Conventional thinking
There is growing interest among talent management practitioners and consultants in understanding the dark side of leadership. Overconfident, narcissistic, and erratic leadership styles can create toxic environments and derail organizations.
Traditionally, two frameworks are used to analyze these tendencies:
Non-clinical applications of DSM-IV personality disorders
These approaches define extreme traits as categorical and qualitatively distinct. While widely used, they have limitations when applied to the workplace.
The latest research suggests a new perspective: extreme behaviors are best understood as exaggerations of normal personality traits, not separate categories.
Considering personality in extreme behavior
The Five-Factor Model (FFM) is one of the most robust frameworks in personality science. It identifies five broad dimensions:
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Emotional Stability
Extraversion
Openness to Experience
These traits exist on a continuum, ranging from very low to very high. Research shows that both ends of the spectrum can produce dysfunctional outcomes.
Example: High Conscientiousness is usually positive, but at its extreme it may appear rigid or inflexible. Conversely, very low scorers may seem undependable.
Example: In sales, people who score around average on Extraversion often outperform those at the extremes.
This evidence suggests extreme behaviors should be understood as part of a continuum of personality, not as separate, clinical categories.
Reframing extreme behavior
Recent research indicates that psychopathology is not limited to extreme cases. Clinical psychiatry has begun shifting its approach, moving away from rigid diagnostic categories due to poor reliability.
The FFM now forms the foundation of the latest approach by the American Psychiatric Association.
Traits at the extremes are more likely to be dysfunctional and maladaptive
Traits closer to the middle of the continuum are more likely to be balanced and functional
In practice, this means our extreme tendencies are not separate from our everyday personality. Instead, they represent our normal strengths taken too far — often under stress or pressure.
Just like overusing a muscle can cause injury, overusing our natural tendencies can lead to negative outcomes.
The Deeper Signals approach
At Deeper Signals, our assessments are built on this modern, dimensional approach. The Core Drivers framework integrates both normal and extreme dispositions, offering a holistic view of strengths and challenges.
Insights are accurate and science-based
Feedback is practical and actionable
Results are presented in a single, intuitive report — no need for multiple, conflicting frameworks
Our mission is to make self-awareness accessible and actionable. Addressing extremes can feel uncomfortable, but it is essential for genuine growth, leadership effectiveness, and talent development.