Psychopathic traits linked to non-compliance with social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus

[oxymoron]

New research provides some initial evidence that certain antagonistic personality traits are associated with ignoring preventative measures meant to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The study has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in the journal Social Psychology and Personality Science. It is currently available on the PsyArXiv preprint website.

“On March 31, 2020, Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the U.S. government’s Coronavirus Task Force, said, ‘There’s no magic bullet. There’s no magic vaccine or therapy. It’s just behaviors. Each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic over the next 30 days.’ My experience as a psychological scientist as well as a practicing psychologist has convinced me that the importance of psychology and behavior in the prevention and management of a wide range of health problems is enormous,” said study author Pavel S. Blagov, an associate professor and director of the Personality Laboratory at Whitman College.

“This includes personality, or the study of important ways in which people differ. It was clear from reports in the media very early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some people were rejecting advice to socially distance and engage in increased hygiene. There can be many reasons for this, and I thought that personality may play at least a small role in it.”

https://www.psypost.org/2020/06/psychopathic-traits-linked-to-non-compliance-with-social-distancing-guidelines-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic-56980/amp

[dawg day]

1. Those people who deliberately spit or cough on others

Seem psychopathic in a really stupid way.

[Laelth]

2. The ordinary rules don't apply to these people.

They’re already perfect. They’re special. They’re not normal, so the normal rules don’t apply.

This is typical thinking for a person with a Cluster B personality disorder, and psychopathy is one of those four disorders (along with borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic). It’s likely that one in every eight humans suffers from a Cluster B personality disorder. They make it very difficult to fight a pandemic for three reasons. 1) They believe that what they believe is right and that everyone else is wrong. They’re uneducable. 2) They don’t give a darn about anyone other than themselves because they lack empathy. They’re utterly selfish. 3) Nobody can tell them what to do. They’re control freaks.

Good luck fighting the pandemic! Perhaps all these folks will get sick and deny us of their presence among us.

-Laelth

[Hugin]

7. The saddest part of this is the business zeitgeigst in the US since the 1970s...

has been selecting the worst of these people for management positions and as CEOs.

[smirkymonkey]

9. The mystery is, why are there so many of these people in red states?

They can't all have been born this way. What is it in their socialization and upbringing that makes them so selfish and unwilling to do what is right for the common good?

I live here in Boston, and I have only gone out on my street a few times (have been socially isolating since march) but everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, is wearing a mask. I have not seen one person without one. Not in my apartment building nor outside on the street. Why are people here so compliant whereas people in other areas so resistant to doing the one thing that will flatten the curve and help slow the spread of the virus?

I am wondering if it just a political thing or just a matter of being poorly educated. They can't all be Cluster B personality types, even if most of them act that way. Are they adopting Trump's sickness and way of behaving? I feel like there is some kind of mass hysteria going on here and Trump is leading the way.

[soothsayer]

3. Sounds right.

So how do we help them?

[Midnight Writer]

5. First of all, stop indulging them. The more they are kowtowed to, the worse they will become.

They engage in these actions because it is a way for them to get what they want.

A child that gets its way every time it throws a tantrum will just throw more and more tantrums.

[Midnight Writer]

4. Exactly. The Parties have split along the lines of ingrained personality traits.

The Republicans took in the people with psychopathic traits.

[Hugin]

6. Oh, goody! More science!

I haven't had this much evidentiary fun since the study showing the US counties with the highest Opioid abuse rates had the most Trump voters.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. Study needs to include Fox's "putrid propaganda" machine ...

[GoCubsGo]

10. Is this psychopathic behavior or cult behavior?

Is cult behavior psychopathic behavior? Not saying this guy is wrong, but I suspect there's a lot more "follow the leader" behavior than psychopathy. Certainly, its the case for the coughers, spitters, and door-lickers. But, lots of people are likely refusing to wear masks because it's what Dear Leader and The Team dictate, rather than any sort of antagonistic personality trait. Although. I suppose a case could be made that only people with some sort of psychopathic/antagonistic personality would be attracted to Dear Leader and his cult.

[Andy823]

11. I agree with you

Cult followers do so because the honestly believe their "leader" is right, and they also usually have a need to have someone else telling them what is right and wrong. Cults brainwash people by repeating the same things over and over, and by claiming only "they" have to truth and anyone else not a member of the cult are liars. Being part of a group that you "think" is your way to find the "truth" is a need for many people. It can be a religious cult, or in trumps case a belief in racism, hate, and getting the liberals, one way or another.

Most cult's are full of "followers" in need of a leader, and trump knows that. He knew the right whistles to blow, the right people to label as the "enemy" and he filled their void for someone to guide them.