What is the destructive personality trait 'Need for Chaos' that means 'I just want to watch the world burn'?
In today's society, where political conflict is deepening, we often hear about destructive behavior that cannot be explained by mere partisan hostility. Brian Klaas, a political scientist at University College London, explains that some of the people who engage in such behavior have a ' Need for Chaos ' trait, which is to act with the aim of destroying social order.
The 'Need for Chaos' Voter - by Brian Klaas
'Need for Chaos,' proposed by political scientists Michael Bang-Petersen and Matthias Osmundsen of Aarhus University and Kevin Arsenault of Sciences Po , is a type of personality trait, but it is not something that is innate, but rather a 'trait adaptation,' which is a psychological state or reaction pattern that develops in order to adapt to specific situations.
The “Need for Chaos” and Motivations to Share Hostile Political Rumors
(PDF file) https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/7E50529B41998816383F5790B6E0545A/S0003055422001447a.pdf
Characteristic adaptation is a characteristic that is the result of the interaction between an individual's environment and personality traits, and is said to indicate behavioral tendencies in specific contexts. Need for Chaos is one of the new characteristic adaptations defined as a specific psychological strategy for achieving social status.
The Need for Chaos arises from a combination of dominance-oriented personality traits and social alienation, and when strong enough, it takes hold as a 'destructive mindset.' People with the Need for Chaos seek a new beginning by 'burning down' the existing political order, improving their own status in the process. This desire is not merely a biological one, but rather expresses an evolutionary problem associated with maintaining and gaining status.
For example, in the movie ' The Dark Knight ,' the butler Alfred says, 'Some men just want to watch the world burn,' pointing out entities that simply want to cause chaos. Krass says that the entities Alfred is pointing out best represent the trait 'Need for Chaos.'
The Dark Knight (2008) - Some Men Just Want to Watch the World Burn Scene | Movieclips - YouTube
What is distinctive about them is that people with Need for Chaos indiscriminately spread 'malicious rumors' targeting their opponents. This behavior is not merely partisan-motivated, but stems from dissatisfaction with the entire political system. They are not idealists who try to destroy the existing order to create a better society, but rather they take destructive action because they feel that they are not getting the respect they personally deserve.
Klaas introduces Jacob Wall, a well-known far-right conspiracy theorist, as a 'typical person with a Need for Chaos.' Wall has attempted to falsely accuse liberal politicians and government officials of sexual assault and to spread false information about electoral procedures to minority communities. Klaas said, 'Wall has demonstrated a pattern of behavior that is not merely political, but is intentionally trying to cause social unrest, and his actions were not necessarily in pursuit of rational political interests.'
Bang Petersen and his colleagues found that Need for Chaos is strongly associated with loss of social status and feelings of alienation. In particular, loss of personal status is a strong stimulant of Need for Chaos. They also argue that it is a unique trait that is distinct from other antisocial traits, such as psychopathy and social dominance.
Klaas argues that Need for Chaos can manifest itself in dangerous ways, especially among white men. He also warns that the influence of destructive individuals is growing in the age of social media. In conclusion, when we encounter malicious online behavior, we should consider the possibility that the other party is not just a political opponent, but someone with the characteristics of 'Need for Chaos' who is intentionally trying to cause chaos.
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