Many parents are looking for what their child has inherited from them. For better or worse. While it is always best to point out one’s qualities and the manner in which education has developed appreciable characteristics, this is not always the case. The environment offered to the child, the support of those around him, listening, affection and the various experiences, more or less positive, of childhood can shape his personality.
Some personality traits in adulthood may be a direct translation trauma experienced during childhood. In their study published in the journal Personality and Individual
Differencesa team of researchers looked at the possible link between parental education and the presence of dark triad traits in adulthood.
Personality shaped by education
“A large body of literature links dark personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism—to antisocial behavior, but less is known about the origins of these traits,” the researchers write. Previous research has already highlighted a link between adverse childhood experiences and antisocial tendencies in adulthood. In this study, the researchers aim to demonstrate that genetics is not the only factor in these personality traits and that the environment, particularly parental style, plays an essential role.
To test their hypothesis, the scientists recruited 370 adult participants in Spain, aged between 18 and 80 years old. They were asked to answer several questionnaires to measure levels of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. At the same time, the researchers used the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale to analyze the educational methods used and their frequency. These were classified into four categories: non-violent discipline, psychological aggression, corporal punishment or minor aggression and serious aggression.
The dark triad, a consequence of childhood?
Results revealed that each of the educational methods was linked to higher levels of the dark triad traits. On a case-by-case basis, analyzes of the results revealed that psychological aggression, such as yelling or screaming, uniquely and positively predicted psychopathy and sadism. Severe aggression, such as strangulation, appeared to be a unique positive predictor of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. Conversely, nonviolent discipline, such as explaining what is wrong, and corporal punishment or minor aggression, such as spanking, did not contribute significantly to any of the dark traits.
“In conclusion, these results suggest a modest but significant role of adverse childhood environment in the formation of dark personality traits,” the researchers conclude. This study emphasizes the idea that the severity of education and violence during childhood can modify the way children function
become adults. “These results highlight the importance of fostering supportive, non-violent parental environments, because early childhood adversities can leave lasting imprints on personality development and social behavior,” says study author David Pineda. PsyPost.
date: 2026-02-15 17:14:00