Category Archives: Unique—Like Everybody Else

Personality and Sheltering-in-place during the Pandemic – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Personality traits are robustly related to behavior even during these difficult times.

Who Supports Freedom of Speech? Tolerance vs. Prejudice – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Intellectual humility, associated with higher intelligence, increases support for free speech, even for groups one does not like.

Who Uses Drugs and Why? – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

The kinds of recreational drugs people use reflect their personality traits.

Why Religious People are Less Likely to Own Cats – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

People who attend church frequently are less likely to be cat owners than other people. Could this be related to differences in personality between "dog people" and "cat people"?

The Real and Fake Faces of Personality’s ‘Big One’ – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Despite claims that there is a single super-factor underlying personality, research suggests that it is an artefact of measurement and socially desirable responding.

Deceptive Food Calls & the Dark Triad – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Dating someone to get a free meal, despite lacking any romantic interest in the person, is associated with selfish antisocial traits.

Bright Minds, Dark Hearts: Intelligence in the Dark Triad – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Despite popular belief that psychopaths are smart people, a recent study suggests that Machiavellianism but not psychopathy is associated with intelligence.

The Dark Side of Political Ambition – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

People high in Machiavellian traits enjoy campaigning for political office more than other people, while those with psychopathic traits find campaigning unappealing.

Sexism and the Dark Side of Personality – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

A study finds that "dark triad" traits are related to sexist attitudes. Does this mean a sexist society foster dark traits? The truth may be much more surprising.

Who Acts Out Aggressive Fantasies? – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Fantasies about hurting people may be a risk factor for aggressive behavior in some people, but not others. This might depend on underlying personality traits.