If someone told you that you have a dark personality, you would cringe or protest vehemently.
Few people want to be associated with negativity.
You may not have a dark personality, but how do you know if the person you are dealing with does? Get a better understanding of what this personality is and how to tell if someone has it. Additionally, learn why dark personality is so attractive so you don’t fall prey to it.
What is a Dark Personality?
The term dark personality is fairly straightforward. It refers to anyone who has a personality that is less sympathetic than others. These personalities are negative because they exhibit deviant or even antisocial behaviors.
The professional definition of this phrase goes deeper than the definition above. Psychologists refer to it as the study of distinct personality types. They explore the Dark Triad, a topic that focuses on the three negative traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. These experts also study people with psychopathic and sociopathic tendencies.
What are Dark Personality Types?
Most people know that dark personalities are negative, but misunderstandings persist. They are poorly received by the public due to their questionable behavior, so they avoid getting to know them. So, who are they?
- Psychopaths
First and foremost, psychopaths. These individuals are products of the environment. Psychopaths act in negative ways because they have experienced trauma. Their psychopathic behavior serves as a coping mechanism; as a result, they respond poorly in violent or sexual situations.
- Narcissists
The next dark personality type is the narcissist. While all people have self-esteem, narcissists have an inflated self-esteem. They are infallible towards themselves. Narcissism, like other personality traits, varies in its strength.
- Psychopaths
Another dark personality type is psychopathy. Psychopaths exhibit harmful behaviors towards others because they have distinct brain differences. The brain of a psychopath may show damage to the frontal lobe, cerebral cortex, and insula. The frontal lobe regulates a person’s morality, so they may exhibit psychopathic behavior if something tears it apart.
- Machiavellianism
Then, there’s the Machiavellian personality. This person is extremely manipulative. Machiavellian personalities may deceive you and deprive you of valuables or love, but they rarely have psychopathic tendencies. However, some are narcissistic.
Dark Personality Signs
You may be concerned because you suspect that someone you know has a dark personality. If the person exhibits any of these traits, you’re not far off the mark.
First and foremost, negative personalities tend to manipulate others for their own gain. They will trick you until they get what they want. Then there are the shady personalities who flatter you. They may flirt with you unexpectedly and ask you for favors.
Additionally, negative personalities may lack morals. They show no remorse after hurting you and make careless and cruel comments. Many of these comments are sarcastic. Boasting is a prominent trait of dark personalities. They brag because they have low self-esteem and find it difficult to accept that others are ahead of them.
Last, but not least, the trait of dark personalities is sarcasm. They have a pessimistic view of the world and tend to thwart attempts at progress.
Dark Personality Attractiveness
Dark personality doesn’t seem to be a desirable personality. So why do people with shady personalities attract partners so easily?
A study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior answers this question. It suggests that dark personality traits are attractive because they are unconventional. For example, a rebellious man may seem sexy. Impulsivity also ranked high on the attractiveness scale.
How to Deal with a Dark Personality
Dark triad members are difficult to deal with because of their skills in spreading doubt, anger, and shame. So, how do you stop them from getting ahead of you?
First, be aware of how you’re feeling. Under normal circumstances, anger is unhealthy if it’s not managed well. However, if you’re interacting with dark personalities, be aware of your anger because you don’t want them to manipulate you.
The next point to note about associating with shady characters is that you cannot change them. They enjoy your failure, so they will do anything to sabotage your attempts to manage their behavior.
You must also decide whether you should continue the relationship with them. Weigh the pros and cons of associating with people who treat you poorly. Finally, draw your boundaries and know where you stand. Follow your heart.
In conclusion, if you have dark characters in your life, do not despair. A little insight will help you put things in perspective and deal with them.
