Why People Become MPs
The pursuit of high-level elected office, such as becoming a Member of Parliament, is primarily driven by a specific configuration of aversive personality traits known collectively as the Dark Triad: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism.
While the public narrative surrounding political candidacy often emphasises altruism and a desire to improve the state of the country, psychological data indicates that these are not the primary motivators for those seeking national power.
Instead, political ambition is statistically predicted by individuals who possess high levels of self-entitlement, a hunger for power, and a requirement for external validation.
The Dark Triad as a Predictor of Ambition
Machiavellianism serves as the strongest predictor of political ambition.
This trait is characterised by an intense hunger for power, extreme personal ambition, and a sense of entitlement to high-level positions. Individuals high in Machiavellianism view political office as a primary mechanism for achieving control and influence over the broader population.
Narcissism is the second most significant driver of the desire for elected office. Narcissistic individuals possess a grandiose and inflated sense of their own brilliance and uniqueness, leading to a firm belief that they are uniquely qualified to lead. For these individuals, holding a position as a Member of Parliament serves as a critical source of narcissistic supply, where the public recognition and status of the role reassure them of their own brilliance.
Psychopathy, the third component of the triad, involves low levels of empathy and a tendency to view other people as tools for manipulation rather than as fellow citizens. Psychopathic individuals are attracted to the power dynamics of national politics, perceiving the role as a means to exert authority over others and to achieve personal goals without the constraints of emotional concern for their constituents.
The Light Triad and Political Participation
In contrast to the Dark Triad, the Light Triad—comprising humanism, faith in humanity, and Kantianism—is negatively associated with political ambition. Individuals characterised by these pro-social traits typically do not seek high-level office because they lack the necessary grandiosity and often do not feel qualified for the limelight of national leadership.
Instead, Light Triad individuals tend to involve themselves in low-level political or social participation, such as charitable campaigns, volunteering at local libraries, or joining non-political residents' associations. Their involvement in the community is driven by a genuine adherence to the golden rule and a desire to help others, which acts as a deterrent to the aggressive pursuit of power required to become a senior politician.
Reluctant and Accidental Candidates
While most senior politicians are high in Dark Triad traits, a minority of individuals enter parliament through a process of reluctant or accidental candidacy.
These individuals, often from the Light Triad, are typically active in local associations and must be persuaded by others to stand for office. They frequently express a lack of desire for the position and only agree to run out of a sense of duty or commitment to their community.
In many instances, these reluctant candidates are placed in seats perceived as unwinnable. However, during landslide election victories, such individuals may find themselves elected to parliament unexpectedly.
Such accidental Members of Parliament are often visible at their election announcements exhibiting genuine shock or distress, as they have no innate desire for the power or scrutiny that the role entails.
Systemic Selection for Dark Traits
The structure of national politics effectively filters for Dark Triad personalities while discouraging pro-social individuals.
Because the process of securing a winnable seat and campaigning for high office requires years of avid self-promotion and power-seeking, the individuals who successfully reach senior levels are rarely motivated by the public good.
Consequently, the most prominent figures in the political landscape are those for whom the office provides the greatest personal and psychological rewards, rather than those best suited to serving the interests of their constituents.
The pursuit of political office is less a service to the nation and more a manifestation of a personality that requires the world to confirm its own perceived superiority.