Dark triad predicts academic cheating

Abstract

The Dark Triad focuses on socially aversive personality traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism). Individuals with high levels of these traits are associated with manipulation and lying, suggesting associations with academic cheating. We investigated the association between the Dark Triad and cheating academic admission self-report. We hypothesized Machiavellianism would predict self-reported academic cheating behaviors (Hypothesis 1), narcissism would predict self-reported academic cheating behaviors (Hypothesis 2), psychopathy would predict self-reported academic cheating behaviors (Hypothesis 3). Further, we hypothesized self-reported academic cheating behaviors would be stronger in men than in women (Hypothesis 4). Participants were 343 Brazilian undergraduate students, aged 18–52 (M = 22.4; SD = 5.52). Supporting Hypothesis 1 and 2, Machiavellianism and narcissism were positively associated with self-reported academic cheating behaviors. However, psychopathy was not associated with self-reported academic cheating behaviors and men did not present more self-reported academic cheating behaviors than women (inconsistent with Hypotheses 3 and 4, respectively). We indicated how these results inform our understanding of personality influence in academic cheating.