We usually think of narcissism as a bad thing someone who’s self-obsessed, overly confident, and hard to deal with. But what if just a moderate dose of narcissism could actually be good for your health?
A new study looking at personality traits across 38 U.S. states found something surprising: states with higher levels of narcissism tend to have healthier, happier populations. These states showed lower rates of depression, less obesity, and even fewer deaths related to heart failure or high blood pressure.
Now, that doesn’t mean everyone should start acting like they’re the center of the universe. But it does suggest that narcissism isn’t always black and white. According to Jon Gruda, the lead researcher from the Catholic University of Portugal, “there are no good or bad traits.” Every trait, even the so-called “dark” ones, exists because it helps someone or something survive whether it’s a person, a community, or a whole population.
Interestingly, the study also looked at other dark traits like Machiavellianism (being manipulative) and psychopathy (lacking empathy). These didn’t show any positive health connections. In fact, Machiavellianism was linked to more binge drinking, and psychopathy was tied to a greater risk of heart problems.
So while narcissists may not always make the best friends or coworkers, their confidence and self-focus might actually help reduce public health costs. Wild, right?
Horror Movie Lovers Might Be More Caring Than You Think
If you’re a fan of scary movies, you’ve probably heard someone ask, “How can you enjoy that stuff?” But get this people who love horror films might actually be more empathetic than those who don't.
In a series of studies, behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner from Aarhus University explored the link between horror fandom and empathy. He found that horror fans were less likely to be cold-hearted, a trait often tied to psychopathy. That means horror lovers might be more emotionally in tune with others than they get credit for.
But here’s the twist: while affective empathy (feeling what others feel) wasn’t linked to horror enjoyment, cognitive empathy the ability to understand someone else’s emotions was. Scrivner believes horror fans may be practicing these skills as they put themselves in the characters’ shoes, especially those who get genuinely scared by the films.
Some people watch horror for the thrill (“adrenaline junkies”), while others are more like “white-knucklers,” clinging to the edge of their seats. The latter group, who feel the fear deeply, might be boosting their empathy by imagining themselves in terrifying situations.
So, next time someone questions your love for slasher flicks, you can tell them, it’s not about being twisted, it’s about flexing your empathy muscles.