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You know what’s weird? Staying friends with your exes on social media. Or just staying friends with your ex in general. Why do you want to see their life and obsess over how much better they’re doing than you? Also, why do you want them to see your life and know where you are at all times?
According to a new study published in Personality and Individual Differences, the answer is simple: those people are psychopathic or incredibly narcissistic.
Researchers asked a group of people why they stayed friends with their exes. They then had the group think back to the time they made that decision and rate the importance of their reasons.
The most common reason people gave was a sense of security and sentimental value. Men, on the other hand, were more like to say sex and practicality. Because, obviously.
But mixed in with this portion of the study was an additional test that measured “dark personality traits,” like psychopathy and narcissism. Researchers found that the people who gave the reason “sex and practicality” also exhibited psychopathic and narcissistic behavior.
“Individuals who score higher on measures of dark personality tend to choose friends for strategic purposes,” the author concluded. “Thus, it is likely that these traits will be associated with valuing friendships for utilitarian or instrumental reasons, such as to maintain sexual access.”
At least you can feel justified in saying your ex was a psychopath, right? Good thing you got out of that mess.
[H/T: Refinery 29]
