How any times have you watched a true crime documentary and wondered, “What kind of person could actually do that?” Well, science may have just brought us a step closer to the answer—and the location. A new eye-opening study has mapped out where in the United States you're most likely to encounter people with dark personality traits like narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. And no, it’s not just Hollywood dramatizing the ‘evil neighbor’ narrative, some states really do have higher concentrations of individuals with what psychologists call the “Dark Factor of Personality,” or “D.”

Turns out, the environment we live in marked by things like poverty, corruption, inequality, and violence could actually shape how likely we are to exploit or harm others for personal gain. So, if you’ve ever felt like your city breeds a little more chaos than kindness, you might not be imagining it. The results? Both fascinating and unnerving.

A groundbreaking study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) analyzed data from nearly 1.8 million respondents worldwide—including over 144,000 Americans—to identify where "dark" personality traits like psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism are most prevalent. The researchers found that horrid societal conditions—high poverty, inequality, corruption, and violence are closely linked to these darker traits.

What Are Some Dark Personality Traits?

Psychologists refer to these harmful traits collectively as the “Dark Factor of Personality”, or “D”. This umbrella concept captures the underlying tendency toward aversive behavior manipulation, exploitation, even enjoyment of others' suffering. Unlike the well-known “dark triad” (psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism), “D” integrates these tendencies into a single measurable dimension.

Researchers linked high D scores with self-serving behaviors and the belief that self-interest often superseeds moral or societal responsibilities. Crucially, they discovered that social and economic hardships tend to foster these personality traits over time

While analyzing data at the U.S. state level and correlating it with FBI homicide rates, Justice Department corruption convictions, and Census Bureau statistics, the researchers revealed stark geographical patterns. States with higher crime, corruption, and economic disparity tend to have higher average D scores. Among the highest-ranked states:

1. Nevada tops the list with a D score of 2.26/5
2. New York (2.24)
3. Texas (2.22)
4. South Dakota (2.22)

In contrast, the safest states in terms of low dark personality prevalence include:

1. Vermont (1.96)
2. Utah (2.03)
3. Maine (2.04)
4. New Hampshire, Oregon, and Alaska

Though differences may seem minor numerically, they are statistically significant across large populations.

Role of Sociocultural Environments in Shaping Personality

One of the study’s most compelling insights is how personality is not merely inherited. Lead co-author Ingo Zettler explains that living under corrupt, unequal, or violent conditions teaches people to look after themselves first.

This adaptation may serve as a survival mechanism in harsh environments, distrust, aggression, and self-centeredness offer competitive advantages. Urban areas like New York and Las Vegas, with extreme resource competition, often amplify these traits.

State Profiles

Nevada, New York, Texas, South Dakota

Nevada’s D score of 2.26 tops the nation with analysts suggesting that both systemic issues and the transient, high-stakes nature of urban hubs like Las Vegas amplify dark traits. New York and Texas closely follow both states face stark inequality and urban density.

South Dakota’s inclusion challenges stereotypes, showing that inequality and lack of resources, not just urban stress, can drive 'darker' behavioral tendencies.

Vermont, Utah, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Alaska

Vermont’s low score (1.96) positions it as the least likely to harbor dark personalities. These states share lower poverty rates, strong community cohesion and fewer corruption issues, creating environments that foster trust and cooperation.

While the link between adverse conditions and dark traits is moderate, its social cost is substantial. Traits like aggression, exploitation and cheating contribute to systemic challenges from governance issues to workplace toxicity .

Zettler emphasizes that small improvements in reducing corruption and inequality can yield large societal benefits by stemming the growth of dark personality traits

Researchers acknowledge limitations. The study doesn't account for migration—a psychopath in New York may have grown up elsewhere. Also, while personality evolves, genetic factors and early childhood experiences play significant roles. The findings highlight personality as malleable, shaped significantly by social context.

This extensive data reveals that the "dark factor" is not a rarity it lingers in communities shaped by inequality, corruption and violence but the study also offers hope.

This year from June 16 to 22, the world observed the World Continence Week. This is an annual global awareness campaign that is dedicated to raising awareness about bowel and bladder issues, including incontinence and promoting better continence care.

History of World Continence Day

It was first organized by the World Federation for Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP). The aim was to raise awareness about bladder and bowel incontinence, which has affected many people, yet continues to remain stigmatized.

Theme for World Continence Day 2025

This year, the theme is 'Shared Decision Making, Incontinence and Mental Health, Overactive Bladder, Faecal Incontinence, Sustainability, and Menopause.'

This year's theme, thus, in many ways, advocates for raising awareness of the many and individual effects of disorders that are associated to continence, globally.

