Profiles of the Dark Triad in Economic vs. Ordinary Offenders: A Comparative Study of Power, Morality, and Social Dominance

Previous research has revealed a strong association between moral disengagement (MD) and criminal behaviour. However, few studies have attempted to examine the contribution of dark personalities to MD. This study aims to first analyse the differences between forensic and community samples in the use of MD strategies and then replicate the factorial structure of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale in an incarcerated sample as a pre‐condition to examine the relationship between dark triad (DT) traits (i.e. Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism) and MD. The sample comprised 160 incarcerated and 160 community adults. Comparisons between these two groups demonstrate that the incarcerated sample scored higher in MD and DT than the community sample. Furthermore, different MD strategies were related to each of the DT traits in the forensic and community samples. The results of exploratory factor analysis for the incarcerated sample indicate adequate fit indices for a bifactorial model of the DT (a latent factor of the shared variance of these constructs named the global DT and three specific latent factors for each component of the DT). The SEM analysis for this bifactorial model and MD disclosed direct and significant relationships between the global DT and MD in the incarcerated adults, while the Machiavellianism factor was directly and significantly related to MD in the community adults. These results highlight the relevance of cognitive (i.e. MD) strategies in forensic contexts, especially in incarcerated adults who present high levels of this DT profile.

While schadenfreude is commonly experienced in interpersonal relationships, it is generally considered immoral. Although previous research has explored the factors relating to schadenfreude, including certain personality traits, moral disengagement, and humor styles, our understanding of these factors remains limited. The present study examined the mediating effects of moral disengagement and aggressive humor style in the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and schadenfreude. In this study, a sample of 693 Iranian students (69.4% female), was recruited using a convenient sampling method, consisting of 330 undergraduate, 230 graduate, and 133 Ph.D. students. The trait schadenfreude scale, the short Dark Triad, the moral disengagement scale, and the aggressive humor style scale were measured through an online survey. The study found that Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were positively related to schadenfreude, aggressive humor style, and moral disengagement. Additionally, aggressive humor style and moral disengagement mediated the relationship between Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy with schadenfreude. This study provides insights into the complex relationships between Dark Triad traits, moral disengagement, aggressive humor style, and schadenfreude. The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of Dark Triad traits may be more likely to experience pleasure from others' misfortunes. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of moral disengagement and aggressive humor style as potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between Dark Triad traits and schadenfreude. Further research should be done to explore the motivational factors influencing schadenfreude in specific settings, thereby elucidating these connections.

Moral disengagement (MD) typically peaks during adolescence. While the Dark Triad (DT) traits-Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism-are broadly linked to MD, the specific prospective pathways through which individual DT components predict distinct MD strategies remain unclear, particularly with respect to gender-specific variations in these influences among adolescents. To systematically investigate these temporal associations, this study employed Cross-Lagged Panel Network (CLPN) modeling on a sample of 1410 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 16.95, SD = 0.75) surveyed across three waves at three-month intervals. Results revealed a hierarchical pattern of DT influence: Machiavellianism exerted the strongest predictive effect on the MD system, followed by psychopathy, while narcissism showed negligible or even negative effects. Among MD strategies, euphemistic labelling, advantageous comparison and displacement of responsibility were the most responsive to DT traits. Bridge centrality analysis confirmed Machiavellianism as the primary cross-domain connector linking DT traits to MD. Weak but significant reciprocal effects were observed: MD slightly fed back onto later Machiavellianism and psychopathy, supporting a partially bidirectional process. Gender-separated networks revealed divergent pathways: Machiavellianism served as the key DT-MD bridge for males, whereas psychopathy fulfilled this role for females. These findings refine the understanding of the "dark side" of moral development by highlighting mechanism-specific MD vulnerabilities and demonstrating that the primary socio-cognitive pathway to MD is gender-contingent, thereby advancing developmental models of MD.

Aggressive behaviors in the online gaming world are frequent and have far-reaching negative effects. To explore the factors and mechanisms of aggressive in games, we surveyed 945 university students using a framework of social dominance orientation, online disinhibition, moral disengagement, and aggression in gaming, and examined the moderating role of gender traits. We found no direct relationship between online disinhibition and aggression in gaming; however, through the mediating role of moral disengagement, online disinhibition indirectly affected aggression in gaming behavior and enhanced social dominance orientation. Social dominance orientation predicted both moral disengagement and aggression in gaming behaviors, and the mediating effect of moral disengagement was confirmed through the indirect influence of moral disengagement on aggression in gaming behavior. Moreover, the moral disengagement mechanism significantly predicted aggression in gaming behavior. Furthermore, femininity and androgyny moderated both social dominance orientation toward moral disengagement and aggression in gaming, while masculinity and androgyny moderated the path from online disinhibition to social dominance orientation. Regarding the path from moral disengagement to aggression, all gender trait moderations were significant. This study reveals the role of the moral disengagement mechanism in the process of game-related aggression, providing theoretical support for the explanation of aggressive behavior, which applies to players of any gender. Moreover, this study confirms the moderating role of gender. Unlike biological sex, gender traits are malleable; androgynous traits offer greater adaptability in various environments. Thus, prevention and intervention efforts against online aggression should include strengthening moral education and properly guiding and fostering androgynous gender traits.

