You may want to sit down for this one:
There’s a gene called MAOA that produces an enzyme which breaks down chemicals in the brain associated with mood. 174 prisoners–all with both a history of alcoholism and records of violent tendencies–were the subjects of a recent study conducted by Finnish scientists. The scientists, now in possession of about 200 violent criminals with poor impulse control, decided the most logical thing to do was to get them all fucking hammered and then poke at them with needles because, as we all know, Finnish scientists have infamously gigantic science-balls. They found that not only did all of the criminals show a drastically increased risk of impulsive violence, but all were registering highly active versions of MAOA in their brains as well.
But unexpectedly, they also found that these feelings were less like emotional responses, and more similar to actual, physical sensations. Envy is registered
in the mind like a real feeling of bodily pain, while schadenfreude induces a pleasant euphoric state akin to a low grade orgasm. Well, mostly it’s just a low grade orgasm, but I suppose that if you’re truly evil enough, you could get a more literal orgasm from watching the suffering of others. And this would certainly explain Skeletor’s constant O-Face.
Behavioral scientists have a keen interest in the increasing trend of so-called “webrage”: the tendency for Internet commenters to spew naught but filth and bile with little to no provocation (for some handy examples, just scroll all the way down to the comments section!) But aside from vitriol-laden feedback sections wrought with verbal filth and textual disease, the scientists are also pointing to the rise of new websites.
Like mybiggestcomplaint.com and justrage.org which are dedicated exclusively to the world’s saddest expression of rage: Angry typing. RAGE. Just Rage. – YouTube These sites don’t even pretend to have content, they’re exclusively devoted to venting nerd fury for no valid reason. Although that does finally answer the age old Zen Riddle: If there were no Internet to flame on, would flamers still flame?
These researchers all differ on what, exactly, is causing this outpouring of impotent rage–some point to the anonymity of the Internet providing a consequence-free environment for dickotry, while others blame the anger on
a lack of emotional cues like voice fluctuation and body language–but all can agree on one thing: The newfound ability to distance ourselves emotionally, while simultaneously remaining connected on a global level is leading to an overall increase in both anger and stress levels across the board. So, while the Internet may have linked humanity via information, and possibly ushered in
a new era of human intelligence, it’s also allowed us just enough distance to constantly tell each other to go fuck ourselves unconscious for no apparent reason with a previously unheard of lack of empathy and remorse. And on a completely unrelated note: Go fuck yourselves unconscious, dicktards.
Related: 5 Scientific Ways to Trick Yourself into Being a Good Person
There are strategic assholes, who treat people badly because they believe that’s how you get ahead. A lot of bullying research [points to] the classic high school dynamic. There are some people who are bullies because they’re part of the “in” crowd. The notion that you’re part of the powerful people and you’re pushing around the weirdos and the deviants, that’s one kind of asshole. And there’s the rebel-without-a-cause type who feels alienated and rejected. They tend to be lone jerks — you get that in organizations too, the weirdo in the corner going after everyone [who has] an anger management problem. Or you get someone at the top who pushes people around because they have more power.
My favorite are petty tyrants, maybe because I have an obsession with people who have stupid rules. They push you around to make themselves feel more powerful. Often people behave like that because they’re in a position where they have influence over others but [feel] they’re not respected.
My favorite one in terms of research is this idea of temporal distancing or time travelling. Two researchers from University of California, Berkeley, did this series of studies that show that if you have something difficult [to deal with], rather than think about how you feel now, if you think about how you’re going to feel in a week, a month, or a year from now, you will be happier. I’m fascinated with this idea of humans being able to imagine we’re in the future.
How do you know when you, yourself, have turned into an asshole?
The ability of human beings to see our own weaknesses is pretty sad; we have terrible self-awareness. The best we can hope for is to have the people in our lives tell us the truth. The distinction between temporary and certified assholes is really important. For most of us, there are only certain situations that turn us into jerks. If we have somebody in our lives who will tell us the truth, it’s incredibly valuable.
Are there any ways to self-diagnose?
If people seem to be afraid when you’re around, that’s a sign. Another reliable sign is contagion. If everywhere you go, there are assholes and people treating you like dirt, either you’re really paranoid and thin-skinned or you’re doing something to provoke them. If you see tears, you’re bringing it out in people.
It tends to be a vicious circle. Maybe you should be nice to them.
