A recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences has found that harsh parenting during childhood can lead to dark personality traits in adulthood. Researchers discovered that children who experience psychological aggression (like yelling) or severe physical assault (such as choking) are more likely to develop traits like narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism later in life. These traits, known as the Dark Tetrad, can harm relationships and social behavior.
The study involved 370 adults from Spain, who shared their childhood experiences and completed personality tests. Results showed that psychological aggression was strongly linked to psychopathy and sadism, while severe physical assault was tied to Machiavellianism and narcissism. Nonviolent discipline, like explaining mistakes, did not show the same connection.
Researchers emphasized the importance of supportive parenting to prevent these negative outcomes. They hope their findings will encourage early interventions to promote healthier personality development.
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