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People with dark personality traits are naturally inclined towards leadership roles, finds new study

Phys · · 684 words · By Sanjukta Mondal
Personality Traits and Career Paths

A new study analyzed the relationship between facets of the dark triad personality traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and career interests among over 600 undergraduate students. The research found that most dark triad facets correlated with an interest in 'influence,' suggesting a tendency toward leadership roles. The authors caution that these findings are based on student survey data and may not reflect real-world professional patterns.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-people-dark-personality-traits-naturally.html

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10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

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Loaded Language 60% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

16 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 8
schedule Pending 6
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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“A new study suggests that people's job choices may offer some clues, especially in fields built on leadership and persuasion such as business, politics, and law, where such darker traits are more common.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results discuss the general relationship between personality traits and career roles, noting that research exists in this area, but none of the provided snippets confirm the specific claim that job choices *may* offer clues, especially in leadership/persuasion fields like business, politics, and law, as a definitive finding.
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web search NEUTRAL — Although the association between personality traits and leadership has been extensively examined across diverse contexts, systematic reviews synthesizing recent empirical evidence remain ...
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394285899_Exploring…
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web search NEUTRAL — The current study also explores the relationship between personality traits and career role enactment, but includes a potential mediating mechanism. Indeed, previous research has left the question as …
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6671867/
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web search NEUTRAL — Moreover, we review recent trends in personality-performance research, such as personality development and dynamics, non-self-rated personality measures, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). W…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X2…
info
“Those in creative fields or nature-focused work may be more likely to encounter individuals with a Machiavellian way of thinking, according to findings published in Personality and Individual Differences.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided confirms general information about Machiavellianism from Wikipedia and web searches, but none of the sources mention the specific finding regarding individuals in creative or nature-focused fields encountering people with Machiavellian traits, or cite the journal *Personality and Individual Differences* for this specific correlation.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The MACH-IV is a 20 question Likert scale psychometric designed to test levels of Machiavellianism in individuals. In personality psychology, Machiavellianism refers to a personality construct which c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MACH-IV_(test)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In the field of personality psychology, Machiavellianism (sometimes abbreviated as MACH) is the name of a personality trait construct characterized by manipulativeness, indifference to morality, lack …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiavellianism_(psychology)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sex differences in psychology are differences in the mental functions and behaviors of the sexes and are due to a complex interplay of biological, developmental, and cultural factors. Differences have…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_differences_in_psychology
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“The cold, callous, and sometimes manipulative behavior of people we encounter in everyday life, including at work, may stem from a set of personality traits known as the dark triad—psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms that the Dark Triad (including Machiavellianism) is a recognized construct in psychology, but none of the provided sources directly link the 'cold, callous, and sometimes manipulative behavior... in everyday life and at work' to this triad as a definitive cause, beyond general definitions.
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web search NEUTRAL — A missing child sets four families on a frantic hunt for answers as they unearth a mind-bending mystery that spans three generations. Starring: Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Jördis Triebel. Creators:…
https://www.netflix.com/title/80100172
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web search NEUTRAL — Dark received critical acclaim and has been listed by many publications as one of the best TV shows of the years 2017, 2019, and 2020, as well as of the 2010s, 21st century, and of all time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_(TV_series)
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web search NEUTRAL — Dark: Created by Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese. With Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Lisa Vicari, Maja Schöne. A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of…
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5753856
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“To gain a more nuanced answer to the question of whether our personality traits quietly steer us toward certain careers, a team of researchers from Singapore and the United States broke the dark traits triad into seven smaller facets: psychopathy split into boldness, meanness, and disinhibition, along with Machiavellian views and tactics and narcissistic admiration and rivalry.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results mention research on psychopathy facets (boldness, meanness, disinhibition) and the Dark Triad, but none of the provided snippets confirm the specific finding that researchers from Singapore and the United States broke the triad into exactly seven facets: psychopathy (boldness, meanness, disinhibition), Machiavellian views/tactics, and narcissistic admiration/rivalry.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The empathising–systemising (E–S) theory is a theory on the psychological basis of autism and male–female neurological differences originally put forward by clinical psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen. It…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathising–systemising_theory
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Intimidation is a behavior and legal wrong which usually involves deterring or coercing an individual by threat of violence. It is in various jurisdictions a crime and a civil wrong (tort). Intimidati…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intimidation
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Whistleblowing (also whistle-blowing or whistle blowing) is the activity of a person, often an employee, revealing information about activity within a private or public organization that is deemed wro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblowing
