How much of the dark triad is accounted for by sexism?✰

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between sexism (both hostile and benevolent) and the dark-triad personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism, using the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Short Dark Triad, and the Dirty Dozen. It also assesses whether the genders differed in dark-triad scores, as in other studies, and whether any gender differences are mediated by sexism scores. In bivariate correlations, sexism accounted for 12%-17% of dark triad scores. The magnitude of correlations between sexism and dark-triad scores were similar for men and women. Replicating earlier research, t-tests indicated that men had higher dark-triad scores than women. Analyses of covariance indicated that these gender differences in dark triad scores were substantially, though not completely, accounted for by hostile sexism. These findings demonstrated that sexist ideology substantially predicted dark-triad scores, suggesting sexism as one source of dark-triad traits. Though correlational, these findings are consistent with the idea that, the dark triad, unlike many other traits, is partly the result of sexism and the socially-supported, unearned male power and privilege that sexism reflects.