The internet is a breeding ground for people to let out their uncensored stupidity, racism, sexism, and just plain awful thought processes. In fact,
the internet can be the last place you want to go because of all the assh*les inhabiting it.
Even in real life, we encounter assh*les every single day. The woman in front of you in line who is harassing the cashier, the man who didn’t say thank you for holding the door for him, the acquaintance who tries to one-up you at a party — it seems like these people are never too far from sight.
Why Jerks Come Out On Top – And Three Ways To Become One
In sectors fueled by creativity, where happy teams are so important, it’s often ‘agreeable’ more extroverted people who get hired (by other people just like them.) They’re certainly a whole lot more fun to have around and they don’t object as much as their ‘disagreeable’ and often more introverted counterparts. Yet it can be very good to have jerks and divas on your creative team. I often find myself drawn to people whose lack of interest in trying to please I mistake for strength. It has been proven that they make more money and are frequently more successful at pitching and selling ideas So, even if you’d much rather not work with obnoxious people, learning how to be more like them can be a real advantage.
Dr. Fauci told Neil Cavuto that he’s too “busy” Like continuing to cover up for the lab he financed in Wuhan where the virus leaked from. In 10 years this guy will be a billionaire, if that long.to get involved with the border because “I have more important things to do” than acquiesce to their concerns. Dr. Fauci is a moron. Hasn’t practiced medicine in 20 years. Changed his mind more than
I changed my underwear. Sorry! Didn’t mean to get into my personal business.
I don’t trust anyone who associates with Bill Gates.
People need to wake up.. we are heading for trouble. If people only would Google: Fauci they would be surprised! I cannot express the depth of hatred and distrust. I have this “man.” Isn’t he the “expert” on all things Covid? Maybe he could tell Joe, the border is a super spreader event…you’re putting the country at risk!!! He keeps yapping about lockdowns, wearing 20 masks & vaccines for US citizens but can’t be bothered to give his input about infected illegals waltzing in & going wherever they want to go? Fauci Gets Grilled on COVID at the Border, Says He’s Too Busy, “I Have More Important Things to Do” (VIDEO) – Media Circus
Not only do “assholes” make more money, they are also more successful in pitching and selling ideas…. [+]
It’s not necessarily the most disagreeable person who has the best idea, but more ‘agreeable’ team members are often less willing to put their brave new concept on the line in the first place. Agreeable people go out of their way to avoid negative feedback and are more reluctant to stand up for their idea
(even if it’s brilliant) when everyone else is saying it’s no good.
If you’ve ever done any kind of psychometric test, you’re probably already familiar with the ‘big five’ personality traits which to a degree determine who you are, the choices you make, and how well you do in life. If you’ve already been found to be highly disagreeable, you can stop reading now.
Open people enjoy new experiences and have a wide variety of interests. They’re often insightful and imaginative. Conscientious people are reliable and prompt. They tend to be very organized, and thorough.
Extroversion – can be measured by their levels of energy, talkativeness and assertiveness.
Neuroticism – People who score high on neuroticism often experience a lot of emotional instability and negative emotions. Traits include being moody and tense.
Agreeableness – These individuals are friendly, cooperative, and compassionate.
Traits include being kind, affectionate, and sympathetic.
For the most part, we all agree to like agreeable people and to dislike disagreeable ones, for whom we all have special names: douchebag, jackass, asshole, bastard. The very fact that they disagree (with us and with society’s conventions and agreements) makes them objectionable, unless, of course, they’re fighting for us, in which case ‘my real bastard of a lawyer’ or ‘my asshole of an agent,’ becomes the highest compliment there is.
A study by the University of Western Ontario ‘Do Nice Guys—and Gals—Really Finish Last?’ examined ‘agreeableness’ using self-reported survey data and found that men who measured below average on agreeableness earned about 18% more—or $9,772 more annually in their sample—than nicer guys. Ruder women, meanwhile, earned about 5% or $1,828 more than their agreeable counterparts.
In creative sectors, where it’s often been said that a career sounds like this: ‘No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Being argumentative, egotistical, aggressive, headstrong and hostile can be tremendously helpful. Especially when the people you are trying to convince are themselves often less than charming.
No one would say that Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple was lovely to have around.
