Latest news with #psychopathy
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
2 Ways ‘Dark Personalities' Justify Cheating, By A Psychologist
People who cheat may not think they've done anything wrong, especially if they have dark personality ... More traits that make them less empathetic and less likely to take responsibility. Cheating, whether sexual or emotional, can cause deep hurt and emotional distress to the person being cheated on. But what goes through the mind of someone who cheats? Do they feel any guilt, shame or remorse or do they just try to cover their tracks? More importantly, what drives them to cheat? One 2013 study published in Ethics & Behavior found that people who are thrill-seekers and behave impulsively without thinking about the consequences of their actions are likely to cheat in relationships. They may exhibit underlying traits associated with the Dark Triad, a group of socially aversive personality traits including: In fact, a 2024 study published in the Culture and Evolution found that dark personality traits — especially psychopathy — can shape people's dating behavior and incidences of infidelity. Researchers found that higher scores of psychopathy were associated with the willingness to be unfaithful to one's partner. Such partners, especially men with this trait, were also more suspicious of their own partners being unfaithful to them. While not all partners who cheat have dark personality traits, those who do often share certain justifications for their behavior. Here are two insights into why people with dark personality traits cheat. 1. They Stay In Long-Term Relationships But Continue To Seek Excitement It may seem contradictory, but individuals high in Dark Triad traits often pursue long-term relationships to appear socially acceptable, while still chasing short-term thrills. Menelaos Apostolou, author of the 2024 study, suggests that from an evolutionary perspective, this is likely also because long-term relationships offer emotional and financial support and are best suited for raising children. However, evolution may have favored a 'mixed strategy,' where someone has a long-term partner but also occasionally seeks out casual relationships on the side. Dark personality traits might actually help pull this off, since such people are more willing to take risks or manipulate others, all while avoiding guilt, which can support this mixed-mating strategy. However, this behavior comes at a cost. The more partners a person tries to juggle, the more likely they are to get caught. According to Apostolou's study, individuals high in psychopathy were significantly more likely to be caught cheating. To make matters worse, people with Dark Triad traits often dominate the relationship, leaving their partner struggling to cope with the betrayal. 'Sexual infidelity is much more problematic when the relationship is unequal, and the partner with the most power is unfaithful, particularly if the inequality means that the other partner would have great difficulty exiting the relationship,' explains Natasha McKeever, PhD, in her 2020 study on the moral justification and severity of sexual infidelity. 2. They Distrust Their Partner Because They Assume Everyone Cheats Cheating isn't wrong simply because it hurts one partner, but rather, because the hurt is reasonable. For instance, a man exhibiting jealousy simply because his partner is talking to another man reflects unfair expectations. This dynamic can escalate in extreme ways, as seen in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial involving Grammy-winning rapper Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi. Kid Cudi testified in the trial, alleging that Combs broke into his home and threatened him due to Cudi's past relationship with Combs' ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Ventura also alleged that Combs told her he would blow up Cudi's car, and shortly after, his car did explode in his driveway. Though Combs denied the allegation, the incident illustrates how some individuals may attempt to exert control over their current or former partners, even through intimidation or violence, to prevent them from forming new relationships. This is often the case with cheaters exhibiting Dark Triad traits. People who cheat more often are also more likely to suspect their partners of cheating because they tend to distrust others and assume that others act the same way they do. In Apostolou's study, men with high psychopathy scores were especially suspicious of their partner's fidelity, even when no signs of infidelity were present. This is because such partners cheat more frequently themselves. And if they don't trust themselves to remain faithful, they likely wouldn't trust you either. By committing sexual infidelity while pretending to be monogamous, the manipulative partner gains exclusive emotional and sexual access to the other person, who is under the impression that the relationship is still exclusive. But when the partner at fault gets caught, the illusion quickly falls apart. This can leave the betrayed partner feeling overwhelmed with feelings of anger, anxiety or even the painful belief that something is wrong with them. If you've been cheated on, it might help to understand where such behavior stems from and recognize it before it causes you any further harm. If you're the one who has cheated, it helps to reflect on what has driven your behavior and the far-reaching consequences it can have for those around you. Are you curious if you are inclined to cheating on your partner? Take the evidence-based Propensity Towards Infidelity Scale to gain clarity.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Chilling discovery exposes tiny differences between psychopaths and ordinary people
