⬇️ Prefer to listen instead? ⬇️
- 🧠 Donald Trump was rated higher than Joe Biden in narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism, while both scored similarly in Machiavellianism.
- 🔍 Political affiliation influenced perceptions, with Democrats rating Trump much higher on Dark Tetrad traits and Republicans attributing more dark traits to Biden.
- 🎭 Narcissism and Machiavellianism were sometimes seen as politically advantageous, while psychopathy and sadism consistently reduced voter support.
- ⚖️ Negative perceptions of a candidate’s traits often pushed voters toward the opposing candidate, even if they were not initially supporters.
- 🗳️ The study highlights the role of personality perceptions in elections but is limited by potential biases from media influence and partisanship.
Understanding the Dark Tetrad: Traits and Political Leadership
The Dark Tetrad is a psychological framework comprised of four interconnected personality traits, each associated with varying degrees of manipulativeness, self-interest, and emotional detachment. These traits are:
1. Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism describes a personality inclined toward strategic manipulation, deception, and exploitation for personal gain. Individuals high in this trait are typically pragmatic, calculated in decision-making, and willing to deceive others when advantageous. In politics, Machiavellian leaders may use cunning strategies to maintain power, appeal to different voter bases, or undermine opponents.
2. Narcissism
Narcissism includes characteristics like grandiosity, self-importance, and an excessive need for admiration. Politicians with high narcissistic traits often display charisma, confidence, and persuasive communication, helping them gain media attention and public support. However, excessive narcissism can lead to impulsiveness, entitlement, and insensitivity to criticism.
3. Psychopathy
Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of empathy, impulsivity, and a disregard for moral or ethical considerations. Highly psychopathic individuals may struggle with emotional connections and operate with an opportunistic mindset that disregards consequences. In leadership, psychopathy can manifest in ruthlessness, risk-taking behavior, and a lack of accountability.
4. Sadism
Sadism involves deriving pleasure from inflicting suffering on others—whether emotional, psychological, or physical. In a political context, sadistic tendencies might be reflected in aggressive rhetoric, policies that deliberately harm opposition groups, or a strong enjoyment of others’ failures.
The presence of these traits in political figures can elicit mixed responses. In leadership, some of these characteristics can be beneficial—such as decisiveness, resilience, or strategic manipulation—while others may foster public distrust, controversy, or even rejection at the polls.
The Study: Measuring Perceived Dark Tetrad Traits in Trump and Biden
The study aimed to assess how the American public perceives these traits in political candidates—specifically Donald Trump and Joe Biden—based on subjective evaluations rather than clinical assessments.
Methodology
- Participants: 456 U.S. citizens, aged 20-70, with a mix of political affiliations.
- Assessment Tool: The Short Dark Tetrad Scale, a 28-item questionnaire rated on a seven-point Likert scale.
- Measurement Focus: Evaluations of Trump and Biden on Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism.
- Additional Data: Participants reported their willingness to vote for each candidate, enabling researchers to assess how perceived personality influenced electoral choices.
Since the study measured perceived traits rather than clinical diagnoses, results reflect public opinion shaped by media portrayals, political speeches, and personal biases.
Findings: Who Scored Higher on Dark Tetrad Traits?
Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden
The study revealed significant differences in how participants rated the two political figures:
- Trump was rated significantly higher in three traits: narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism.
- Biden received lower overall ratings on the Dark Tetrad but was perceived as equally Machiavellian compared to Trump.
These findings align with widespread narratives surrounding both politicians—Trump being frequently described as self-aggrandizing and ruthless, while Biden’s political career often portrays him as pragmatic and strategic but not overtly callous.
How Political Affiliation Shaped Perceptions
The study found a clear partisan divide in trait assessments:
- Democrats perceived Trump as displaying the highest levels of all Dark Tetrad traits. Biden was viewed more favorably and seen as lacking extreme dark traits.
