and enjoyed the physical contact and material benefits of face-to-face meetings,” she said.

“They also expressed unhappiness with the deceptive dating practices associated with online dating, which may be associated with a desire to manipulate and control their potential dating partners in ways that are more difficult online.”

Dr Mayshak said it was important to understand the motivations behind anti-social behaviour by those often labelled as perpetrators but are also more likely to report problems with their dating experiences.

“Individuals with elevated D4 traits are often perceived as abusers, yet people high on these traits, especially women, reported many instances of online and offline dating victimisation, expressed frustration and concerns pertaining to deliberate misrepresentation on the part of their dating partners, and revealed a high sensitivity to rejection,” Dr Mayshak said.

“We’ve also found that people scoring higher in psychopathy may be more likely to report experiencing coercive controlling behaviours (for example manipulation, intimidation, gaslighting) in their face-to-face dating interactions, suggesting a need to further explore these experiences.”

Originally published as Deakin research: Why psychopaths, narcissists prefer meeting romantic partners in person