Dark Personality Traits & Career Choices: What Jobs Do Psychopaths & Narcissists Avoid?

The career path someone chooses isn’t random. Within psychology, it’s well-established that personality plays a significant role in determining the jobs people ultimately pursue. Numerous personality tests and studies suggest that caring and outgoing individuals often gravitate toward certain fields, while practical types lean toward others, and conscientious people select yet another direction. But what about those with darker personality traits? What jobs do individuals exhibiting psychopathic, narcissistic, or egoistic tendencies actively seek?

A new study led by psychologist and professor Ingo Zettler at the Copenhagen Centre for Social Data Science (SODAS) at the University of Copenhagen, is beginning to address this question. Zettler, recognized as a leading researcher in what he terms the “dark side of human nature,” has undertaken one of the first investigations into the correlation between these darker traits and career choices. Illustrert Vitenskap reports on the findings.

The Jobs Where Dark Traits Thrive

Zettler’s research, conducted with an international team, reveals a notable pattern: individuals with darker personality traits tend to avoid certain types of jobs. More importantly, the data indicates a preference for specific career paths. While the study doesn’t pinpoint a single profession universally favored, it highlights a clear trend toward roles offering power, status, and the opportunity for manipulation.

Specifically, the study points to careers in fields like law, business management, and certain areas of sales and marketing. These positions often provide avenues for individuals to exploit others, exert control, and achieve personal gain, aligning with the motivations of those exhibiting narcissistic and psychopathic tendencies. It’s vital to note that this doesn’t imply everyone in these professions possesses these traits. rather, the study suggests a higher concentration of individuals with these traits within these fields.

Understanding the “Dark Triad”

The “dark triad” of personality traits – narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy – are characterized by a distinct lack of empathy, a tendency toward manipulation, and a focus on self-interest. Psykologhuset.se details several personality theories, including trait theories which emphasize measurable personality characteristics. Narcissism involves an inflated sense of self-importance and a demand for admiration. Machiavellianism is characterized by a cynical worldview and a willingness to manipulate others to achieve goals. Psychopathy, the most severe of the three, involves a lack of empathy, remorse, and a propensity for antisocial behavior.

Zettler’s study doesn’t delve into the specific nuances of each trait, but rather focuses on the broader category of “dark traits” as a whole. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the overall pattern of career choices. It’s also crucial to understand that these traits exist on a spectrum; individuals may exhibit some characteristics without necessarily meeting the clinical criteria for a personality disorder.

The Role of Personality Testing

Personality assessments, like the Large Five model, are commonly used in recruitment processes. This model assesses five core personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. While these tests can provide valuable insights into a candidate’s potential fit for a role, they often focus on positive traits and may not effectively identify individuals with darker tendencies.

The Big Five model, as described by Psykologiskatest.se, provides a framework for understanding personality based on these five broad dimensions. However, newer research suggests that focusing on the sub-dimensions (or facets) within each factor can provide a more precise assessment. This is particularly relevant when attempting to identify individuals with potentially problematic personality traits.

Beyond Traits: The Influence of Environment

While personality plays a significant role, it’s not the sole determinant of career choice. Environmental factors, such as upbringing, education, and socioeconomic status, also exert a considerable influence. As Mindler.se explains, personality is shaped by both genetics and environment. Individuals with dark traits may be drawn to certain professions not only due to the fact that of their inherent characteristics but also because of the opportunities these fields provide for advancement and recognition.

the organizational culture of a company can either exacerbate or mitigate the effects of these traits. A highly competitive and cutthroat environment may reward manipulative behavior, while a more collaborative and ethical culture may discourage it.

Limitations and Future Research

Zettler’s study represents an important first step in understanding the relationship between dark traits and career choices. However, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations. The study relies on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias. Individuals with dark traits may be reluctant to admit their true motivations or may present themselves in a more favorable light. The study doesn’t establish a causal relationship between personality traits and career choices; it only demonstrates a correlation.

Future research should explore the leverage of more objective measures, such as behavioral assessments and peer evaluations, to validate these findings. It would also be valuable to investigate the specific mechanisms through which dark traits influence career success and to examine the ethical implications of these findings for recruitment and leadership development.

Next Steps: Further investigation will likely focus on refining assessment tools to better identify these traits and understanding how organizational structures can either enable or counteract their negative effects. Longitudinal studies tracking individuals over time could also provide valuable insights into the long-term consequences of these career choices.