The 2024 United States presidential election stirred a maelstrom of political divisiveness, with sentiments running hot on both sides. Amidst the cacophony of rhetoric and recrimination, a flurry of research emerged seeking to understand the psychological underpinnings of Trump supporters. A study published in PsyPost, a prominent psychology-focussed online journal, made a groundbreaking claim: Trump backers exhibited significantly higher levels of narcissism and psychopathy compared to average Americans.
The author Craig Neumann, a Regents Professor of Psychology at the University of North Texas, explained how a study involving over 9000 participants gathered evidence from personality questionnaires which covered political attitudes, personality traits, and empathy.
Notably, those who identified as Trump supporters scored substantially higher on negative factors, indicating a stronger presence of narcissistic and psychopathic traits.
“The findings consistently showed that people who identified as politically conservative—and especially those who rated Trump’s presidency highly—were more likely to score higher on measures of authoritarianism, social dominance, and malevolent personality traits.”
These findings carry profound implications. They suggest that Trump’s ascendancy to the presidency was not merely a product of political opportunism or an anomalous event, but rather reflects a larger cultural and psychological phenomenon. The study’s results imply that narcissistic and psychopathic tendencies may be more prevalent among individuals who lean right on the political spectrum.
But does this exclusively pertain to Trump supporters in the United States, or might there be analogous patterns observable in right-leaning voters worldwide? The evidence, while not exhaustive, points to a potential global phenomenon.
Google states: “Research indicates that individuals with higher scores in narcissistic, psychopathic, and Machiavellian traits—often referred to as the “Dark Triad” or “Dark Tetrad”—are more likely to align with right-wing political ideologies, particularly right-wing populism, authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation.”
A Google search went on to explain that studies have found an association between right-wing political orientation and dark personality traits. What’s more the phenomenon of ‘National Narcissism’, which is an inflated belief in the superiority of one’s nation, is especially associated with right-wing views particularly a ‘them and us’ attitude. The research also indicates that people with psychopathic traits are more likely to be drawn to extreme political views (both right-wing and left-wing) because they desire to cause chaos and disruption.
While these studies do not always specifically target Trump supporters, they do hint at a broader global pattern. It appears that certain personality characteristics – namely narcissism and psychopathy – may be overrepresented among right-wing voters in multiple nations.
Theories attempting to explain this phenomenon abound. Some attribute it to evolutionary factors, suggesting that conservative ideologies may have developed as a means to cope with scarcity and uncertainty in past environments. Others point to social and economic conditions, arguing that feelings of economic insecurity or status anxiety can drive individuals towards more authoritarian and narcissistic beliefs.
Ultimately, the reasons behind this association remain complex and multifaceted. However, the accumulating evidence suggests that the psychology of some right-wing voters may be characterised by a unique blend of narcissistic self-aggrandisement, manipulative tendencies, and a relative lack of empathy – a cocktail that has undoubtedly contributed to the rise of populist leaders like Trump globally. As we grapple with the political and social implications of these findings, it is essential to confront the uncomfortable truth that the far right may be fuelled, in part, by the dark undercurrents of human nature.
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See also:
Research shows Trump supporters demonstrate higher levels of psychopathy, narcissism, manipulativeness and callousness
https://www.psypost.org/trump-supporters-report-higher-levels-of-psychopathy-manipulativeness-callousness-and-narcissism
The impact of dark tetrad traits on political orientation and extremism: an analysis in the course of a presidential election
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844017316882
The impact of dark tetrad traits on political orientation and extremism: an analysis in the course of a presidential election
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5680983/
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