Comparing Predictions of Anger in Conflict Situations: Recalibrational Theory vs. Dark Triad Traits

The literature suggests that people can accurately infer dark triad (DT) personality traits from other peoples' faces. Using a self-report scale, this study investigated the impact of participants' DT personality traits on their ability to accurately infer other peoples' DT traits from facial cues. We created composite facial photographs of Japanese people with varying Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism scores. The Japanese participants (N = 170) assessed these three DT traits in the facial photographs and completed a questionnaire that assessed their own DT traits. The results indicated that the participants could accurately infer all three DT traits from female faces but not from male faces. Male participants showed a positive correlation between accurate inferences of other men's Machiavellianism and their own DT traits. In contrast, female participants showed a negative correlation between correct inferences of men's DT traits and their own DT traits. These findings offer novel insights into human evolutionary and social adaptations.

We focus on the Dark Triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and their relationships to the mechanisms of motivation and level of burnout that people experience at work. From the motivational perspective, the needs associated with the Dark Triad traits might be satisfied in work environments by selecting different goals or motives. Moreover, the selection of different goals and motives may be related to the level of burnout syndrome that some people develop. We use the Short Dark Triad Personality Test, Barbuto’s Motivation Sources Inventory, and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory to measure triad traits, preferred work motives, and level of burnout, respectively. The results show that in general, some part of the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and burnout is mediated by the motivational sources. As expected, the Dark Triad traits are more closely related to external sources of motivation (especially instrumental motivation), which are in turn partly associated with higher levels of burnout. The results also suggest that the trajectory of the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and burnout via motivation sources is different from expected, presenting a background for discussion.

The Dark Triad of personality is a cluster of three socially aversive personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. These traits are associated with a selfish, aggressive and exploitative interpersonal strategy. The objective of the current study was to establish relationships between the Dark Triad traits (and their dimensions) and momentary affect. Machiavellianism, grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism and the dimensions of the Triarchic model of psychopathy (namely, boldness, meanness and disinhibition) were examined. We used the Day Reconstruction Method, which is based on reconstructing affective states experienced during the previous day. The final sample consisted of 270 university students providing affective ratings of 3047 diary episodes. Analyses using multilevel modelling showed that only boldness had a positive association with positive affective states and affect balance, and a negative association with negative affective states. Grandiose narcissism and its sub-dimensions had no relationship with momentary affect. The other dark traits were related to negative momentary affect and/or inversely related to positive momentary affect and affect balance. As a whole, our results empirically demonstrated distinctiveness of the Dark Triad traits in their relationship to everyday affective states. These findings are not congruent with the notion that people with the Dark Triad traits, who have a dispositional tendency to manipulate and exploit others, are generally cold and invulnerable to negative feelings. The associations between the Dark Triad and momentary affect were discussed in the contexts of evolutionary and positive psychology, in relation to the role and adaptive value of positive and negative emotions experienced by individuals higher in Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy.

P.1.a.004 CRHR1 and ABCB1 modulate sleep disturbance in depression

How does chronotype mediate gender effect on Dark Triad?

Objective The growing evidence show that romantic partners’ personality traits mutually influence each other’s health. The research on relationship between personality and health behaviours should include both partner’s perspectives - relations between individuals’ traits and their own outcomes (actor effects), and relations between individuals’ traits and their partners’ outcomes (partner effects). The objective of this study was to examine the actor and partner effects of the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism) on the health protective behaviours (HPB) in romantic couples. Design A convenience sample of 188 heterosexual romantic couples participated in a cross-sectional round-robin study. Three predictor measures were Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III, Narcissistic Personality Inventory and MACH-IV inventory, whereas HPB inventory was used as criterion variable. Results Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). The results suggest that men’s psychopathy, and to a lesser extent men’s Machiavellianism exert deleterious effects on their own and their partner’s HPB. The majority of these effects replicated across both self-reports and partner-reports. Women’s DT traits exerted weaker actor and partner effects on the HPB than men’s DT traits. Conclusions Findings show that men’s psychopathy and Machiavellianism have detrimental effects on their own as well as their partner’s HPB.

