Development of the hungarian version of the short dark triad questionnaire (SD3-HU): psychometric properties and validity

Zsolt Péter Szabó,Linda Szijjártó,Judith Neve,Evelin Simon,Tamás Bereczkei,Márton Hadarics,Janka Laura Marót,Ágota Kun,Péter Restás,Andrea Czibor

doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02470-4

Abstract

The present studies were aimed at developing the Hungarian version of the Short Dark Triad questionnaire (SD3-HU). The internal structure of the translated questionnaire was examined with confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling. Then the construct and concurrent validity of the Hungarian version was tested. The obtained results were based on a total of seven independent samples (NTOTAL = 2161). While the internal structure of the SD3-HU showed inconsistencies with that of the original SD3, it proved consistent with adaptations developed in other languages. The SD3-HU showed adequate construct and concurrent validity. In line with the conceptual framework of, and previous empirical findings on the Dark Triad, each dark trait showed the expected associations with broad personality dimensions, sensation seeking, character strengths, work motivation, and counterproductive work behaviors. Furthermore, self-ratings on the SD3-HU were consistent with peer ratings. In sum, the SD3-HU is a reliable and valid measure of the dark traits.

Highlights

Since the publication of the groundbreaking work of Paulhus and Williams (2002), the Dark Triad (DT) of personality has enjoyed continuous scientific attention and popularity
The observed associations of the three trait measures of the SD3-HU with the broad personality dimensions, the character strengths, and sensation seeking are in line both with the theoretical conceptualization of the DT and with the related previous empirical findings, which confirms the construct validity of the SD3-HU
In order to test the simultaneous effects of the three dark traits on sensation seeking, regression analysis was conducted with sensation seeking entered as the dependent variable and the three dark traits entered as predictors

Summary

Introduction

Since the publication of the groundbreaking work of Paulhus and Williams (2002), the Dark Triad (DT) of personality has enjoyed continuous scientific attention and popularity. Paulhus and Williams (2002) defines the DT as a set of three overlapping yet distinct personality traits. The common features of the three dark traits include limited empathy, low agreeableness, exploitation of others, and limited honesty and humility (Paulhus & Williams, 2002; Lee et al, 2013). Each dark trait is associated with distinctive features in terms of self-control, risk taking, temporal orientation, identity needs, aggression, and flexibility (Bereczkei, 2015, 2018; Jones & Paulhus, 2010; Jonason et al, 2012). Current Psychology dark traits are only moderately correlated (Jones & Paulhus, 2014). It should be noted that conceptual redundancy, especially the Machiavellianism-psychopathy redundancy, is discussed extensively in the literature (e.g., Muris et al, 2017; Vize et al, 2018a, 2018b) The main argument of the Machiavellianism-psychopathy redundancy hypothesis is that the overlap between Machiavellianism and psychopathy is so high that they cannot be considered distinct constructs, and Machiavellianism should be understood as secondary psychopathy (Muris et al, 2017; Vize et al, 2018a, 2018b)

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Conclusion