People with psychopathic personality traits ‘have a disproportionately large impact’ on the COVID-19 pandemic because they ‘fail to protect themselves and others’, study claims

Personality plays a big part in a person’s willingness and ability to adhere to social distancing and other coronavirus-related health guidelines, a study has found.  

Researchers found people with psychopathic personality traits such as meanness and disinhibition are more likely to disregard official advice.  

An assessment of more than 500 Americans compared adherence to public health guidelines with a comprehensive review of their personality. 

A score was given for narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy — the so-called Dark Triad — as well as agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Dr Pavel Blagov of Whitman College led the study and found a high psychopathic score was linked to a tendency to ignore and breach public health rules. 

‘There may be a minority of people with particular personality styles (on the narcissism and psychopathy spectrum) that have a disproportionate impact on the pandemic by failing to protect themselves and others,’ 

Read More: People with psychopathic personality traits ‘have a disproportionately large impact’ on the COVID-19 pandemic

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