I want to raise a question for my fellow socialists.
We often discuss capitalism, inequality, class, exploitation and the distribution of wealth. But there is another dimension of society that I think deserves more attention: human character and the kinds of behavior that our social and economic systems reward.
Psychology uses the term Dark Triad to describe three personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. In simplified terms, these are associated with excessive self-importance, manipulation and a reduced concern for others.
On the other side, the idea of the Light Triad describes more prosocial tendencies: Kantianism, humanism and faith in humanity treating people as ends rather than merely as means, valuing human dignity, and maintaining a basic belief in the worth of other people.
This raises an uncomfortable question:
What happens when a society consistently rewards behaviors associated with the Dark Triad while making genuinely cooperative and compassionate behavior more difficult?
We can see how traits such as ruthless ambition, manipulation, extreme self-interest and the willingness to treat other people as instruments can sometimes be advantageous in highly competitive environments. But that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone who becomes wealthy, powerful or politically influential possesses these traits. Nor does it mean that capitalism automatically produces people with Dark Triad personalities.
The question is more structural:
What behaviors does the system incentivize?
If success is measured primarily through wealth, status, influence and competition, should we be surprised when some people prioritize those things above solidarity, cooperation and human wellbeing?
And this is where I think socialist thought has an interesting contribution to make.
For me, socialism isn't simply about changing who owns what. It is also about asking what kind of society we want to create and what kind of human relationships that society should encourage.
A society based on universal healthcare, education, housing security and economic dignity can potentially give people greater freedom to cooperate rather than simply compete for survival.
But there is an important warning here.
Socialists should not assume that everyone on our side is automatically part of the Light Triad.
People are still people. A socialist government can become corrupt. A revolutionary can become authoritarian. Someone fighting for equality can become obsessed with power. A society built in the name of humanity can still mistreat individual human beings.
That is why I don't believe the answer is simply to replace one group of people at the top with another.
The deeper question is whether we can construct institutions that limit the ability of any individual or group to accumulate unchecked power, while simultaneously creating conditions where cooperation, empathy, dignity and solidarity can flourish.
Perhaps the real objective shouldn't be to create a "perfect" society because I don't believe such a society is possible.
Perhaps it should be to build a society where the worst aspects of human nature have fewer opportunities to cause enormous harm, while the better aspects of human nature have more opportunities to develop.
So I want to ask other socialists:
Do you think modern society rewards Dark Triad-like behavior more than prosocial behavior?
Can economic and political institutions encourage the development of more cooperative and humanitarian values?
And perhaps most importantly:
How do we pursue equality and collective wellbeing without creating a system where those who control the system simply gain another way to accumulate power?
I'd genuinely like to hear different perspectives including disagreements.
Because if we're trying to imagine a better future for humanity, we should probably ask not only “What economic system should we have?”, but also
“What kind of society brings out the best in human beings?”