Personality
How psychopathic traits relate to everyday life
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
People with higher levels of positive psychopathic traits, such as boldness and social influence, are more likely to hold leadership roles and work in high-risk professions.
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Different psychopathy facets tracked different life outcomes rather than one global effect.
Traits predicted real-world choices with specificity. Fearless dominance was associated with leadership positions and physically high-risk occupations such as law enforcement and firefighting, while self-centred impulsivity and coldheartedness related to non-religious belief.
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How psychopathic traits relate to everyday life
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3388 participants made up the final sample for analysis.
Hence, the final sample for the analyses reported here consisted of 3388 participants, although the precise sample sizes for specific analyses varied slightly depending on missing data.
The survey contained 56 items to evaluate psychopathic traits.
The PPI-R-SF consists of 56 items, answered using 1–4 Likert-type anchors, developed to detect the core affective and interpersonal features of psychopathy; it does not contain items explicitly referencing criminal behavior, rendering it especially appropriate for community samples.
Key findings
The researchers found that individuals with higher scores in fearless dominance were more likely to hold leadership positions and work in physically high-risk occupations like law enforcement or firefighting. Self-centered impulsivity and coldheartedness were linked to non-religious beliefs, with non-believers reporting slightly higher levels of these traits than religious individuals. Additionally, overall psychopathic traits showed weak but positive correlations with political conservatism and were slightly elevated in European participants compared to North American participants.
Methodology
Researchers administered a brief, online version of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised to 3388 participants recruited through a science magazine. The survey consisted of 56 items that measured distinct dimensions of psychopathic traits: fearless dominance, self-centered impulsivity, and coldheartedness. Participants also provided demographic information and answered questions about their occupation, leadership experience, religious beliefs, and political views to determine how these traits relate to everyday functioning.
Limitations
Because this study used a cross-sectional design, it cannot prove that having psychopathic traits causes someone to choose certain careers or reject religion. The sample was drawn from readers of a science magazine, making it highly educated and potentially not representative of the general population. Additionally, all data relied on self-reports, which means results could be influenced by participants exaggerating their accomplishments or managing their impressions. The study also cannot distinguish whether high-risk jobs cultivate these traits over time or if individuals with these traits simply self-select into those professions.
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