Have you ever wondered how some people can have such dark personality traits, like narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism? Well, psychologists from a recently published study in APA Psycnet have discovered the core of these personality traits, and they’re calling it the D Factor. Keep on reading to discover everything about it.
What Is the D Factor?
Psychologists have long studied dark personality traits such as narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. They wanted to know why these traits exist and where they’re located in our body. Recently, a groundbreaking study of over 2,500 people has identified a single underlying trait that links them all, the D Factor. Researchers from Germany and Denmark discovered that this core tendency drives various harmful behaviors, from manipulation to cruelty, depending on the individual and their environment.
The D Factor explains why some people consistently act in ways that harm others. People with high D Factor scores tend to prioritize their own interests at any cost. They’ll justify their actions regardless of the consequences or harm it does to others. While the specific traits might be different from person to person, for example, some might lie and manipulate, while others engage in aggressive or exploitative behavior, they all stem from the same psychological foundation.
This Explains Dark Personality Traits
By identifying the D Factor, psychologists can better predict destructive behaviors, including deception, violence, and even unethical decision-making in workplaces and relationships. The findings could be crucial for risk assessment in clinical settings and criminal investigations, offering deeper insights into what drives individuals with dark personality traits.
Are you curious about your personal D-score? Then you can test it for yourself! The researchers have developed an online test to measure your D-score. Not everyone has high d-scores, however, having a high score doesn’t inherently mean you’re a bad person. The recent discovery shines a light on the hidden forces of human behavior. We’re also a step closer to understanding them, and manage or mitigate their impact!
Credit:
- APA PsycNet: Study
- Feature photo credit: Sander Sammy/Unsplash
