A striking new study published in PNAS has mapped where people with so-called “dark” personality traits—such as psychopathy, narcissism, and everyday sadism—are most likely to reside, linking these traits to broader social conditions such as poverty, inequality, and violence. The findings, drawn from multiple datasets and encompassing 1.8 million individuals across 183 countries and 144,000 participants in the United States, offer new insights into how environment and society can shape individual psychology (NewsNationNow).
This research, led by a team that included a personality psychologist from the University of Copenhagen, has deep implications for policymakers, mental health professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection between society and psychology. With “the dark factor of personality” serving as an umbrella term for traits associated with manipulation, self-interest, and lack of empathy, the study goes beyond sensational portrayals of psychopathy to highlight the real societal conditions where these personality types may cluster.
Globally, the study identified Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States as the countries with the highest prevalence of dark personality traits. Within the U.S., the research drilled down to the state level, singling out Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, South Dakota, and New York as states where these personality features are most prevalent. At the other end of the spectrum, Utah, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, and Alaska had the lowest concentrations.
Researchers arrived at these results by integrating major economic and crime indicators. They drew on corruption estimates from the World Bank, U.S. Census Bureau data on inequality and poverty, Justice Department corruption convictions, and FBI homicide rates. By combining these metrics, they quantified the degree to which environments are perceived as aversive, or “rule-breaking without consequences,” as described by the University of Copenhagen’s lead psychologist.
In a statement to the university, this personality researcher explained: “In societies where rules are broken without consequences and where the conditions for many citizens are bad, individuals perceive and learn that one should actually think of oneself first.” This learned self-interest, fostered in harsher environments, is what researchers believe fuels the development and prevalence of these darker personality traits.
For Thai readers, the implications are both far-reaching and immediate. While the study did not specify Thailand’s position in global rankings, its findings are highly relevant given the nation’s regional disparities, periodic challenges with corruption, and societal debates over fairness and opportunity (World Bank). The research emphasizes not just individual pathology, but the environmental factors—many of which can be addressed through policy changes—that help shape personality on a population level. In other words, improving societal integrity and reducing inequality may have psychological ripple effects across generations.
It’s important to note that the study is not without limitations. For one, it relies on survey-based self-assessments, which can introduce bias or inaccuracies. The authors also acknowledge uncertainty about how long respondents have lived in a given place prior to being surveyed, making it hard to disentangle whether individuals with dark personalities move to certain places, or are shaped by them. Still, the scale and ambition of the project offer a compelling new perspective.
This research dovetails with classic Thai values rooted in the concept of “namjai” (น้ำใจ) or generosity toward others, and the Buddhist embrace of empathy and social harmony. The findings suggest a societal imperative to reinforce these values through equitable policy, not just personal virtue.
Looking ahead, experts urge that societal reforms combating corruption and inequality are likely to yield benefits beyond just material welfare. “This means that reforms that reduce corruption and inequality not only create better living conditions just now—they may also contribute to mitigating aversive personality levels among the citizens in the future,” concludes the lead researcher.
For Thai policymakers, and indeed for citizens, the message is clear: social and economic reforms are about more than just statistics—they shape the moral and psychological character of the nation. Parents and educators can help by cultivating empathy and ethical reasoning in children, and by supporting national efforts to strengthen the rule of law and social fairness.
Practical recommendations for readers include supporting initiatives that increase transparency and accountability, staying informed about local governance, volunteering in community efforts to support those in need, and fostering open discussions in families and schools about ethical behavior and civic responsibility.
For further information on Thailand’s own progress in fighting corruption and improving social equity, readers can consult sources such as the World Bank Thailand profile and local research from the Thailand Development Research Institute.