If you're friends with the ex, you're a psychopath. It says science.

But one study suggests that there may be something deeper about the desire to maintain close ties with an ex.

The study, published in the magazine Personal and Individual Differences, was led by psychologists at the University of Oakland and included 861 participants. They focused on so - called <x0tips of the dark triad” narcissism, machivellism and psychopathism.

The results showed that individuals who scored above in these features were more likely to remain friends with the former, but not necessarily for warm or nostalgic reasons. Their motives were often more strategic, for example, to maintain access to resources, information, or emotional or sexual benefits.

The narcissists, in particular, tended to keep the former close to asking for confirmation and admiration, those with machivest-minded tendencies viewed friendship as a way to manipulate or control, while psychopaths often did so for impulsive or self-fulfilling reasons.

Of course, not every friendship after separation hides dark motives, many people just take genuine care of their ex and want the good. But the study sheds light on an interesting truth - sometimes, those bonds that remain after separation are not as innocent as they seem.

The study found that those who stayed close to their former partners were more likely to score higher on traits usually related to psychosis, including a tendency to manipulate, self - serving behavior and lack of empathy.

psychosis itself is part of the spectre of antisocial personality disorders and often includes superficial beauty that conceals more calculated purposes.