A survey has found that belief in social Darwinism is linked to certain psychological dysfunctions, including hostility, exploitative attitudes, and low self-esteem. These findings were presented by Piotr Radkiewicz of Polish Academy of Sciences and Krystyna Skarynska of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, August 11, 2021.Social Darwinists view the social world in a competitive jungle that requires ruthless competition for scarce resources. Only the "strongest" survive. Social Darwinism is a negative view on human nature. It holds that people are naturally selfish and that cynical manipulation can be used to gain advantage.Radkiewicz & Skarzynska conducted four-part surveys to better understand people's beliefs in social Darwinism. Each part included 624-853 Polish participants. They examined the links between belief in social Darwinism, attachment styles, personality traits of the "Big Five", the "Dark Triad", basic human values and moral judgments.The survey results showed that belief in social Darwinism was linked to dysfunctional personal characteristics, rather than more positive "individual resource" beliefs. Social Darwinists, for example, were more likely than others to admire power and a desire for dominance, to achieve their goals at any cost, and to be hostile. They also had a lower self-esteem and self-sufficiency as well as a fearful attachment style within their close relationships.These results support the notion that social Darwinists have beliefs that are contrary to the principles of liberal democracy and that their vision of society is not conducive for fostering a cooperative, egalitarian society. Social Darwinists are known for their devotion to strength and power, but also have a fragile self-image.Future research could explore the dispositional traits that underlie social Darwinism as well as a wider range of pessimistic views about the social world.The authors conclude that "the belief that the social environment is a Darwinian jungle is contrary to democratic ideals that promote the maximization of citizens' wellbeing, minimising violence and protecting human rights." It can also support an adversarial democracy, which seeks to gain power over its opponents, deprive them from good reputation and economic strength.
