The researchers said that not all those interested in cryptocurrencies are psychopaths, but measuring them through that approach allows understanding why they want to invest. According to Carnegie Mellon University, describing someone as having psychopathic traits because he makes risky investments could cause confusion and misunderstandings.
A group of researchers conducted a survey to determine whether people interested in cryptocurrencies have psychopathic, narcissistic or sadistic personality traits. Ninety percent of the 566 online respondents show those characteristics, which has aroused much controversy in the ecosystem.
Di Wang, Brett Martin, and Jun Yao, the marketing specialists in charge of the study, talked about those traits. They highlighted that not all those interested in cryptocurrencies have a psychopathic, narcissistic or sadistic attitude. However, they pointed out that measuring them through that approach allows a better understanding of why they want to buy crypto assets.
Analyzing the behavior of those people through the psychological lens of those mental disorders seems somewhat biased and careless. The truth is that those having those traits do not necessarily have psychological problems.
Minna Lyons, a research doctor from the psychology school of the University of Liverpool, referred to those traits as the dark tetrad. She explained that they are part of the daily behavior of humans and argued that they could even be beneficial. However, she said that they only caused problems if they interfered with self-control and caused people to harm others and themselves.
Although Bitcoin Traders Have Dark Tetrad Traits
According to Lyon, the traders of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may have psychopathic, narcissistic, or sadistic traits. She argued that they are normal in human beings, as long as they do not affect them or others.
Val-U firm CEO Andrés Urquiola commented that only people who are somewhat psychopathic would trade Bitcoin. He said they need to control their emotions to operate that crypto asset as it is high risk due to its price fluctuations. That characteristic is a strength instead of a weakness in this case and does not mean that they have a mental disorder.
The world of cryptocurrencies is not an isolated case, as there may be people with dark tetrad traits in different fields. Psychiatrist Lola Morón believes that executives, politicians, and other people holding high-responsibility positions can have them.
Professor Robert Hare, an expert in psychopathy at the University of British Columbia, agrees. He stated that they need the ability to withstand high-pressure environments without letting emotions and the interest in power, prestige and money carry them away. Carnegie Mellon University also identifies traders of traditional investments, such as the stock market.
However, describing someone as having psychopathic traits because they make risky investments or manage their emotions could be inappropriate. It could also cause confusion and misunderstandings, affecting the entire community and the owners of cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin analyst Will Clemente believes that linking dark tetrad traits to cryptocurrency traders instills fear, uncertainty, and doubt. For that reason, he advises being careful about using mental disorder terms to describe people, although they share some similarities.
By Alexander Salazar
