Do you have a preference for black coffee or tonic water? If so, a new study says you might be a psychopath.

Ok, a bit of an overstatement BUT University of Austria researchers studied 1,000 participants who were given personality assessments as well as a list of foods and drinks, and were told to rate how much they liked each item. See where this is headed?

Researchers discovered that a, "General bitter taste preference emerged as a robust predictor for Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism and everyday sadism."

WOW.  But then again it WAS Austria where "dark" is often REALLY "dark" ! I think they learned if from the Germans.

Agreeableness-- or the extent to which a person is kind, sympathetic and cooperative-- was negatively correlated with bitter taste preferences. Sweets for the sweet, you might say!

For people with sadistic traits, researchers say eating bitter foods may be "comparable to a roller coaster ride, where people enjoy things that induce fear."

Close-up of a woman drinking a cup of black coffee (Photo by: Digital Light Source/UIG via Getty Images)
Close-up of a woman drinking a cup of black coffee (Photo by: Digital Light Source/UIG via Getty Images)
loading...

More From News Talk KIT