Dark personalities more prevalent in less democratic countries, massive study shows

[Judi Lynn]

by Eric W. Dolan May 3, 2025

A new study published in Scientific Reports suggests that the type of government a person lives under may be linked to their personality and overall well-being. People residing in more democratic countries reported higher levels of benevolent “light triad” traits, such as kindness and empathy, and lower levels of malevolent “dark triad” traits. These benevolent traits were also associated with greater life satisfaction.

The dark triad refers to a group of three personality traits that are socially aversive in nature: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. These traits are typically characterized by manipulation, selfishness, lack of empathy, and a disregard for others. People who score high on these traits are more likely to exploit others for personal gain, seek admiration without genuine connection, and exhibit emotional coldness or impulsivity. While these traits exist on a spectrum and do not necessarily indicate clinical disorders, they are associated with behaviors that can undermine trust and cooperation in society.

In contrast, the light triad includes traits that reflect a more prosocial and affiliative orientation toward others: Kantianism, humanism, and faith in humanity. Individuals high in these traits tend to treat others as ends in themselves (rather than means to an end), believe in the basic goodness of people, and value the dignity and worth of every individual. The light triad is not simply the opposite of the dark triad; while they are negatively correlated, they capture unique aspects of interpersonal behavior and moral orientation. People with high light triad traits are more likely to engage in empathy, altruism, and cooperative behavior.

The researchers were motivated to conduct this study in light of growing concern about global democratic backsliding and the rise of authoritarian regimes. While previous studies have explored the personalities of political leaders, there has been less attention paid to how ordinary citizens’ traits might relate to the type of government they live under. The researchers wanted to test whether the psychological makeup of a population—particularly in terms of benevolent versus malevolent traits—could be associated with national democratic status.

“There has been a decline in democracy, due to the rise in authoritarian governments, with specific autocrats cited as the main culprits. However, new research shows that characteristics of citizens also play a role in the status of a democracy,” said study author Craig Neumann, a Regents Professor of Psychology at the University of North Texas.

More:
https://www.psypost.org/dark-personalities-more-prevalent-in-less-democratic-countries-massive-study-shows/