The awareness of the consequences of consuming animal products for the environment and one’s own health has been growing in recent years. The aim of the present research project was to examine the relationship between individual differences in biologically rooted primary emotional systems arising from phylogenetically old brain areas and dietary habits including being a vegan/vegetarian or omnivore (Study 1). Additionally, the link between the Dark Triad personality traits and dietary habits was investigated (also Study 1). In Study 2 it was aimed to replicate the associations between the Dark Triad traits and dietary habits in a new sample. In total 1140 (Study 1) and 444 (Study 2) participants took part in the research project. The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) were applied to assess individual differences in six primary emotional systems. The Short Dark Triad Scale (SD3) was administered to assess individual differences in Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism. The eating style of participants was measured with the Eating Behavior Questionnaire (EBQ). Results of Study 1 demonstrated higher CARE, SADNESS and spirituality scores, and lower PLAY scores in vegans/vegetarians than in omnivores. However, after the sex of the participants was included in the model, the effect on CARE got weaker. Additionally, omnivores scored higher on Machiavellianism, however, this association disappeared when sex was added to the model. In Study 2, higher scores in Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy were reported for the group of omnivores compared to vegans/vegetarians, however, those effects got weaker or disappeared after the sex of participants was added to the model. The present research project adds to the literature by investigating the ANPS model and the Dark Triad of personality in the context of eating style for the first time. The findings of these two studies might help to better understand how people following different types of diet, might differ in their personalities.

Prior research on the effects of personality on depression has focused heavily on the Five Factor Model (FFM). However, the FFM has recently been criticized for that it does not capture the “dark side” of personality. To address this research gap, a field study consisting of two waves of survey was conducted to explore the relationships between the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits and depressive symptoms. Results of a path analysis on data collected from a sample of 228 full-time employees from diverse industries in Taiwan showed that Machiavellianism and psychopathy were positively associated with the interpersonal and cognitive dimensions of depressive symptoms, respectively. Narcissism was found to be the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms among the DT traits — It was found to be associated with all four dimensions of depressive symptoms and the relationships were all negative. Overall, these findings provide evidences for the effects of the dark side personality traits on depression, while the pattern of relationships between each DT trait and depressive symptoms were different.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the consumer behavior of the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits. It investigates the sequential mediating role of consumer self-confidence and aggressive interpersonal orientation in the relationship between the DT personality traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism) and consumer behavior.Design/methodology/approachUsing identity theory as a theoretical framework, the authors develop and assess a model linking the DT personality traits to consumer behavior, using two products: a watch and restaurant menu items, in different experimental settings.FindingsResults from the two studies that surveyed consumers show that individuals with the DT personality traits have a positive significance of consumers’ attitudes, intent to recommend to others and purchase intentions, regardless of hedonic or utilitarian products. Further, consumer self-confidence mediates the DT–consumer behavior relationship, and this relationship is sequentially mediated by aggressive interpersonal orientation of the consumer.Research limitations/implicationsConsumer behavior researchers and marketing managers will have a better understanding of who DT consumers are and the variables associated with their consumption attitudes and intentions. This understanding allows marketers to focus on promotions to boost consumer self-confidence and aggressive interpersonal orientation of these DT consumers, which will increase their purchase intentions. Future researchers could replicate the results beyond an experimental design to improve the external validity of the findings, among other future research opportunities.Originality/valueOur findings highlight the underlying reasons behind dark triad consumption behaviors. This furthers our understanding of dark triad consumers using identity theory as our theoretical framework.

Entitlement mediates the relationship between dark triad traits and academic misconduct

The social media usage has remained an increasingly worrying concern that sparks much debate on part of personality regarding social media addiction, the dark triad personality attributes. This paper examines the gratifications sought upon social media based on UGT and social media addiction with an emphasis on the dark triad personalities (Narcissism, Psychopathy as well as Machiavellianism as moderating variables. The dark triad personality traits are nefarious to oneself and others, hence, relevant to investigating social media addiction. Findings substantiate hypothesis that UGT is positively correlated with social media addiction, meaning that higher gratifications from SM lead to increased susceptibility to addiction. Still, as hypothesized, dark triad traits did not moderate effects; neither combined nor individual effects of Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism changed strength of relationship between UGT and social media addiction. These implications mean that although UGT is determinant of addiction, dark triad personality characteristics are not salient as moderators. Hence, those individuals who are driven by UGT are likely going to engage in development of addiction irrespective of the personality features that are known to result in the dark triad.

