CHARLOTTE, NC- A new academic study suggests people with conservative views are more likely to have three dark personality traits.

Dr. Bilal Ghandour specializes in personality disorders at Southeast Psych. Ghandour helps break the personality triad down.

"Machiavellianism… that's deception. Psychopathy -- If you think about the psychopath or sociopath... those individuals who have a disregard for the rights and feelings of other and no remorse. Narcissism -- an inflated ego."

The research points to things like support for capital punishment and opposition to gay marriage.

"They're more likely or have a tendency to pretty much shelter themselves away from those who are in a different class or a class below them," said Shalamane Jones, a North Charlotte resident.

Ghandour says the study makes some radical connections. He says being anti-social is a mental disorder.

Some conservatives say the study is extreme.

"If you were a Nazi or Aryan Nation supremacist... you might be anti-social," said Cliff Fields of Greensboro.

"When you use such powerful terms, you want to make sure it's backed up with some rigorous research. The study as it is stands by itself,” said Ghandour.

The professor at the University of Tampa who conducted the study tells Fox Charlotte there's a lot more research to be done to determine if there's something we really need to worry about relating to conservative judgments.

That's why he calls the study “Bad News for Conservatives?”...with a question mark at the end.

Critics of this study point out that Professor Marcus Arvan recruited the individuals who answered his questions online.

That means one can't verify if they're truly conservative.