- Republicans acknowledged Trump’s narcissism but also more frequently attributed dark traits to Biden than Democrats did. However, they rated him lower overall than Trump.
This divergence illustrates confirmation bias, where individuals interpret leadership traits in a way that aligns with their existing beliefs and political loyalties.
Implications on Voter Behavior: Do Dark Traits Help or Hurt Candidates?
While Dark Tetrad traits generally carry negative connotations, not all of them were viewed as electorally damaging by voters:
- Machiavellianism and narcissism were sometimes perceived as beneficial, especially when associated with confidence, charisma, or political savvy.
- Psychopathy and sadism, however, led to reduced electoral support across the political spectrum. These traits were associated with unpredictability, emotional detachment, and a lack of compassion—qualities that many voters reject in candidates.
Trump’s vs. Biden’s Perceived Traits and Their Impact on Support
- Trump’s narcissism divided voters—Republicans saw it as confidence and strength, whereas Democrats viewed it as egotistical and reckless.
- Biden’s narcissism was viewed more neutrally across party lines, suggesting that his projected confidence was not seen as overbearing.
- Higher perceptions of psychopathy and sadism in Biden increased support for Trump, especially among right-leaning voters.
- When Trump was perceived as highly Machiavellian, some Republicans showed willingness to vote for Biden instead.
These findings suggest that while some dark traits can enhance perceptions of leadership ability, excessive negative traits push voters toward less threatening alternatives.
Dark Traits in Leadership: A Broader Perspective
Beyond U.S. elections, research suggests that leaders across history frequently exhibit Dark Tetrad traits to varying degrees. Political figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Richard Nixon, and Vladimir Putin have been analyzed through this psychological lens, often showing tendencies toward Machiavellian strategy, narcissistic self-importance, and calculated ruthlessness.
However, not all aspects of these traits are inherently negative. Some of history’s most successful leaders leveraged Dark Tetrad traits to:
- Command authority and influence decision-making (Machiavellianism)
- Inspire large groups with unwavering self-belief (Narcissism)
- Take high-stakes risks that shaped world events (Psychopathy)
- Leverage intimidation to deter threats (Sadism)
Yet, taken to extremes, these traits have also led to scandals, authoritarian regimes, and widespread mistrust—showing the fine balance needed in leadership.
What This Means for Future Political Analysis
This study emphasizes how deeply voter perceptions of personality affect political outcomes. While Donald Trump was rated higher on most Dark Tetrad traits, these traits had complex effects on voter willingness—some characteristics boosted support among certain groups, while others deterred voters.
In an era where political branding and media narratives are powerful, understanding the intersection of personality psychology and leadership will be crucial for analyzing elections in the future. Further research is needed to explore whether these perceptions shift over time and how emerging leaders are evaluated on similar psychological scales.
FAQs
What are Dark Tetrad traits, and why are they relevant in political leadership?
Dark Tetrad traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism—are personality traits that influence leadership styles and voter perceptions, often shaping public trust or distrust in political figures.
What does the study reveal about Donald Trump’s and Joe Biden’s perceived Dark Tetrad traits?
The study found that Trump was perceived as higher in narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism, while both candidates were seen as equally Machiavellian.
How do political affiliations influence the perception of these traits?
Democrats rated Trump as significantly more manipulative and ruthless, while Republicans saw Biden as possessing more Dark Tetrad traits than Democrats did.
Do these traits help or hurt politicians in elections?
Narcissism and Machiavellianism can be advantageous, while psychopathy and sadism generally harm voter support.
What are the study’s limitations?
Perceptions were influenced by media and political bias, making results subjective rather than clinically objective.
Citations (APA Format)
- Prusik, M. (2024). Dark tetrad traits in politicians and voter behavior: Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Journal of Research in Personality. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104568
- PsyPost. (n.d.). Psychopathic tendencies linked to a psychological predisposition towards populism. https://www.psypost.org/
