Science & Society

Why some chaos-seekers just want to watch the world burn

Perceived status loss can trigger some people to seek chaos as a solution, studies show

Some people generate chaos as a solution to their problems.

About 15 percent of the U.S. population desires chaos. Chaos seekers tend to harbor dark personality traits and feel as if they are losing social status.

Douglas Rissing/iStock/Getty Images Plus

By Sujata Gupta

Since President Donald Trump took office a few weeks ago, the administration’s frenetic activity, which has included withdrawing from global agreements and slashing slashing federal jobs and funding, has left many people reeling.