Can Twitter Tell If You're a Psychopath?

 By   on 
Can Twitter Tell If You're a Psychopath?
Mashable Image
Credit:

There are probably a few people on your Twitter feed or Facebook friends list that you consider "crazy," and a new study by says you might be right.

Simply using certain words in your daily tweets may be enough to determine if you have psychopathic tendencies. The study tallies the frequency with which you use words like "bury," "die" and "kill," and weighs that data against other, unspecified warning signs. After putting 3,000 volunteers through the filter -- and then questioning each one individually -- the researchers found that 1.4% of those who participated may be closet psychopaths.

Of course having certain words in your Twitter vocabulary certainly seems like a rather flimsy way to help diagnose something as serious as psychopathic tendencies, and the scientists are quick to point out that the results may not be perfect. That's probably an understatement.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!