People with dark personality type desire enhancing their brains with future tech, new study reveals… – The US Sun

RESEARCHERS have linked 'dark' personality traits with a desire to enhance their brain power.

A new study published in theJournal of Cognitive Enhancement looked at the correlation between certain personality traits and the desire to enhance human abilities.

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"Enhancement of human abilities has been a prominent topic throughout human history, but has received little attention from psychological research," said study author Elena Schnthaler of the University of Graz.

Nowadays, thanks to advanced technology, there are significantly more possibilities and means to optimize ones abilities," Schnthaler added.

"Finding out who would use enhancement methods has thus become an urgent question to answer."

In the study, 450 participants were assessed via scientifically-validated questionnaires that measured their personality traits.

The participants also filled out an assessment of their personal values.

Eight personality traits were of significance to the researchers: the 'Big Five' and the 'Dark triad'.

The big five personality traits are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Meanwhile, the 'Dark Triad' consists of Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, and sub-clinical psychopathy.

Researchers presented the participants with five different hypothetical methods to improve their brain power.

The methods included a new drug, two types of brain stimulation, genetic enhancement, and mind uploading.

Subjects were then asked to indicate how likely they were to try any of the methods.

After looking at their results, researchers saw a link between the Dark Triad and Big Five personality traits and personal values, and willingness to improve cognitive capabilities.

"Specifically, individuals high in agreeableness and conscientiousness and/or individuals following more conservative or self-transcending values (e.g., caring for the well-being of others) are less likely to accept self-enhancement methods," Schnthaler explained.

However, individuals high in Dark Triad traits and vulnerable narcissism and/or individuals following self-interested values are more likely to accept enhancement methods for their own use," Schnthaler added.

"This indicates that personality and values should be taken into account when investigating enhancement methods, especially to prevent misuse of enhancement methods with possibly negative consequences."

Still, researchers noted that just because someone wishes to enhance themselves, that doesn't mean they are exhibiting signs of a 'dark' personality trait.

They also pointed out that their findings were statistically significant but still weak.

There are likely many other factors that influence a persons desire to self-enhance.

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People with dark personality type desire enhancing their brains with future tech, new study reveals... - The US Sun