A new study has revealed people who are more active at night can develop a set of character traits known as the ‘Dark Triad’, made up of – psychopathy, narcissism and manipulativeness.

The theory explains the attributes – of less sleep and undesirable tendencies – develop together because the veil of night gives deviants and criminals a way to hide from the judgment of others.

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According to Business Insider the report labels this phenomenon as an ‘evolutionary advantage’ similar to the way an animal in the wild would develop a bodily function to naturally aid their survival.

These kinds of people will go about their business when it is dark because they think they can get what they want more easily in the night.

The theory has been expanded on by a psychology and communications academic from the University of Western Sydney, who says the ‘Dark Triad’ idea makes sense because night time is the time psychopathic tendencies are best developed.

Night owls feel their most productive, at ease and effective later in the day and are more likely to be extroverted, while their sexual habits can also stray into being more “risky”, “casual” and likely to involve cheating. 

Adding to these these findings, are suggestions that those who are early-risers or like to spend more time in daylight, do better on tests that identify leadership and traits to do with social good.

To test the theory a survey was conducted that asked around 300 volunteers to respond to questions about their personality.

They were asked to agree or disagree with statements gauging their want to influence people, engage in high risk activities like speeding or if they were comfortable with getting ahead by cutting corners?

The researchers found those who stayed up longer agreed with these types of statements about themselves.

Although they did admit one limitation on the findings that most of the sample were university students who stay up later on average that older people.

The study still concluded that, “those high on the Dark Triad traits” are similar to animal predators like scorpions and lions who are creatures of the night.