Scientists have discovered what really separates a cold-blooded psychopath from the average person. A team from the University of Pennsylvania has uncovered stark differences in brain structure that may explain why psychopaths think, feel, and behave in profoundly disturbing ways. Using MRI scans, researchers compared the brains of 39 adult men with high psychopathy scores to those of a control group, and what they found was unsettling. In psychopaths, researchers found shrunken areas in the basal ganglia, which controls movement and learning, the thalamus, the body's sensory relay station, and the cerebellum, which helps coordinate motor function. But the most striking changes were found in the orbitofrontal cortex and insular regions, areas that govern emotional regulation, impulse control, and social behavior. In other words, the parts of the brain that keep most people from lying, lashing out or harming others were noticeably compromised. 'These are the very traits psychopaths struggle with,' the researchers explained. However, the scan also revealed weaker connections between brain regions tied to empathy, guilt, and moral reasoning, suggesting that the callous behavior of psychopaths may not just be a personality issue, but is deeply rooted in neural wiring. While some traits, like deception and manipulation, are likely shaped by life experience, the physical brain differences point to a biological foundation for why psychopaths act the way they do. And that, scientists say, could help unlock new ways to identify, and possibly treat, individuals at risk of extreme antisocial behavior. The research, published in European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, found noticeable impairments in the amygdala. This powerful region helps control fear, anger, and emotional recognition, the foundation for behaving like a socially functioning human being. When it's not working properly, the result isn't just mood swings, it's a total breakdown in how a person reads others and regulates their behavior. That disconnect can show up in chilling ways: Psychopaths often can't display emotions through facial expressions, making them appear cold, detached, or unnervingly shallow. Impulsive behaviors stem from the neurological abnormalities found in the study, which explained why less than one percent of the global population are psychopaths, but 20 percent of people in prison display psychopathic tendencies. According to the research, most people don't commit violent crimes, but 60 percent lie in casual conversation, 40 to 60 percent ignore traffic speed limits, and 10 percent have used illicit drugs. Past studies have even suggested that psychopaths may have a malfunctioning mirror neuron system, the part of the brain that helps us mimic and learn behavior by observing others. In other words, where most people would instinctively learn empathy by watching someone cry or suffer, a psychopath might feel nothing. Experts often avoid using the label outright, fearing the stigma it carries. Instead, psychologists use a detailed diagnostic tool known as the Psychopathy Checklist to assess traits and assign a score. Many diagnosed psychopaths don't end up in prison or treatment. They blend in. They learn how to mimic normal emotions, mask dangerous impulses, and move through society unnoticed. A study published in March found a disturbing sign that individuals may be psychopaths. Scientists have found a link between psychopathy and 'sadism' – deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others. Examples of sadism include trolling people online, killing video game characters, killing bugs and even sticking pins on voodoo dolls. So if you engage in these sadistic behaviours – even if it's just making other people feel embarrassed online – you could be a psychopath. The experts, from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, warn that sadism might be more common than previously thought. In disturbing experiments, they found members of the public were more than willing to startle people and inflict harm on bugs. 'Sadistic pleasure, gratuitous enjoyment from inflicting pain on others, has devastating interpersonal and societal consequences,' the experts report. '[Our study] is the first to assess state sadism directed at both humans and animals.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scans Reveal What The Brains of Psychopaths Have in Common
Psychopaths share similarities in brain structure that differ to the rest of the population, a new study reveals, a discovery which could be crucial in developing our understanding of this personality disorder and how it might be treated. Led by researchers from the Research Center Jülich and RWTH Aachen University in Germany, the study compared brain scans of men diagnosed as psychopaths against brain scans from male volunteers without the condition. "Psychopathy is one of the greatest risk factors for serious and persistent violence," write the researchers in their published paper. "In order to detect its neurobiological substrates, we examined 39 male psychopathic subjects and matched controls using structural magnetic resonance imaging and the Psychopathy Check-List (PCL-R)." Related: The PCL-R combines interview results with professional assessments and official records to produce three scores: an overall score, a factor 1 score that measures interpersonal and emotional traits, and a factor 2 score that measures impulsive and antisocial behavior. While there were only slight differences in brain structure corresponding to factor 1 scores, when it came to factor 2, the researchers found significant reductions in certain brain regions among people who scored highly – including in the pons part of the brainstem, the thalamus, the basal ganglia, and the insular cortex. Research has shown these regions mediate control over involuntary actions, and are linked to emotional processing, interpreting sensory information, motivation, and decision making. In other words, these functions play a critical role in determining how we react to our environment. What's more, the brains of psychopathic subjects were found to be around 1.45 percent smaller than those of control subjects, on average. This is tricky to interpret, but might point to developmental problems in people classed as psychopaths. "The present results suggest that the behavioral disturbances that are captured by the PCL-R factor 2 are associated with volume deficits in regions which belong to frontal-subcortical circuits that could be involved in behavioral control," write the researchers. This is a relatively small-scale study with limited diversity of subjects, so further research will be needed to gather more data. The results imply antisocial and impulsive behaviors in those with psychopathic personalities could be heavily influenced by shared neurological characteristics. Future studies may also consider other possible reasons for these differences in brain structure – which could include drug abuse, for example, or traumatic experiences – to help identify cause and effect more clearly. The debate continues about exactly how to classify psychopathy, which typically manifests itself as a chronic lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and a tendency to be impulsive and take risks. Although the level of psychopathy can vary from person to person, it can also lead to aggressive and violent actions, as the researchers behind this latest study point out – and with a better understanding of the condition, that might be something we can change. "In conclusion, these findings are compatible with the dimensionality of the PCL-R construct, and suggest a particularly strong association of antisocial behavior to smaller volumes in widespread subcortical-cortical brain regions," write the researchers. The research has been published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. First Step Towards an Artificial Human Genome Now Underway Nightmares Could Make You 3 Times More Likely Die Before 75 The Secret to Better Sleep Could Be As Simple As Eating More Fruit And Veggies
