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By Alice Gibbs
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Dark personalities may not just be uncaring, self-obsessed and skilled at manipulation—but they may also look trustworthy, according to a new study that sheds light on how physical appearance can subtly disarm our instincts.
A new study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences examined how people perceive strangers' trustworthiness based on facial appearance alone.
Researchers found that individuals with high levels of the so-called "dark triad" traits—narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism—were consistently rated as more trustworthy.
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Why? The answer lies in looks. People with high dark triad traits tended to be perceived as more physically attractive—and this perception strongly influenced how trustworthy people believed them to be.
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In four experiments involving nearly 600 participants, individuals were asked to judge strangers' faces in rating tasks and simulated trust games. Time and again, those with high dark triad scores were seen as more trustworthy from their image alone.
Psychopathy, characterized by a lack of empathy and impulsivity, might seem like it would repel trust. But in practice, individuals with this trait can be highly charming and socially strategic.
Similarly, narcissists often exhibit confidence, charm, and polished self-presentation, while Machiavellians excel at reading social cues and manipulating perceptions. The study found that these traits may influence their facial expressions and appearance in subtle ways that boost their appeal, especially in brief or superficial encounters.
"In short-term cooperative settings, individuals with high Dark Triad traits tend to inspire more trust, partly due to being seen as more attractive based on their facial features," said paper lead and psychologist professor Qi Wu of the Hunan Normal University, China, in a statement.
Notably, their faces still prompt greater trust even when other traits like dominance, extraversion, and attractiveness are accounted for, suggesting facial features have a unique influence on how trustworthy people are perceived."
Psychology professor Jason Walker of Chicago's Adler University—who studies the dark triad—told Newsweek: "We're hardwired to associate attractiveness with trust, a psychological shortcut known as the halo effect.
"This becomes quite dangerous when it collides with the 'dark triad' personalities, who often know and use it to their advantage. These individuals will present as polished, confident, and even charming.
"They have mastered the art of performance: they know how to look like the ideal high-performing teammate or a visionary leader, but they're actually consolidating power and manipulating people's perception."
These findings could help explain real-world patterns too, like how people with dark personality traits rise quickly in leadership roles or gain social influence, at least in the short term.
Dark Triad Traits in Popular Culture
The study may also add context to cultural phenomena like the public fascination with serial killers. For example, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were both described as attractive or charismatic—qualities that may have helped them avoid suspicion.
It's playing out in pop culture too. The popular Netflix series YOU, has presented a chilling case study in how charm and appearance can mask deeply violent behavior. The show's central character, Joe Goldberg, is a soft-spoken bookstore manager who also happens to be a stalker and serial killer.
Despite this, fans have often expressed romantic interest in him, a reaction actor Penn Badgley has repeatedly pushed back on, reminding viewers: "He is a murderer."
While recent research suggests people with high dark triad traits may be perceived as more trustworthy due to their facial features, a 2018 study revealed there are limits to our ability to actually detect those traits.
The researchers also tested whether people could identify narcissism, psychopathy, or Machiavellianism just by looking at faces—and the results were mixed.
Participants could reliably spot high narcissism in both men and women, and high psychopathy in men. But they struggled to detect psychopathy in women and couldn't recognize Machiavellianism at all.
These findings suggest that while some dark triad cues may subtly show in facial appearance—particularly narcissism—the connection isn't consistent across traits or genders.
Still, the perception of trustworthiness or attractiveness tied to these faces may explain how people high in dark triad traits can initially gain others' trust, even if the observer can't consciously identify what feels "off."
When it comes to protecting yourself from being taken in by dark triad personalities, Walker said: "Watch how they treat those with less power. True character is revealed in how someone engages with people they don't need to impress. Attractiveness may open the door, but sustained trust should be earned through consistency, humility, and integrity, not charisma or a curated image."
References
Shiramizu, V. K. M., Kozma, L., DeBruine, L. M., & Jones, B. C. (2019). Are dark triad cues really visible in faces? Personality and Individual Differences, 139, 214–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.11.011
Zhang, S., Wu, Q., Liu, J., Peng, K., Liang, Y., & Li, H. (2025). Trust in Darkness: Individuals with high dark triad traits gain others' trust through facial attractiveness and other associated facial features. Personality and Individual Differences, 242, 113214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113214
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