#Psychopathy

A new meta-analysis has shed light on the complex links between hormonal activity and psychopathic tendencies, raising the prospect of more nuanced approaches to identifying and supporting at-risk youth. The study, published in Psychology & Neuroscience, draws on 25 years of worldwide research and upends some previous assumptions about the biology of personality disorders, with potential implications for prevention and mental health services in Thailand and beyond (psypost.org).

At its core, the research reviewed studies examining the role of endocrine system hormones—such as cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, oxytocin, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)—in the development of psychopathic traits, especially during the sensitive years of adolescence and early adulthood. The strongest and most consistent finding was a statistically significant association between higher baseline levels of cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—and the impulsive, antisocial dimension of psychopathy.

A sweeping new global study shows that people living in societies plagued by corruption, inequality, poverty, and violence are significantly more likely to develop what psychologists term “dark” personality traits, including psychopathy, narcissism, and machiavellianism—a finding with profound implications for social policy and Thai society. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, analyzing data from nearly 2 million individuals across 183 countries, report that social adversity is a strong predictor of psychological tendencies towards selfishness, aggression, and exploitation, raising key questions about how governance and environment shape the character of entire populations (Phys.org, news.ku.dk).

A groundbreaking international study has revealed that resilience—an individual’s ability to adapt positively to stress and adversity—can significantly buffer the development of psychopathic traits in people exposed to childhood trauma. Published in the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, the findings suggest that fostering resilience may be key to reducing the risk of harmful personality tendencies among those who have faced early adversity (PsyPost).

For Thai readers, where childhood trauma and its long-term impacts are often topics handled with caution or stigma, this new research underscores a vital message: not all individuals who suffer adversity in youth are inevitably set on a path toward antisocial or emotionally detached behavior. Instead, personal resources like adaptability, problem-solving, and persistence can dramatically alter one’s life trajectory.

Could a person’s face betray their darkest personality traits? A recent study featured in international news coverage, including a widely read article on Newsweek, has sparked lively debate with the claim that psychopathy and other so-called “dark triad” traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—can indeed be detected from someone’s facial appearance alone. Drawing insights from the latest scientific advances, the study challenges traditional notions about whether people can reliably spot dangerous or manipulative individuals by their looks—a topic with major implications for Thai society, given the importance placed on first impressions, face, and social harmony.