A new peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry challenges harmful stereotypes about transgender people, showing no evidence that being trans is linked to so-called “dark personality traits” like narcissism or psychopathy.
The research, conducted by psychologists Agnieszka Mateja and Barbara Gawda in Poland, compared 104 transgender participants with 138 cisgender participants. The study, titled “Low Level of Dark Personality Traits in Transgender People and Their Relationships with Resilience,” examined whether trans individuals differ from cisgender people in the four traits often labeled the “Dark Tetrad”: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism.
The results showed that transgender participants scored no higher on any of these traits than their cisgender counterparts. In fact, trans women scored slightly lower in narcissism and Machiavellianism compared to cisgender women. The only significant difference tied to gender, not transgender status, was that men overall tended to score slightly higher in sadism, regardless of whether they were trans or cis.
The findings are an important counterpoint to long-standing stigma. Transgender people have often been pathologized in public discourse, with opponents claiming personality disorders drive gender dysphoria or transition. This study directly disputes that notion, providing data that transgender individuals are no more manipulative, aggressive, or self-centered than anyone else.
However, one difference stood out: resilience. Researchers found that transgender participants had lower resilience scores compared to cisgender participants. Across several dimensions, including perseverance, optimism, humor, and tolerance of failure, trans participants consistently scored lower.
The study’s authors suggest that these differences likely reflect the challenges transgender people face in society rather than any innate psychological weakness. Daily exposure to discrimination, social rejection, and structural barriers can erode emotional resilience over time, even among people with strong coping skills.
“These results do not indicate pathological traits in transgender individuals,” the authors wrote. “Instead, they emphasize the need for societal support and understanding to strengthen resilience and well-being.”
The study also notes limitations. The sample of 242 participants, while informative, is relatively small. The transgender group was primarily composed of trans men, about 77 percent of the group, and all participants were from Poland, a country with ongoing political and social tension over LGBTQ+ rights. The researchers also used self-report questionnaires, which rely on participants’ honesty and self-awareness.
Despite these limitations, the study’s peer-reviewed status and careful methodology make it a valuable contribution to the growing body of psychological research on transgender well-being. It shifts the focus away from outdated clinical pathologizing and toward understanding the real-world pressures that impact mental health and resilience.
For advocates and clinicians, the takeaway is clear: being transgender does not correlate with “dark” personality traits, but living in a world that marginalizes you can make it harder to bounce back from adversity. Supportive environments, community connection, and affirming care are essential to rebuilding that resilience.
As the authors conclude, strengthening resilience among transgender people requires addressing the social and systemic forces that drain it. In other words, the problem isn’t who trans people are; it’s what they’re forced to endure.
