If somebody possesses one of the traits listed below, they may well have the others too. There is something like a dark core, which is the common denominator of these traits. If one manifestation of the core is present, the others might also appear. By understanding how these people operate, we can identify the characteristics at an early stage and protect ourselves against them, according to an article on the blog of the psychcentral.com website.
Dark traits
- Egoism: an excessive preoccupation with one’s own advantage at the expense of others.
- Machiavellianism: a belief that the ends justify the means, manipulative and callous.
- Moral disengagement: a cognitive processing style in which unethical behaviour causes no distress whatsoever.
- Narcissism: a sense of superiority and an extreme need for attention from others.
- Psychological entitlement: a belief that one deserves better treatment than others because one is better than they are.
- Psychopathy: impulsive behaviour, lack of empathy and self-control.
- Sadism: inflicting mental or physical harm on others for one's own pleasure or benefit.
- Toxic self-interest: a desire to further and highlight one’s own social and financial status.
- Spitefulness: willingness to destroy or harm others, even if it also means inflicting harm on oneself.
People with these traits will also often be convinced that their manipulation or cruel disregard of others is justified. That way they can maintain a positive self-image despite their destructive behaviour. They simply see themselves as being superior and others as less important.
-jk-