When officials and bystanders fear reputational punishment, the groups most willing to escalate outrage and transgression gain leverage. Over time, this incentive landscape selects for dark‑triad, performatively coercive actors to lead activism and even enter public office. The result is governance and culture increasingly steered by personalities optimized for intimidation rather than cooperation.
— It reframes institutional capture as an emergent selection problem, implying reforms must change incentives that reward performative coercion.
Arnold Kling
2025.09.15
78% relevant
Kaufman (quoted by Henderson) argues that people with narcissistic and/or psychopathic traits 'use activism as a vehicle to satisfy their own ego-focused needs,' aligning with the idea that activism environments can select for dark‑triad personalities who dominate tactics and tone when institutions fear reputational blowback.
el gato malo
2025.09.02
100% relevant
The author cites a CDC public figure ('Dr Demetre') and DOE’s Sam Brinton as examples of transgressive, performative personas leveraged for power and deference.
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