Are All Not What They Seem? An Exploration of Proactive and Reactive Perpetrator Profiles in Young, Heterosexual Men with a History of Sexual Aggression

Sexual aggression toward women is pervasive in society and widespread on college campuses. Despite extensive research on its predictors and increased implementation of prevention programs, the prevalence of sexual aggression remains high. This has led to growing recognition of the need to distinguish between perpetrator profiles. This study examined whether the distinction between proactive and reactive aggression, a key distinction in aggression research, can help differentiate subtypes of men with a history of sexual aggression. A total of 619 young, heterosexual men (M = 22.50, SD = 3.40) completed questionnaires assessing various risk factors for sexual aggression that align with proactive and reactive aggression. Using Principal Component Analysis, we found a component reflecting proactive risk factors, and two more reactive components: one related to emotional lability and the other to impulsivity and alcohol use. A two-step cluster analysis, using the three components, revealed four distinct perpetrator subtypes, with three groups showing distinct risk factors - proactive traits, emotional dysregulation, or impulsivity and alcohol use. However, the fourth and largest cluster lacked clear risk characteristics, highlighting the need to explore additional factors, including sexual ones, to refine risk differentiation and prevention efforts.