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Fascinating and suspenseful' Netflix thriller leaves fans gripped with 'psychopathic' leading man and 'dark' twist
A 'fascinating and suspenseful' Netflix thriller has left fans gripped with a 'psychopathic' leading man and a 'dark' twist. The Occupant first hit screens back in 2020 and is available to watch on the streaming platform. It follows unemployed advertising executive Javier Muñoz (Javier Gutiérrez) who becomes obsessed with the new tenants of the home he had to give up. However, things take a horrifying twist when 'his motives toward the family turn sinister,' according to the synopsis. Despite only having a modest 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Occupant has still managed to collect plenty of praise from fans. High On Films penned: 'The main reason why The Occupant works is Javier Gutierrez's dedicated performance as the psychopathic, dejected advertiser who would go to any heights to get what he wants.' Pittsburgh Magazine described it as 'fascinating to watch'. While another said: 'Excellent scenario, I didn't expect it to end this way, it is a suspenseful movie indeed. And a great performance by Javier Gutierrez.' 'Fantastic character study of greed and psychopathy in a capitalistic society. It's a slow burn, but well worth it,' another gushed. Someone else said: 'Great movie, nice plot.' Though not everyone was a fan and one penned: 'Not one of the best Spanish films. you invest your time in the story but all you get is a totally unbelievable plot.' 'To call this a thriller is an over statement. It's mostly a drama. Pretty boring,' someone else said. Another thriller on Netflix has been making waves amongst fans too. The Wrath Of Becky premiered in 2023 and has recently been added to the streaming platform. Despite only having a modest 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Occupant has still managed to collect plenty of praise from fans Though not everyone was a fan and one penned: 'Not one of the best Spanish films. you invest your time in the story but all you get is a totally unbelievable plot.' Packed full of action and blood, the highly acclaimed film stars Lulu Wilson as the titular lead character, a teenage girl. Becky moved in with a new caregiver, Elena, and finds herself seeking revenge after a trio of extremists cause her hassle and steal her pet dog. The film follows on from a 2020 prequel, called Becky, which saw the young girl lose her father after a group of Neo-Nazi convicts attacked their family's lake house. Fans have enjoyed the film over the years and many have left their verdicts online. The Occupant is available to stream on Netflix.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Georgia attractive to 'dark' personalities, study suggests
The Brief A new study has found a direct link between adverse societal conditions and the dark personalities who live among them. People with a "dark factor of personality" are associated with behaviors like aggression, cheating, narcissism, exploitation and more. Those "dark" traits come with "high social costs," researchers say. Researchers trying to understand "dark" personality traits like narcissism, psychopathy and sadism have found a direct link between those characteristics and places with high corruption, poverty and violence. The study, conducted by three researchers from the University of Copenhagen and published in the scientific journal PNAS, used data from 1.8 million people in 183 countries, including 144,000 people in the United States. What they found is a moderate correlation between adverse social conditions and the dark personalities of people who live among them. Although the proven link between society and personality is considered moderate, the impact can be profound, researchers concluded. RELATED: These are the happiest cities in America, according to a new study Big picture view According to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the dark factor of personality is defined as "the tendency to maximize one's individual utility while disregarding, accepting, or malevolently provoking disutility for others," and "hold beliefs that, in their minds, justify their anti-social behavior." RELATED: Luke Combs admits his struggle with 'obscure' mental health disorder can be 'all-consuming' What they're saying "Aversive personality traits are associated with behaviours such as aggression, cheating, and exploitation – and thus with high social costs," Ingo Zettler, one of the study's authors, said in a news release. "In societies where rules are broken without consequences and where the conditions for many citizens are bad, individuals perceive and learn that one should actually think of oneself first," he continued. "Our findings substantiate that personality is not just something we are born with, but also shaped by the society we grew up and live in." Local perspective Charts from the study show the following states have the most adverse societal conditions: Louisiana Mississippi New Mexico Alabama Texas New York New Hampshire Utah Minnesota Vermont Wisconsin Iowa Nevada New York Texas South Dakota Alabama Georgia Vermont Utah Maine Oregon Alaska New Hampshire What you can do Researchers said governments that reduce corruption and inequality could "not only create better living conditions just now – they may also contribute to mitigating aversive personality levels among citizens in the future." The Source This report includes information from the PNAS scientific journal and the University of Copenhagen.
