The Napoleon complex is real: scientists have revealed in undersized men a tendency to tyranny and narcissism

Scientists say short men have psychopathic and narcissistic tendencies that help them appear stronger despite their short stature. Dailymail.

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With the emergence of #ShortKingSpring on social media earlier this year, the seemingly "tall, dark and handsome" image of the ideal man has become obsolete.

Social media users on TikTok and Twitter have used the #ShortKingSpring hashtag online to share their love for men under 170 cm or under.

Heartthrobs Joe Jonas and Tom Holland, both 172cm tall, often walk proudly down the red carpet with their taller girlfriends Sophie Turner and Zendaya.

But scientists say those with a shorter partner may need to tread carefully.

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The study found that shorter men tend to show more narcissistic tendencies in order to appear more powerful.

Lead author Monika Kozlowska of the University of Wroclaw in Poland said: "When people can't be physically formidable, they can become psychologically dominant instead."

“Short people with traits such as psychopathy may use them to demand respect, impose costs on others, and impress romantic partners. By presenting themselves as stronger, they make other people perceive them as superior than they actually are,” she says.

In a study published in Elsevier's journal Personality and Individual Differences, Kozlowska explored the so-called "Napoleon complex."

This is an overbearing or aggressive attitude shown by shorter people to compensate for their short stature.

It is named after the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, who was 157 cm tall in various historical accounts and ridiculed in British newspapers during the French Revolution.

He was also portrayed by his enemies as an evil man with a desire for power and war, and his supposed smaller stature was associated with these characteristics.

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Kozlowska wanted to find out if there was a link between men who are considered below average height and the personality traits of the "dark triad". These are psychopathy, defined by a lack of empathy and antisocial behavior, narcissism, a self-centered personality style, and Machiavellianism, a demonstration of manipulation and indifference to morality.

The researchers surveyed 367 men and women using a questionnaire that asked participants how strongly they agreed with phrases such as "I tend to manipulate others to get my way."

According to the answers, they were given a score that indicated how strongly they demonstrated psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism.

Each participant also had to indicate their height, as well as how happy they were with their height and how often they felt that way.

The results showed that shorter participants of both sexes who wanted to be taller had higher scores on all three dimensions of the dark triad.

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However, narcissism was particularly strong in male participants in this category, while this tendency was absent in females.

The researchers suggest that these associations can be attributed to evolution.

“Short men may demand respect, pass on costs to others, acquire resources, and impress their romantic partners. Short women may use deception to appear more desirable or to gain protection and resources, the report says. “Additionally, more domineering behavior may, in turn, influence others’ perceptions of perceived height.” We think that psychological formidability may provide survival and mating benefits that compensate for losses in growth."

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