The Traits That Predict Physical and Social Aggression

Danger or drama. Not all psychopathic traits are equally dangerous.

Posted August 16, 2025 |  Reviewed by Lybi Ma

Key points

• Psychopathy is strongly linked to aggressive behavior.
• Traits associated with psychopathy include coldness, callousness, and manipulativeness.
• In particular, callous and manipulative traits are linked with future aggression.

We have all heard the stereotype. “Psychopaths” are crazy axe murderers without conscience. Yet most people appreciate that there is far more to the analysis regarding the types of individuals who are likely to engage in aggressive or violent behavior. Research presents an even more nuanced picture of what makes individuals dangerous, including traits clinically indicative of psychopathy.

One feature of dark personalities, psychopathy in particular, that complicates interpersonal relationships is its visually undetectable presence. Dark personalities walk among us in tailored clothing, carrying monogrammed briefcases; they pass us in shopping malls, busy streets, and corporate hallways, visually indistinguishable from their peers. Yet they are often perceived not through credentials, but conduct. Although antagonistic and adversarial behavior comes in many shapes and forms, there are particular attributes and personality characteristics that make an individual more or less likely to engage in aggressive behavior.

Source: Image by Ratucette from Pixabay

Psychopathy and Predicting Aggression

A.L. Robbins and M.M. Yalch (2025) acknowledge that psychopathy is “one of the strongest correlates of aggressive behavior,” and studied which dimensions of psychopathy were most closely linked.[i] They describe psychopathy as “a callous lack of empathy and remorse, impulsivity, and superficial charm” (citing Cleckley, 1982; Hare, 1993). They explain that, similar to aggression, psychopathy has a broad range of characteristics, with the most expansive model describing 18 illustrative traits including coldness, arrogance, callousness, and manipulativeness (citing Lynam and colleagues, 2013). They note that a simpler model conceptualizes psychopathy through three broader traits: boldness, meanness, and disinhibition (citing Patrick and colleagues, 2009).

Studying a nonforensic sample of both men and women, Robbins and Yalch found that when it comes to specific traits, callous manipulation was most closely linked with all forms of aggressive behaviors, such as rule-breaking, social aggression, and physical aggression, consistent with research indicating that callous and manipulative traits are linked with future aggression and antisocial behavior. They recognize that this link suggests a significant personality dimension that facilitates aggressive behavior is the lack of caring for others and consequent willingness to use them accordingly to further one’s own goals or purposes.

Psychopathic Traits and Self-Esteem

As with other types of negative personality traits, some factors counteract adverse consequences and bad behavior. Robbins and Yalch explain that their results illustrate that the propensity to manipulate others without remorse is associated with several different types of aggression, but that decreased self-esteem may protect against rule-breaking and social aggression. They recognize that one way to interpret the modest negative association between grandiosity, rule-breaking, and social aggression could be that low self-esteem drives these two forms of aggression. More specifically, although feeling very little for others contributes to aggression in general, feeling bad about oneself affects rule-breaking and social aggression in particular.

Managing Difficult Personalities

As a general rule, dangerous people in the workplace, school, or community should be managed by trained, experienced threat assessors, security professionals, and law enforcement. Yet in terms of practical considerations, in both personal or professional contexts, anyone who has to manage or interact with individuals exhibiting problematic or antisocial behavior who do not pose an immediate threat is nevertheless wise to consider how to proceed. Although employers, for example, cannot clinically diagnose personality disorders, they can consider potential management methods by noting whether certain behaviors are a consistent expression of interpersonal negativity or situationally specific. Similarly, within other social contexts, co-workers, neighbors, friends, or family members who know more about the source of adversity can brainstorm ideas for intervention, management, or ideally, positive solutions. And remember, ultimately, when practical solutions are insufficient or ineffective, professionall help is available.

Printed with permission

References

[i] Robbins, A. L., & Yalch, M. M. (2025). The hierarchical structure of psychopathy and the prediction of aggression. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. Advance online publication.

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., Ph.D., is a career trial attorney, behavioral analyst, author of Why Bad Looks Good, Red Flags, and co-author of the revised New York Times bestseller Reading People.

Online: wendy.patrickphd.com, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram