Communication Following the SACCIA Framework may Weaken the Relationship Between the Dark Triad and Academic Misconduct

Abstract

The dark triad, consisting of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, is a robust predictor of academic misconduct. In this study, we examine if communication about academic integrity topics moderates this relationship. US students (N = 319) recruited via the CloudResearch and Prolific platforms completed an online questionnaire measuring the dark triad traits, SACCIA (Sufficiency, Accuracy, Clarity, Contextualisation, Interpersonal Adaptation) communication, and academic misconduct. Overall, the results provided initial support for the hypothesis: the more SACCIA-conforming the communication was, the weaker was the link between the dark triad and academic misconduct, albeit the interaction term did not always reach statistical significance. The findings suggest a potential avenue for reducing socially undesirable behavior among individuals high on the dark triad.