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The team first surveyed more than 600 undergraduate students at a large U.S. university, spanning a spectrum of majors from biology and psychology to business and political science, to assess their personality traits.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results mention studies using student data from universities (e.g., Duke University), but none of the provided snippets confirm the specific details that researchers surveyed *over 600 undergraduate students at a U.S. university* spanning majors from biology to political science to assess personality traits.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The S&P SmallCap 600 (S&P 600) stock market index, maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, comprises the common stocks of 600 small-cap, mostly American, companies. Although called the "S&P 600", the ind…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_S&P_600_companies
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The AeroVironment Switchblade is a family of man-portable loitering munitions designed by AeroVironment and used by several branches of the United States military and also exported to other countries.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroVironment_Switchblade
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The S&P 500 is a stock market index maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices. It comprises 503 common stocks which are issued by 500 large-cap companies traded on the American stock exchanges (including th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_S&P_500_companies
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Then two weeks later, the same participants completed a detailed survey on their career interests, based on the SETPOINT framework, which groups careers into seven domains: health science, creative expression, technology, people, organization, influence, and nature.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results confirm the existence of a study involving undergraduate students (N=609) and a vocational interest inventory assessing SETPOINT, listing the seven domains (Health Science, Creative Expression, Technology, People, Organization, Influence, Nature). However, the evidence does not confirm the exact timeline ('two weeks later') or the specific structure of the SETPOINT framework as described.
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web search NEUTRAL — Undergraduate students (N = 609) completed facet-level measures of the Dark Triad and, two weeks later, a vocational interest inventory assessing SETPOINT (Health Science, Creative Expression, Technol…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188692…
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web search NEUTRAL — Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Requires awareness of personal skills, values and interests, 1. assessing strengths, weaknesses, needs and preferences will help to ide…
https://quizlet.com/419368948/formulas-for-career-success-ca…
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web search NEUTRAL — The document is a career interest survey that asks the user to circle their preference between pairs of activities in order to determine their top career interests. It then provides a chart to tally t…
https://www.scribd.com/document/419712932/Career-Interest-Su…
info
“In psychopathy, people with boldness—confident, composed under pressure, and naturally influential—tended to gravitate toward health science.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results provide a direct link between psychopathy and health science interests, specifically mentioning 'boldness' in relation to career preferences, but this is only found in the context of the specific study cited in the evidence.
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web search NEUTRAL — Psychopathy, or psychopathic personality, [1] is a personality construct [2][3] characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, persistent antisocial behavior, [4] along with bold, disinhibited, and eg…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
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web search NEUTRAL — Nov 7, 2024 · Traditional mental health management approaches like psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication may help manage symptoms like impulsivity and aggression. Medications may also help manag…
https://www.healthline.com/health/psychopath
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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 29, 2026 · Genetics and childhood trauma are primary causes of psychopathy. Treatment for psychopathy has traditionally had limited effectiveness, but it can help you learn key social skills....
https://www.health.com/psychopathy-8597784
info
“Those with meanness, characterized by low empathy and hostility, showed a stronger interest in technology and hands-on mechanical work.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results provide a direct link between meanness (low empathy, hostility) and an interest in technology/hands-on mechanical work, but this specific finding is only present in the provided evidence set.
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web search NEUTRAL — Growing interest in the career preferences of dark personalities has led to empirical investigation into the relationship between Dark Triad traits and vocational interests. However, little research h…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188692…
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web search NEUTRAL — Psychopathy, or psychopathic personality, [1] is a personality construct [2][3] characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, persistent antisocial behavior, [4] along with bold, disinhibited, and eg…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
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web search NEUTRAL — Those with meanness, characterized by low empathy and hostility, showed a stronger interest in technology and hands-on mechanical work.
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-people-dark-personality-traits…
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“Disinhibition, the impulsive facet, was linked to creative expression, such as arts and design, alongside practical, hands-on roles.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, despite the evidence count suggesting relevance.
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“People with Machiavellian views showed interest in leadership roles, and those who related to the tactics were more drawn to roles in creative expression and nature, such as working outdoors or with animals.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered for this claim, despite the evidence count suggesting relevance.
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“Overall, [Machiavellianism] showed a clear tendency to steer away from people-focused careers.”
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“Narcissism, driven by a need for praise and a strong focus on rivalry, was linked to interests in influence and creative expression.”
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“Most of the seven dark triad facets were tied to influence, suggesting a strong pull toward leadership roles where persuasion and power come into play.”
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“These patterns held true across the board for both women and men.”
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“These results obtained were based on survey data collected from college students, not working professionals, so it remains to be seen whether the same patterns hold in real workplaces.”
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“Publication details: Yan Yi Lance Du et al, Dark vocational preferences: A network analysis of Dark Triad facets and vocational interests, Personality and Individual Differences (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2026.113728”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.