TRIGGER WARNING: Military Psychology

DATE: March 25, 2025 at 05:29PM
SOURCE: THE CENTER FOR DEPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY

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DATE: March 25, 2025 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Dark traits and depression: Study finds psychopathy and Machiavellianism linked to more depressive symptoms

URL: https://www.psypost.org/dark-traits-and-depression-study-finds-psychopathy-and-machiavellianism-linked-to-more-depressive-symptoms/

People with certain dark personality traits may be more likely to experience symptoms of depression, according to a new study published in the Journal of Research in Personality. After reviewing data from more than 15,000 participants across 31 studies, researchers found that both psychopathy and Machiavellianism were consistently linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms. Narcissism, however, showed no consistent relationship with depression. The study highlights the need for mental health professionals to consider these darker traits when assessing and treating depression.

The Dark Triad refers to a group of three personality traits—psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism—that share common features like emotional detachment, self-interest, and a willingness to manipulate others. These traits exist on a spectrum in the general population, not just among those diagnosed with personality disorders.

Previous research on personality and depression has focused mainly on the Five Factor Model, which includes traits like neuroticism and conscientiousness. But some psychologists argue that this model doesn’t fully account for personality traits tied to manipulation, impulsivity, or emotional coldness. That gap has prompted growing interest in the darker side of personality and how it may relate to mental health problems, especially depression.

To better understand how the Dark Triad traits might relate to depression, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis—a type of study that combines data from many separate studies to find overall patterns. This method allows scientists to get a clearer picture of whether an effect holds up across different samples, settings, and measurement tools.

The researchers searched six major databases for studies published in English before June 2024. They included only peer-reviewed studies that reported correlations between the Dark Triad traits and depressive symptoms. After screening more than 5,000 studies, the researchers narrowed their focus to 31 eligible studies with a combined total of 15,567 participants. These studies spanned several regions, including Europe, North America, and Asia.

The researchers looked at how each of the three Dark Triad traits was measured and how depressive symptoms were assessed. For example, psychopathy was commonly measured using the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, while Machiavellianism was often assessed with the Mach-IV scale. Depression was usually measured using standard tools like the Beck Depression Inventory or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Most studies reported their findings using correlation coefficients, which indicate the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Across all studies, psychopathy and Machiavellianism were both linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms. The correlation for psychopathy was moderately strong, suggesting that people who are impulsive, emotionally detached, and prone to antisocial behavior may also be more vulnerable to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and other depressive symptoms. A similar pattern was found for Machiavellianism, a trait marked by cynicism, manipulation, and distrust of others. Individuals scoring higher in Machiavellianism were also more likely to report experiencing depressive symptoms.

Interestingly, narcissism did not show a significant overall relationship with depression. But the picture became more complex when the researchers looked at how narcissism was measured. Some tools, such as the Short Dark Triad scale, tended to emphasize grandiose narcissism—traits like confidence, dominance, and a need for admiration. These studies showed a weak or even negative association with depression, suggesting that grandiose narcissism might protect against low mood.

Other tools, like the Dirty Dozen scale, may capture more aspects of vulnerable narcissism, which includes insecurity, hypersensitivity to criticism, and emotional fragility. In these cases, narcissism showed a small but significant positive link to depressive symptoms. This suggests that not all forms of narcissism function the same way when it comes to emotional well-being.

The study also found that the way these traits and symptoms were measured had a significant impact on the results. For example, different depression scales varied in how strongly they captured depressive symptoms in people with high levels of psychopathy. Some tools appeared to be more sensitive to the kinds of emotional disturbances experienced by people with dark personality traits, which affected the size of the correlations observed. Similarly, the type of scale used to measure Machiavellianism influenced the strength of its link to depression. This shows that the tools researchers choose can shape the conclusions they reach.

The study does have some limitations. Most importantly, the meta-analysis relied on correlational data, which means it cannot determine whether dark personality traits cause depression, or vice versa. It’s possible that experiencing depressive symptoms over time could also influence how someone scores on these personality measures. The researchers also noted that they could not explore the separate roles of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in depth, due to limitations in the available data. Additionally, most studies came from Europe, North America, and Asia, leaving a gap in data from other regions like Africa and Oceania.

