A new study published in Scientific Reports has revealed that a combination of “bright” and “dark” personality traits may help predict criminal behavior, including both first-time offenses and recidivism. Researchers found that higher levels of emotional instability (neuroticism), risk-taking (openness), and harmful tendencies (sadism, deceitfulness) were associated with a higher likelihood of criminal activity, with deceitfulness and neuroticism standing out as strong indicators of reoffending. Criminal behavior is a serious societal problem, and understanding what drives individuals to commi…