People who don’t like animals are more likely to be PSYCHOPATHS

On-screen psychopaths such as Patrick Bateman in ‘American Psycho’ and Villanelle in ‘Killing Eve’ are often depicted hurting animals. 

Now, a study suggests this character flaw is not just the stuff of fiction. 

Scientists in Serbia have found a link between psychopathy and the belief that animals aren’t as worthy as humans.

People who show signs of psychopathy – such as being impulsive, lying compulsively albeit and having a ‘superficial charm’ – may be more likely to humiliate or even hurt animals as a result. 

Their experiments also suggest animal haters are ‘sadists’, meaning they derive pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation. 

The experts report that ‘dark minds do not like animals’.

‘Violence toward animals has been related to domestic violence and murder,’ say the researchers from the University of Belgrade.

‘[So] any instance of violence toward animals can be relevant for the clinical assessment of antisocial tendencies in children and adults.’ 

The experts wanted to investigate the relationship between attitudes toward animals and what’s known in psychology as Dark Tetrad.

Each of the four Dark Tetrad traits – narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and sadism – are made up of particular undesirable attributes. 

Machiavellianism is characterised by manipulation and exploitation of others, a cynical disregard for morality, and a focus on self-interest and deception.  

Narcissism is characterised by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a lack of empathy, while psychopathy is characterised by enduring antisocial behaviour, impulsivity, selfishness, callousness, and remorselessness. 

Sadism, meanwhile, is characterised by the tendency to be cruel toward others for pleasure or dominance, by inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation. 

In the first part of the study, 369 participants completed questionnaires measuring Dark Tetrad traits and their attitudes to animals, such as ‘prosocial intentions’. 

Attitudes to animals also included their dietary habits, namely whether they consumed meat instead of a more plant-based diet. 

After controlling for age, sex and educational level, the researchers found that higher levels of psychopathy and sadism were linked to so-called ‘speciesism’. 

Speciesism is a prevalent belief in modern society that humans should be treated as morally superior to other animals. 

This way of thinking includes ‘disregarding the ability of non-human animals to suffer’ and leads to the exploitation of animals – whether for food, clothing or lab experiments. 

Psychopathy and sadism were also linked with being less likely to help animals, while Machiavellianism was marginally related to meat consumption, although narcissism did not play a significant role. 

‘We found that the so-called Dark Tetrad traits, in particular psychopathy and sadism, are related to higher speciesism – support for animal exploitation,’ Dr Marija Branković told PsyPost. 

‘However, the general social attitudes are even more important for our relationship to animals.’ 

A second study with 234 participants found people who score highly for psychopathy tend to believe in social hierarchies, suggesting they place themselves above non-human animals in terms of importance. 

It also found empathic feelings, such as understanding others and the desire to help, were linked to less speciesism. 

The findings, published in Current Psychology, suggest that the Dark Tetrad of personality has ‘systematic ties to attitudes toward animals’. 

‘The typical emotional callousness, self-centeredness, and entitlement of the Dark Tetrad traits go hand in hand with less concern and empathy for others,’ the team add. 

‘Not surprisingly, empathy has proven to be a significant predictor of positive attitudes toward animals as well as attitudes toward animal welfare.’ 

Prior research has linked Dark Tetrad traits to various behaviours including the tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. 

Investors in cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin are more likely to be psychopaths, another study from last year claims. 

Meanwhile, men with a high sex drive or ‘libido’ are more likely to be a narcissist, found experts at the University of British Columbia. 

And researchers from the University of Turin found that being single was associated with higher levels of psychopathic traits. 

WHAT IS THE ‘DARK TETRAD’? 

The Dark Tetrad comprises the personality traits narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and sadism. 

It’s an extension of the ‘dark triad’ a name given to three of the traits – narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. 

When all four traits are found in a single person, it implies a malevolent personality.

All four dark triad traits are conceptually distinct, but have been shown to have an overlap.

Narcissism is characterised by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a lack of empathy.

Machiavellianism is characterised by manipulation and exploitation of others. It is also often linked to a cynical disregard for morality, and a focus on self-interest and deception.

Psychopathy is characterised by continuing antisocial behaviour, impulsivity, selfishness, callousness, and remorselessness.

While sadism is the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

It can range from physical sadism (e.g., ‘I enjoy physically hurting people’, verbal sadism (e.g., ‘I enjoy making jokes at the expense of others’ and vicarious sadism (e.g., ‘In video games, I like the realistic blood spurts’)