Even with these limitations, the study adds to growing evidence that the darker sides of personality play a role in mental health. For psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals, this means that assessing traits like emotional coldness, manipulation, or impulsivity may be helpful when diagnosing and treating depression.

Looking ahead, the researchers suggest that future studies should include more detailed assessments of narcissism and expand research into underrepresented regions. They also recommend using more comprehensive and nuanced measurement tools to capture the complexity of dark personality traits.

The study, “Dark and Blue: A meta-analysis of the relationship between Dark Triad and depressive symptoms,” was authored by Chunwei Lyu, Danna Xu, and Guo Chen.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/dark-traits-and-depression-study-finds-psychopathy-and-machiavellianism-linked-to-more-depressive-symptoms/

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DATE: March 25, 2025 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Severe exposure during 9/11 cleanup linked to early-onset dementia in responders

URL: https://www.psypost.org/severe-exposure-during-9-11-cleanup-linked-to-early-onset-dementia-in-responders/

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has found that individuals who responded to the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks and were heavily exposed to dust and debris were significantly more likely to develop dementia before the age of 65. The more intense the exposure—particularly for those working directly on the debris pile without protective equipment—the greater the risk. Responders with minimal dust exposure or those who wore personal protective gear had much lower rates of dementia.

The researchers wanted to understand whether the type and severity of exposure during the World Trade Center cleanup were linked to long-term brain health. Previous studies had identified signs of cognitive decline and brain changes in responders, including memory issues and brain shrinkage, which are often early signs of dementia. Although dementia before age 65 is rare in the general population, the team suspected that the combination of extreme environmental hazards and lack of protection may have increased the risk for this group. They also wanted to see whether wearing protective gear could reduce that risk.

“Over the past ten years, there has been increasing recognition that fine particulate matter and airborne pollutants can enter the brain,” said study author Sean Clouston, the director of Public Health Research and a professor at Stony Brook University. “At the same time, we have been finding that WTC responders are suffering from high levels of cognitive impairment that is unusual for their age and educational background. This study was the first to try to explain that difference and link it to the types of exposures that responders reported when they were on-site.”

To explore this, the researchers analyzed data from 5,010 responders who were under 60 years old at the time of their first cognitive assessment. All participants had worked or volunteered at the World Trade Center site during the response and recovery efforts between September 2001 and July 2002. They were tracked over a period of up to 8 years, starting in 2014, and underwent repeated cognitive assessments. Participants were excluded if they had previous neurological conditions, traumatic brain injuries during 9/11 work, or existing dementia at the beginning of the study.

Researchers collected detailed information about the responders’ activities at the disaster site, including where they worked, what tasks they performed, and whether they were exposed to dust, smoke, or fumes. They also recorded whether the responders used personal protective equipment such as masks or suits.

Based on this information, the research team developed a five-level scale to rate each person’s exposure severity, from low to severe. People in the lowest group either wore protective gear or reported no direct contact with dust, while those in the highest group worked in the most hazardous conditions—like digging through rubble on the debris pile—without consistent use of protective equipment.

To measure dementia, the researchers used standardized tests of memory, problem-solving, and attention. Participants had to show consistent declines across multiple assessments, along with signs of difficulty managing daily tasks, for a dementia diagnosis to be made. The diagnosis was also cross-checked to rule out other medical causes. The team adjusted their findings for other factors that could influence dementia risk, such as age, education level, cardiovascular health, smoking and drinking history, and genetic predisposition.

During the follow-up period, 228 responders developed dementia before turning 65. While the general population sees about 1 to 2 cases of early-onset dementia per 1,000 person-years, the average among these responders was about 14.5 cases. The rate varied greatly depending on exposure severity. In the lowest exposure group, only about 3 cases occurred per 1,000 person-years. But in the most severely exposed group, the rate rose to over 42 per 1,000 person-years.

Even after adjusting for age, medical history, and other factors, the link between exposure severity and dementia remained strong. Responders in the highest exposure group were nearly ten times more likely to develop dementia than those in the lowest group. The risk increased steadily across each step of the exposure scale. Importantly, wearing protective gear appeared to significantly reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, even among those who worked in hazardous conditions.

“I was somewhat surprised at how well protected some people were,” Clouston told PsyPost. “For example, we found that people who reported working in personalized protective equipment had rates of early-onset dementia that were similar to what you see in the general population.”

