Feminism evokes different opinions, views and beliefs. Environmental and social factors also play an important role in shaping feminist beliefs. However, this sociological concept has serious psychological roots. The study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, examines the dark triad, a group of malevolent personality traits — narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy — and their connection to feminist beliefs, providing a deeper look at the psychological mechanisms behind feminism.
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What are the characteristics of the Dark Triad?
The study expanded the Dark Triad to include three negative personality traits that significantly influence feminist opinions. These three traits are narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. They are highly toxic, manipulative, vengeful and exploitative of others.
Narcissism involves an inflated sense of self-importance, a desire to be admired, and a sense of entitlement. Meanwhile, Machiavellianism is a deceptive, manipulative approach to social interactions focused on gaining power by any means, including lying. Psychopathy is characterized by high impulsivity, low empathy, and a lack of concern for the feelings and well-being of others.
Taken together, these traits make a person self-centered, cold, competitive, and domineering. Typically, Dark Triad traits are associated with traditional male gender roles.
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The connection between the Dark Triad and feminism
Researchers surveyed 343 men and women from the UK, all from different backgrounds. Participants completed an assessment measuring Dark Triad traits and their attitudes toward feminism. The obtained data confirmed that the Dark Triad traits are more common in males as they scored higher on these traits than females.
However, participants with higher Dark Triad scores, regardless of gender, were more likely to hold less favorable views of feminism and hold more conservative views. This suggests that while men and women may support feminist ideas on the surface, people with darker personality traits may resist feminist ideas on a deeper level. This is due to their competitive, dominance-oriented personalities.
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