20 Comments

It is tiring to read such nonsense about psychopaths. People seem to not care very much about the truth or logic. All of this feels like some sick form of entertainment.

Expand full comment

I agree, and also find the unwillingness to identify problematic human behavior as being nothing more than such, to be a barrier to correcting those behaviors.

Expand full comment

I’ve read the article, and the first thing I’ve noticed is the insane amount of pop up ads on there. Very distracting.

I was hoping this article would cover the traits psychopaths had which could actually affect driving. Namely a propensity for boredom and impulsiveness. Narcissism and manipulation have nothing to do with driving skills.

People with ADHD are statistically more likely to get into car accidents due to impulsiveness and distractability, and yet articles covering ADHD drivers don’t demonize them and in fact offer strategies to help.

https://www.verywellmind.com/driving-with-adult-adhd-20438

Expand full comment

Good point. Interesting article, too. I have ADHD, so I avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. I've totaled more cars than you can imagine, and I have to force myself to check my phone, so that's not the reason. I honestly never knew that my lousy driving could be connected to having ADHD.

Expand full comment

While neither of us are officially diagnosed, me and my Mom have a high likelihood of having ADHD. Both of us are bad drivers.

I honestly don’t blame people for being “bad drivers”, it’s hard to maintain focus while doing a mundane activity such as driving. Unfortunately for my job, it requires me to drive extensively so I can’t just avoid driving. While I don’t use my phone while driving, the weather can fluctuate throughout the day so I’m pretty much always adjusting the temperature of my car.

Expand full comment

It seems like an attempt at social control, shaming those who use their phones while driving by calling them what they think are the worst names they can churn out. There's clearly no science here, just manipulation.

Expand full comment

Indeed, I agree.

Expand full comment
May 16Edited

There really is something fundamentally wrong with these researchers' understanding of the scientific method (and statistics and definitions and basic logic) if they're designing 'studies' like this and not seeing the problem with it.

Out of curiosity, is The Daily Mail well known in the States? I thought it was just a UK thing, and was only us Brits that have to put up with their nonsense, but you've reacted to their articles twice recently. Can you buy it over there, or are you just coming across their stuff online? Apologies if we have accidentally exported it over there! Am sure you could probably have done without it...

Expand full comment

It comes up fairly frequently as they cover a lot of US stories. Weirdly, they also seem to be rather preoccupied with psychopathy

Expand full comment

That makes alot of sense... The Mail is the butt of many jokes over here, because it's known for being extremely reactionary, melodramatic and scare-mongering, among other things. So psychopathy is exactly the sort of thing they'd have kittens about...

Expand full comment

I believe you. This article started out talking about the ‘dark triad!’ *scary music playing* only to end with a message about cell phone use.

Expand full comment
May 17Edited

Its nickname is The Daily Fail, and it has such a reputation (along with its readership) that you only have to say the words 'Daily Mail comments section' in conversation, and everyone understands that that's a byword for toxic debate and losing your faith in humanity. But definitely a rich source of materials for you to critique Athena!

Expand full comment

I subscribe to most of the UK papers online, but I avoid the Daily Mail mainly because, as mentioned before, it's too cluttered with pop-ups. But, my guess is that it's well known.

Expand full comment

i wonder how many readers they would lose if they spent time researching conditions that do actually affect driving instead of wasting their time on shit like this.

Expand full comment

That is a very good question

Expand full comment

The irony that I read this on my smartphone isn’t lost on me. I realize that I have to actually consciously track my phone so that I don’t lose it.

Also I know young women who have become upset that I missed some social media posts that they had made. I’m just not there

Expand full comment

I genuinely do not understand that mentality.

Expand full comment

Studies like this always seem to use narcissism psychopathy, sociopathy, etc. , quite interchangeably. I have a feeling that because people with "dark personality traits/disorders" are seen as evil or "bad people", academics don't even bother distinguishing them properly in the first place, they see them as all the same.

Expand full comment

Indeed, that does seem to be the case.

Expand full comment

Btw I’d like to read what you write. The only thing I’d change is how you express yourself if you can shorten your article I’d appreciate that.

Thank you!

Expand full comment