Toxic People
Leanne ten Brinke
simon & schuster

Leanne ten Brinke’s eye-opening book on dark personalities begins with an unexpected case study of a psychopath. The author highlights a well-known judge presiding over the case of a criminal, emphasizing the complexities of morality.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, once a key figure in mid-20th-century liberalism, might exemplify what ten Brinke describes as the “modern definition of a psychopath.” His actions, although not criminal, cast shadows over his legacy, impacting many lives around him.

The diagnosis of psychopathy was discontinued in 1952, attributed to stigma, leading to the adoption of broader terms such as antisocial personality disorder. By the 1980s, psychopathy re-emerged in criminal contexts, with assessments like the Revised Psychopathy Checklist highlighting the lack of empathy in violent offenders, making them capable of high recidivism rates. Individuals identified as psychopaths, although only 1% of the population, are estimated to be responsible for half of the serious crimes, according to ten Brinke.

Ten Brinke, who directs the Truth and Trust Institute at the University of British Columbia, argues that high dark personality traits are not limited to outright offenders. “If we broaden the psychopathy lens, perhaps 10-20% of the population exhibits high levels of traits associated with psychopathy, yet lack the clinical designation,” she states.

In Toxic People, ten Brinke assesses the societal costs inflicted by “predatory individuals” and proposes strategies to mitigate their impact in our lives. However, she presents a crucial caveat.

Over the last two decades, personality psychology has developed the Dark Tetrad framework, combining psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and sadism.

Contrary to pop culture’s portrayal of psychopathy as a binary condition, ten Brinke illustrates that it functions on a spectrum. Each individual has varying scores across different traits, with roughly 10-20% exhibiting pronounced dark personality traits, arguably contributing to societal erosion of ethical standards.

However, there’s a silver lining: around 80% of individuals don’t exhibit high levels of these traits. But ten Brinke cautions against complacency, indicating that these characteristics can be influenced by environmental factors.

Through a detailed case study, she discusses how a “culture of corruption” can transform the majority into complicity. “Kind individuals can become vulnerable to dark personalities,” she warns, identifying factors like fatigue or group dynamics as potential triggers for harmful behavior.

The book offers readers useful strategies to shield themselves from toxic individuals, including the establishment of clear boundaries. Yet, it also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection. How can we maintain our moral integrity and resist enabling those with nefarious intentions? Ten Brinke poses critical questions about why we often elevate such personalities in leadership roles.

While some may argue that dark personalities make compelling leaders, ten Brinke debunks this myth in lighter sections of the book. She highlights how research into investment bankers reveals that the most manipulative managers often achieve poorer financial outcomes over time.

Findings suggest that these cunning managers earned 30% less than their cooperative counterparts over a decade. “If you aim to maximize investment returns, seeking a predatory manager may not be your best strategy,” she concludes.

Misconceptions about psychopathic effectiveness arise in workplace dynamics, as dark personalities tend to propagate self-aggrandizing lies. They find reward in deception, furthering their personal agendas. Ten Brinke articulates how such individuals often falsely claim to be exemplary leaders, creating an atmosphere of mistrust.

Ten Brinke emphasizes our complicity in endorsing dishonest narratives. By refining our own darker traits, particularly strategic Machiavellian thinking, we can better identify deception.

She reminds us that if detecting lies were effortless, deception wouldn’t exist. However, vigilance can pay off. If a few “bad apples” spoil the barrel, the rest of us have the power to prevent decay. Interestingly, ten Brinke hints that certain traits, such as empathy and conscience, can counterbalance darker tendencies, offering a means to reverse corruption.

Challenging the notion that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” she asserts it applies principally to the worst individuals. Taking ownership of our moral character can lead to rewards.

The pathway to cultivating what she calls “moral Machiavellianism” could significantly enhance our society, moving us beyond the assembly line of psychopathic behaviors.

3 Other Must-Read Books on Bad Behavior

Born a Liar: Why We Can’t Live Without Deception
Ian Leslie
This book delves into why lying is a fundamental aspect of human development and interaction.

Snake in a Suit: Understanding and Surviving the Office Psychopath
Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare
This book offers insights into the non-criminal psychopaths in corporate environments.

The Prince
Niccolò Machiavelli (Translated by N.H. Thompson)This seminal work discusses the dynamics of power and manipulation.

Sally Addie is a science writer based in London.