There are different theories and models of personality. In the antisocial area, the model used is the Dark Triad, a model of personality composed of the traits of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. The links between the Dark Triad and other general models have been widely studied; however, there is little research connecting it with the traditional, but still used, model of personality described by Eysenck (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism). Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the connections between the Dark Triad of personality and Eysenck's personality model. Additionally, we interpret the connections between the sincerity scale of Eysenck's model and the Dark Triad. Our final sample was composed of 2385 participants who completed different personality questionnaires measuring the Dark Triad and Eysenck's model. Bivariate analyses and structural equation modelling were performed. Narcissism and Machiavellianism have positive connections with neuroticism and extraversion, whereas psychopathy is positively associated with psychoticism and negatively associated with extraversion. All the Dark Triad traits, mainly Machiavellianism, show the strongest connections with sincerity. Considering the deceptive and manipulative nature of the Dark Triad, these results would imply that these traits could be mismeasured in some contexts. However, in research conditions those people who score higher on the Dark Tetrad traits do not hide behaviours that tend to be socially undesirable, implying some degree of honesty in their answers. Further efforts to develop more objective measures, such as implicit, indirect, task-based, or forced-choice measures, should be considered.

Emerging research highlights that while intimate touch is often associated with relational well-being, individual differences exist in the extent to which it is experienced as aversive or used for coercive purposes. Dark triad personality traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) may contribute to these variations in touch experiences and behaviors, yet their role remains underexplored. In a sample of college students in romantic relationships (N = 526), we examined dark triad traits as predictors of touch aversion and coercive touch and tested whether attachment insecurities serve as upstream influences on these effects. Results demonstrated that an antagonistic interpersonal style, represented by the shared variance among dark triad traits, was associated with greater touch aversion and coercive touch. Additionally, avoidant and anxious attachment orientations indirectly predicted both touch outcomes through dark triad traits. Several gender differences emerged, with dark triad traits fully mediating the effects of attachment insecurity on touch outcomes for women, whereas attachment orientations exerted direct effects for men. These findings extend theoretical models of intimate touch by identifying dark triad traits as key contributors to touch aversion and coercion while situating them within a broader attachment framework.

This study investigates how nurse supervisors' Dark Triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy) influence nurses' task performance, mediated by perceptions of enriched work design (autonomy, task variety, social support, safe work conditions, feedback quality) and psychological safety. A multisource approach was used to collect data from 256 manager-nurse dyads across various healthcare settings. Nurses completed surveys assessing their work design and psychological safety. Managers completed a self-assessment of Dark Triad traits and rated their nurse subordinates' task performance. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for analysis. Supervisors' Dark Triad traits core component impacted nurses' task performance indirectly, mediated by psychological safety and nurses' perceptions of their enriched work design. Psychopathic traits revealed a significant direct negative effect on nurses' performance, while other Dark Triad traits did not show direct effects. This study sheds light on key factors influencing nurses' performance, offering insights for healthcare organizations aiming to optimize work environments and improve team effectiveness.

Our study tests in a sample of 87 organizational groups (297 employees and 87 supervisors) the mediating role of leader-member exchange (LMX) and collective narcissism in the relationship between supervisors’ dark triad (SDT) personality traits and ratings of team outcomes made by supervisors and team members. We show that LMX mediates the association between SDT and team performance and innovation as rated by team members, while collective narcissism mediates the association between SDT and supervisory ratings of team innovation and team performance. Moreover, collective narcissism also mediates the association between SDT and team innovation as rated by team members. Results show that team-level performance appraisal is influenced by supervisory attributes and that the quality of relational exchanges and collective narcissism are plausible mechanisms explaining this association. The use of supervisory ratings of team outcomes in empirical research should also account for the supervisory attributes.