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Written with AI assistance•16. Juni 2025•
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Generated IllustrationUniversity of Lausanne research reveals how leaders exhibiting narcissistic traits gain support from voters with extreme views, contributing to political division.
"A dark personality has become an electoral asset"
"Politicians, often populists, with a dark, divisive and uncompromising personality [...] tend to be disliked by the public at large, while at the same time being rather popular among more aggressive voters"
A groundbreaking study from the University of Lausanne has shed new light on the complex relationship between political leaders' personalities and voter polarization. In an era marked by increasing political division, Swiss researchers have uncovered compelling evidence linking dark personality traits in political leaders to heightened voter polarization, particularly among their most devoted supporters.
The comprehensive study, conducted by researchers at the University of Lausanne in collaboration with Dutch institutions, analyzed 40 elections worldwide between 2016 and 2021. The research team examined 91 prominent political figures, including Donald Trump, Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron, and Angela Merkel, focusing on three key dark personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.
The study's most significant discovery is the 'in-house effect' - a phenomenon where politicians exhibiting dark personality traits particularly influence voters who already align with their ideology. These leaders, while often unpopular with the general public, maintain strong support among more aggressive voters who share their political views. Importantly, the research demonstrates that this effect transcends traditional left-right political divisions, though it appears more prevalent among autocratic and populist leaders.
The findings raise crucial concerns about democratic stability worldwide. The research suggests a troubling connection between uncompromising leaders, democratic deconsolidation, and affective polarization. This Swiss study provides valuable insights into how certain personality types in leadership positions might contribute to the erosion of democratic norms and increased societal division.
This pioneering research from the University of Lausanne positions Switzerland at the forefront of understanding political personality dynamics. While the study establishes clear correlations, researchers, including co-author Frederico Ferreira da Silva, acknowledge that further investigation is needed to fully understand the mechanisms through which leaders' personalities influence supporter behavior. The findings provide a crucial foundation for future research into protecting democratic institutions from the effects of political polarization.