For the general public, these findings serve as a warning about the potential dangers of breathing in toxic dust and debris.

“Hopefully, the average person is not exposed to these types of severe and traumatic exposures,” Clouston explained. “However, one point that is important to the average person may be that some things that you do without thinking, like cleaning up debris and ash after a wildfire in your neighborhood, may be more dangerous than you think. Thankfully, this work and others suggests that wearing protective gear can have both a short-term benefit in causing less lung damage, and a long-term benefit in protecting against dementia before age 65 years.”

To confirm their results, the researchers ran additional analyses using machine learning to classify exposure risk, and the outcomes remained consistent. They also tested whether the results held up in smaller groups with genetic data, in people who had recovered from COVID-19, or when taking into account missing or incomplete data. Across all scenarios, the link between higher exposure and higher dementia risk remained.

However, the study does have limitations. The sample was drawn from a group of responders who participated in a federal health monitoring program, and nearly all were English-speaking, which may limit how broadly the results can be applied. Also, exposure levels were based on self-reports collected years after the fact, and there is currently no medical test to measure how much dust or chemicals an individual actually inhaled at the site.

“We don’t yet know exactly what the causal mechanisms are, so that means we can’t say whether it is due to a specific exposure at the WTC sites or if it’s a general exposure,” Clouston noted. “That means that we don’t know if the WTC site is dangerous because a jet burned or because there was just fine air pollution in the air in general. Future research is still needed to answer that question, but it’s important to know when trying to understand risk from future exposures.”

“We still need to better understand whether WTC exposures result in a known condition or in a new disease. We also need to better understand both the point of entry and the active agent at the exposure event.”

The study, “Incidence of Dementia Before Age 65 Years Among World Trade Center Attack Responders,” was authored by Sean A. P. Clouston, Frank D. Mann, Jaymie Meliker, Pei-Fen Kuan, Roman Kotov, Lauren L. Richmond, Tesleem Babalola, Minos Kritikos, Yuan Yang, Melissa A. Carr, and Benjamin J. Luft.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/severe-exposure-during-9-11-cleanup-linked-to-early-onset-dementia-in-responders/

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DATE: March 25, 2025 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Combat trauma and ink: Study explores tattoos as psychological resources in soldiers

URL: https://www.psypost.org/226769-2/

A series of interviews with eight Israeli combat soldiers revealed that their tattoos were closely tied to military experiences and emotional distress. These tattoos often served as coping mechanisms, helping the soldiers process and make sense of their time in the military. The findings published in Stress and Health.

Upon entering military service, soldiers are thrust into a world vastly different from civilian life. They become part of a large, hierarchical organization governed by strict rules and discipline. They are trained to follow orders unquestioningly—even when doing so may put their lives at risk. During combat operations, soldiers may face prolonged battles, extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, the loss of comrades, and threats to their own survival.

For many, these experiences are overwhelming and may lead to symptoms of psychological distress, mental health disorders, and problematic behaviors. In their efforts to cope and process these experiences, some soldiers turn to tattoos. Tattoos can function as a form of self-expression, a means of asserting individuality, or a way of preserving one’s personal identity amid the regimentation of military life.

The study, conducted by Keren Cohen‐Louck and Yakov Iluz, aimed to explore how combat soldiers—those directly involved in military operations—use tattoos as a resource for coping with their experiences.

The study included eight Israeli combat soldiers who had gotten tattooed either during their military service or shortly after being discharged. These tattoos were often connected to traumatic events they had experienced, such as participation in extended combat, injuries, or the injury, death, or suicide of fellow soldiers. Two of the participants were female.

Participants ranged in age from 21 to 29. Four were single and four were married. Six participants had up to three tattoos, one had six, and one had fifteen. Most of the tattoos were related to military service. Participants were recruited through Israeli Facebook groups focused on tattoos.

They completed a demographic questionnaire, provided basic information about their military service (e.g., “Were you a combat or non-combat soldier?”, “Did you participate in combat situations during your service?”), and answered a series of questions about their tattoos.

The researchers identified two major themes from the interviews. The first was that military events and the distress soldiers endured served as the background for many of their tattoos. These tattoos acted as mementos of traumatic events they had lived through. As one participant recalled, “When I was discharged, I thought about it a lot—about my commander, about the bullets flying over my head. I see him with blood and everything.”