‘The normal rules of social engagement, he feels, don’t apply to him,’ designer Jonathan Ive is quoted as having said about his boss in Wired. Likewise, John de Mol, the creator of many global hits, got a dozen rejections before someone took a chance on his ‘risky social experiment’ that was Big Brother. Every pioneer, every disruptive thinker was in disagreement with the thinking of his or her time. For anyone who wants to be liked, that can’t be easy.
‘They all laughed at Christopher Columbus…
When he said the world was round!!
They all laughed when Edison recorded sound
They all laughed at Wilbur and his brother
When they said that man could fly’ – Ira Gershwin.
For the record, despite having been cited as one of Reality TV’s greatest villains (it’s a long story but it involves a show where six guys fall in love with the girl of their dreams, who turns out to be trans) I see myself more as the ‘agreeable’ type. I am friendly, cooperative, and compassionate. My traits include being kind, affectionate, and sympathetic. Unsurprisingly, I find other people who are similar to me much easier to have around. Nonetheless, I see the strength of creative people who don’t care what others think of them and never try to please. In the past, this has not always been good for me.
For a start, you’ve probably noticed that whenever an ‘agreeable’ person gets into a fight with a disagreeable person, it’s nearly always the biggest asshole who wins, because they simply don’t care how offended or upset you are or what an asshole you think they are.
So, just as every born introvert needs to learn to channel the qualities of an extrovert if they ever want to be heard by a group, I have found it really pays
to master whatever might be stopping you from being a complete and utter asshole.
1. Own your inner asshole!
As an agreeable person you tell yourself that you hate hurting other people’s feelings, but really what you can’t stand is the idea of being seen as ‘disagreeable’ by others. Once you can accept that being nice is not altruistic, it will be easier for you to own your inner asshole. In a way you already are one.
2. Pick a cause that’s more important to you than hurting people’s feelings
Being disapproved of needs to be worth it. At one point in my life, I had a life threatening medical condition which doctors in the UK were telling me was inoperable. Being in disagreement with the team of British surgeons actually ended up saving my life. I had the operation in San Francisco and by sharing the learning of my experience, helped to advance medical practice in the UK, saving the lives of dozens of other patients. For a while the UK doctors hated me, but it was worth being obnoxious.
3. If It’s Important, Just Say It
Make a choice. If there’s something you believe is worth saying, even if it might make someone else very uncomfortable, just say it. The other day, a truly disagreeable producer presented as an original idea a show which another team member had pitched only weeks before. In the past, I might have pretended that he’d simply been inspired. Instead I said, ‘At what point are you planning to give Jo credit for her idea which you’ve clearly stolen?’ When I looked across the room, a dozen pairs of eyes were thanking me with their smiles.
The first time I was an ‘asshole’ in this way, I felt bad, and then it started to feel exhilarating. Try it in support of a good cause and you may just end up getting your ideas adopted, making more money and gaining new respect from your team.
The internet is a breeding ground for people to let out their uncensored stupidity, racism, sexism, and just plain awful thought processes. In fact, the internet can be the last place you want to go because of all the assh*les inhabiting it.
Even in real life, we encounter assh*les every single day. The woman in front of you in line who is harassing the cashier, the man who didn’t say thank you for holding the door for him, the acquaintance who tries to one-up you at a party — it seems like these people are never too far from sight.
People can be such assh*les, and now, psychologists at Yale University have stumbled upon why some people are dicks and some people are very nice.
Adam Bear and David Rand developed a special study where participants played games that had two options: to be selfish or to be helpful. The payoff was sometimes higher depending on the game. In some games, it paid to cooperate. In others, it paid to be self-interested. Their study was based on
a model which “incorporates ideas from the evolutionary game theory of cooperation and the behavioral economics of intuition and deliberation.” Basically, this means it looks at how we evolved to channel intuition and decide whether or not to work with people. As it turns out, being an assh*le has more to do with the people you’re surrounded by than anything else. It’s definitely nurture, not nature. People who came from supportive, friendly environments tended to be nicer. Those who came from colder environments, well… they are not so nice. The big lesson to take away here is that, if someone’s a dick, chances are the people in their lives are dicks, too. Try not to take it too personally.
After all, it’s not their fault that their upbringing turned them into someone not-so-nice. This article was originally published at Higher Perspective. Reprinted with permission from the author. Why are people assholes?
(1) George Carlin Assholes – Bing video