How are high-quality relationships created with dark leaders? An examination of leader and follower dark triad traits and leader-member exchanges

Abstract

This study examines whether follower Dark Triad (DT) traits impact the quality of leader-member exchanges. Data was collected from 328 individuals who completed the Short Dark Triad instrument (SD3) for themselves and their supervisor, and the Leader-member Exchange instrument (LMX-7) to determine the quality of their relationship with their supervisor. A factorial ANOVA was performed to determine the impact of leader and follower DT traits on the quality of the leader-follower relationship. A simultaneous regression tested if the quality of the leader-follower relationship could be predicted from DT traits of follower and DT traits of leader. Results suggested that narcissistic and psychopathic DT traits of the follower, as well as the leader, did significantly impact the quality of the leader-follower relationship. Moreover, results from the regression determined 24% of the variance in the quality of a leader-follower relationship can be explained by DT traits of the leader and follower.