The second theme was that tattoos served as a resource for coping with stress. For three of the participants, getting tattooed helped reduce stress by allowing them to express and relive their emotions. Tattoos offered a sense of relief and calm. One participant explained, “Mostly, some of the tattoos help me lower my stress level and be calmer. I could actually boil with stress in certain situations, but when I think about the tattoos being a part of what I experienced, I’m calmer and less stressed by the situation.” Other participants viewed their tattoos as sources of strength and empowerment, giving positive meaning to their hardships.

“This qualitative study shows that combat soldiers use tattoos as a coping resource to enable them to adjust and cope with events they were exposed to during their combat military service. The participants’ discourse revealed two coping resources, which the soldiers utilized through tattooing: emotional‐relief and positive‐productive coping. According to the participants, it seems that both types of the coping resources are adaptive. The emotional‐relief coping resource may be effective in reducing distress and the positive‐productive coping resource may be effective in enhancing positive feelings,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the growing body of research on how tattoos can serve psychological and emotional functions, particularly among combat veterans. However, the authors caution that this is a small, qualitative study involving only eight Israeli soldiers. The findings may not generalize to soldiers from other cultures or military systems.

The paper, “Tattooing Among Combat Soldiers as a Coping Resource With Their Military Service Experiences,” was authored by Keren Cohen‐Louck and Yakov Iluz.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/226769-2/

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DATE: March 25, 2025 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Genetic influence on political interest is stronger in high-income families, highlighting a gene-environment interaction

URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-influence-on-political-interest-is-stronger-in-high-income-families-highlighting-a-gene-environment-interaction/

A study published in Politics and the Life Sciences reveals that genetic predispositions to political interest manifest more strongly in adolescents from wealthier families.

Political engagement follows socioeconomic lines, with wealthier individuals generally displaying greater political interest. While previous research attributed these disparities primarily to childhood socialization, we now know that political interest and participation also have significant genetic components. This raises an intriguing question: Does family income create conditions that either amplify or suppress the expression of genetic predispositions toward political engagement?

Researchers Sebastian Jungkunz and Paul Marx analyzed data from the German TwinLife study, a comprehensive longitudinal project tracking genetic and environmental influences on various life outcomes. By comparing identical twins (who share 100% of their genetic material) with fraternal twins (who share approximately 50%), the researchers could isolate genetic effects from environmental factors.

The study included 6,174 individuals aged 10 to 29, with particular focus on adolescents between 10 and 18 years old—a critical period for the development of political identity.

Participants from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds rated their political interest on a 4-point scale. To ensure fair comparisons across different household compositions, the researchers used equivalized household income, which adjusts for family size. This methodological approach allowed them to estimate the relative contributions of genetic predispositions, shared family environment, and unique individual experiences to political interest.

A separate analysis focusing on early adults (aged 23 and older) controlled for genetic and family background factors to determine whether personal income during early adulthood independently affected political interest beyond these inherited traits.

The results revealed that genetic factors account for approximately 30-40% of the variation in political interest among adolescents. However, this genetic effect was not uniform across socioeconomic strata. In wealthier households, genetic influences played a much more prominent role in shaping political interest, while in less affluent families, these genetic effects were reduced.

In low-income environments, political interest appeared to be shaped more by external circumstances, such as family dynamics or economic stress, rather than by inherent predispositions. This suggests that economic hardship may constrain the expression of genetic tendencies toward political engagement.

Notably, when examining early adults, the researchers found that personal income in adulthood had no significant effect on political interest once genetic and family background factors were controlled for. This indicates that the connection between income and political engagement is largely established during adolescence rather than being a direct product of financial circumstances in adulthood.

While the twin-based methodology provides valuable insights into the link between genetics and environment, it is worth noting that twin samples may not perfectly represent the general population.

Rather than viewing political engagement as solely determined by either nature or nurture, this research highlights their interaction—genetic tendencies toward political interest require supportive environments to flourish.

These findings have important implications for understanding and addressing political inequality. Policymakers might develop more effective approaches to fostering civic participation across socioeconomic divides.

The study, “Parental Income Moderates the Influence of Genetic Dispositions on Political Interest in Adolescents,” was authored by Sebastian Jungkunz and Paul Marx.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/genetic-influence-on-political-interest-is-stronger-in-high-income-families-highlighting-a-gene-environment-interaction/

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