Why Is It Important?

As per the Urology Foundation, 14 million people in the UK experience bladder problems , the data comes directly from NHS. This means 1 in 5 people in UK is experiencing this disorder. This is also an issue many people do not wish to talk about and thus remains a hidden condition.

Many people feel hesitant or embarrassed to talk about their toilet habits, often choosing to put up with uncomfortable symptoms in silence. But urinary incontinence is more common than we think, and there are several effective ways to manage it. That’s why it’s important to speak to a GP or healthcare professional to explore suitable treatment options.

Living with incontinence can affect a person’s emotional and social wellbeing. Feelings of embarrassment or isolation are not uncommon, especially if the condition limits day-to-day activities, strains relationships, or interferes with intimacy. In more severe cases, it may even affect job performance or reduce one’s ability to live independently. Over time, this can lead to a significant drop in self-esteem and confidence.

The importance of this week also lies in understanding that continence health, especially urinary and fecal incontinence, significantly impacts physical, emotional ad social well-being, globally.

It affects individuals of all ages, with a notable increase in prevalence among older adults. Beyond the physical discomfort and potential complications like skin irritation and infections, incontinence leads to social isolation, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life.

Physical Health:

Incontinence can lead to several health issues, including skin irritation, urinary tract infections, and disrupted sleep. For older adults, the urgency to reach the toilet can also increase the risk of falls and injuries.

Emotional and Psychological Impact:

The condition often brings emotional distress, including feelings of embarrassment, shame, anxiety, and depression. It can lower self-esteem and cause individuals to withdraw from social settings due to the fear of accidents.

Social Impact:

Many people reduce or completely avoid participating in social events, work, or recreational activities. Over time, this can lead to isolation, loneliness, and a decline in overall quality of life.

Salman Khan, the ever-energetic and seemingly unstoppable Bollywood star, surprised his fans with a raw and honest admission on a recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show, currently streaming on Netflix. Known for his fitness, charisma, and action-packed performances, Salman casually revealed that he is working through several serious health issues at the age of 59.

"I'm out here breaking my bones every day—ribs are fractured, I'm working despite having trigeminal neuralgia, there is an aneurysm in the brain, yet I'm still working. There’s also an AV malformation, and still, I'm carrying on," he said with a calm that masked the gravity of his condition.

This revelation stunned viewers and fans alike—not because Salman was suffering, but because he never let it show.

Living with Trigeminal Neuralgia

This isn’t the first time Salman Khan has spoken about his medical challenges. In previous interviews, he opened up about having trigeminal neuralgia, a rare and excruciating facial nerve disorder. Often dubbed the “suicide disease” due to its debilitating nature, it causes sudden, severe, shock-like pain on one side of the face.

The pain can be triggered by even mild stimulation, such as brushing teeth or feeling a light breeze. Living with such a condition—and continuing to work in one of the most physically demanding film industries in the world—is nothing short of remarkable.

Understanding Brain Aneurysm

Among the conditions he mentioned, a brain aneurysm stands out for its life-threatening potential. Also called a cerebral aneurysm, it’s a bulge that forms in a weak spot in the wall of a brain artery. Over time, the pressure of blood flow causes this weakened section to stretch, forming a balloon-like protrusion. If it continues to grow unchecked, it risks rupturing—resulting in bleeding in or around the brain.

Brain aneurysms are often silent, showing no symptoms until they burst. When they do, it can lead to a thunderclap headache—an intense, sudden headache often described as the worst pain one has ever felt. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, seizures, confusion, or even loss of consciousness.

While anyone can develop an aneurysm, those between 30 and 60 years of age are at greater risk, and women are slightly more vulnerable. Factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, drug abuse, and genetic defects can further increase the risk.

What If an Aneurysm Ruptures?

A ruptured aneurysm can cause hemorrhagic strokes, brain damage, and even death. When it bursts, blood spills into the brain or the space around it, creating pressure and swelling. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Some people may have multiple aneurysms, but many remain undetected if they’re small and unruptured. If large enough, however, they can press on nearby nerves and tissues, causing symptoms like:

• Severe headaches
• Blurred or double vision
• Drooping eyelid
• Pain above or behind the eyes
• Numbness in the face
• Seizures
• Light sensitivity
• Enlarged pupils
• Weakness or paralysis

Salman’s Unseen Strength

In addition to trigeminal neuralgia and a brain aneurysm, Salman also mentioned an arteriovenous (AV) malformation—a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which can disrupt normal blood flow and oxygen circulation. Like the rest of his conditions, this too carries serious risks.

