Study has found that people who report favorable views of Donald Trump also tend to score higher on measures of callousness, manipulation, and other malevolent traits—and lower on empathy and compassion.

## What Your Favorite Politician Says About *You*: A New Study’s Surprising Findings

**Could your political leanings reveal something about your personality?**

Okay, so I stumbled across something pretty wild the other day and I had to share it. It started with a Reddit post, as these things often do. The title grabbed me right away: “Study has found that people who report favorable views of Donald Trump also tend to score higher on measures of callousness, manipulation, and other malevolent traits—and lower on empathy and compassion.”

Whoa.

Now, I know jumping to conclusions based on a headline is never a good idea. So, I dug a little deeper.

The Reddit post linked to an article on *PsyPost* which detailed the study. Basically, researchers found a correlation (not causation, mind you!) between positive feelings towards Trump and certain personality traits. Think less “warm and fuzzy” and more… well, you read the headline.

Here’s what really stood out to me:

* **Callousness:** A lack of concern for others’ feelings.
* **Manipulation:** Using others for personal gain.
* **Lower Empathy:** Difficulty understanding or sharing the feelings of others.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “This is biased! It’s just an attack!” And honestly, that’s a fair point. Political research can be tricky, and it’s super easy for bias to creep in.

But regardless of your political views, the idea that *any* political affiliation might be linked to certain personality traits is fascinating, right?

It makes you wonder what other hidden connections might be lurking beneath the surface. What does a love for Bernie Sanders say about a person? Or unwavering support for a local mayor?

This study made me think about:

* **How much we project our own values onto politicians:** Do we admire them because they reflect what we already believe?
* **The echo chamber effect:** Do we surround ourselves with people who share our views, reinforcing certain traits and perspectives?

Maybe this research isn’t about Trump supporters specifically. Maybe it’s a broader question about how our political choices reflect who we are—or who we *want* to be.

Food for thought, right? I’d love to hear your take on this! Let me know in the comments.