Yet, through all of this, Salman Khan remains active—dancing, acting, and performing stunts. His openness about his health struggles adds another layer to his public persona: that of a resilient fighter who chooses to show up every day, regardless of the pain.

When 66-year-old dance teacher Will McKechnie walked into his routine NHS health check, he never imagined he’d walk out with a warning: he was prediabetic. With an active lifestyle that involved working out seven times a week, a trim 11st 13lb frame, and no obvious health issues, McKechnie seemed the embodiment of wellness but beneath his fit exterior was a metabolic red flag, a silent threat that could’ve easily been missed.

His case disrupts a common misconception: that type 2 diabetes is a condition exclusive to the overweight or sedentary. In fact, McKechnie’s story proves how poor eating habits regardless of fitness level can quietly erode health.

The term “prediabetes” refers to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. It’s a condition that affects more than 6.3 million people in England alone, often without symptoms. During an “over-60s MOT” in May 2023, McKechnie’s blood sugar levels measured at 44 mmol/mol, placing him squarely in the prediabetic range (42–47 mmol/mol). Anything above 48 mmol/mol is considered full-blown type 2 diabetes.

“When my doctor said if it hit 48 it would likely become irreversible, I was terrified,” McKechnie admitted. “I thought being active was enough. I never saw this coming.”

For years, McKechnie believed his active lifestyle gave him immunity against dietary indulgences. Every night, he treated himself to a Yorkie chocolate bar and a packet of crisps—a habit he saw as harmless. But those calorie-dense, high-glycemic snacks quietly wreaked havoc on his metabolism.

Experts warn that regular consumption of processed carbs and sugar, especially before bed, can contribute to insulin resistance, the very mechanism behind type 2 diabetes. While physical activity does play a major role in regulating blood glucose, dietary quality and timing are equally important—something McKechnie learned the hard way.

How Lifestyle Tweaks Reversed the Risk

After the diagnosis, McKechnie overhauled his diet. He didn’t just eliminate sugary snacks—he also changed how he ate. Adopting a slower, more mindful eating practice, he allowed himself to feel full sooner and consume fewer calories.

“It now takes me 40 minutes to eat a simple chicken sandwich,” he shared. “That one change helped me eat less without feeling deprived.”

A remarkable drop in blood sugar from 44 to 41 mmol/mol in just nine months—bringing him out of the prediabetic zone. He also lost nearly two stone and trimmed two inches off his waistline.

Prediabetes often goes undiagnosed due to its subtle or nonexistent symptoms. But if left unchecked, it can lead to type 2 diabetes, a condition responsible for serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, and limb amputations.

In the UK alone, diabetes costs the NHS £10 billion annually, and globally, the numbers are rising with alarming speed. The World Health Organization warns that type 2 diabetes is one of the world’s fastest-growing chronic diseases, with lifestyle-related factors as the primary drivers.

Why Its Important To Rethink the Stereotypes?

Many associate prediabetes with obesity or advanced age, but McKechnie’s case proves that even slim, physically active individuals aren’t immune. While excess weight is a major risk factor, so are genetics, poor diet, stress, poor sleep, and even eating habits like snacking late at night or eating too quickly. Symptoms, when present, may include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Unexplained weight loss
• Slow-healing cuts
• Itchy genitals

But most people with prediabetes will have no symptoms at all, making routine screening especially critical.

Importance of Early Detection and Testing for Diabetes Diagnosis

McKechnie’s condition might have gone unnoticed had his GP not revisited old test results nearly a year later. That delay spotlights a growing issue: undetected or poorly communicated results that put patients at unnecessary risk.

He now advocates for regular blood sugar testing, even for those who appear outwardly healthy. “It’s not just worth it—it’s life-changing,” he says. “Don’t wait for symptoms. Get tested.”

Routine blood tests, especially for individuals over 40 or with a family history of diabetes, can identify prediabetes early—when it’s still reversible with lifestyle changes.

Why the Term ‘Prediabetes’ Could Create Panic?

The term prediabetes isn’t without controversy. Some experts argue that it medicalizes borderline results and creates unnecessary panic. However, advocates say the term serves as a wake-up call, offering a window of opportunity for intervention before permanent damage occurs.

In McKechnie’s case, it was just that. “Had I waited, I could’ve crossed the threshold into something far more difficult to manage.”

Will McKechnie’s story is a powerful reminder that fitness doesn’t grant immunity from metabolic disease. No matter how many workouts we log, what we put in our mouths and how and when we eat it matters deeply.

His recovery shows that it’s never too late to course-correct. With small but consistent lifestyle changes, he reversed a dangerous diagnosis, lost weight, improved his energy levels, and possibly added years to his life.