An emerging body of research has consistently linked the Dark Triad traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—to cyber aggression. Moral disengagement and toxic online disinhibition have been identified as two psychological processes that may explain this association. However, longitudinal studies simultaneously examining these two mediators in the context of cyber aggression remain scarce, even though such designs are essential for clarifying temporal order and capturing dynamic processes. To address this gap, we conducted a three-wave longitudinal study in which 625 participants completed all three waves of the survey (Mage = 27.54, SDage = 6.23, age range: 20–58; 392 females). We tested a longitudinal mediation model to examine whether moral disengagement and toxic online disinhibition mediate the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and cyber aggression. Toxic online disinhibition was found to be the only significant mediator. This mediating effect was statistically significant for Machiavellianism and psychopathy, but not for narcissism. These findings suggest that toxic online disinhibition may serve as a more robust pathway than moral disengagement in explaining how specific Dark Triad traits contribute to cyber aggression.

Research suggests that physical, psychological, and/or sexual focussed Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is related to the dark triad (DT) traits of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. This study extends these findings by considering the addition of everyday sadism into the four-dimension dark tetrad (DTET), testing the possibility that moral disengagement (MD) mediates the relationship between these variables. It was also examined whether the DTET provided incremental validity to the more general personality traits Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness (HEXACO) to predict IPV. Males and females (N = 416) from the general population completed five questionnaires in an online survey (HEXACO-60, MMEA, PMDS, CTS2S, SD4). A principal component factor-analysis found that sexual IPV did not load as an individual factor and distinct form of violence on the CTS2S scale so was excluded from this study. Four hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted, using the demographics, HEXACO and either the DTET traits or an overall DTET variable as predictor variables, and either physical or psychological IPV as the dependent variables. Only psychopathy predicted physical and psychological IPV; MD mediated the relationship between psychopathy and psychological IPV. Although the DTET added incremental validity over HEXACO to predict physical IPV, HEXACO low Agreeableness was the strongest predictor of psychological IPV. Those higher in psychopathy may show different offending trajectories for physical and psychological IPV dependent upon the use of MD processes. Despite the DTET adding incremental validity over the HEXACO dimensions, some HEXACO elements better explain the relationship between personality and psychological IPV than the DTET.

The Dark Triad across academic majors

The field of criminal psychology involves delving into psychological profiles prone to accepting and justifying sexist attitudes that support sexual violence against adult women (SVAW). The aim of the current study is to analyze the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationships between dark triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) and ambivalent sexism in a sample of 74 male perpetrators of sexual violence against women (M = 40.58; SD = 10.05) convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault and 160 community men (M = 43.54; SD = 10.63). Since there were no significant differences in the measured variables between individuals convicted of IPV and those convicted of sexual assault, these two groups were combined into a single group of perpetrators of sexual violence against women. A comparison of incarcerated and community men showed that perpetrators of sexual violence against women reported significantly higher levels of ambivalent sexism, moral disengagement, and psychopathy than community men. The moderated mediational model showed that the dark triad was not directly associated with ambivalent sexism, but the relationship was fully mediated by moral disengagement mechanisms. Moreover, the interdependence of the variables evaluated was moderated by group. The moral disengagement mechanisms that explain both hostile and benevolent sexism were associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy among perpetrators of sexual violence against women, whereas among community men, these mechanisms were associated with Machiavellianism and narcissism. These findings are discussed as they pertain to the treatment of perpetrators of sexual violence against women.

Drawing on value co-destruction literature, moral disengagement, social exchange and trait activation theories, this study investigates the role of dark triad traits, moral disengagement, and host incivility on peer-to-peer accommodation guests’ value co-destruction behavior. Data was collected from 428 Indian Airbnb customers and analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Results show that among dark triad traits, only psychopathy directly influences value co-destruction behavior. However, all three dark traits lead to value co-destruction behavior through moral disengagement. Host incivility positively influences value co-destruction behavior and also moderates the relationship between psychopathy and value co-destruction behavior. The study offers a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents of guests’ value co-destruction behavior in peer-to-peer accommodation. The findings suggest that P2P accommodation managers need to instill moral accountability among guests and foster civil behaviors among hosts to prevent value co-destruction.

PurposeBandura’s theory of moral disengagement explains how otherwise ethical persons can behave immorally. We examined whether a trait model of general personality and the “dark triad” underlay moral disengagement, the relationship these constructs have to unethical consumer attitudes, and whether moral disengagement provided incremental validity in the prediction of antisocial behaviour. MethodsSelf-report data were obtained from a community sample of 380 adults via an online survey that administered all measures. ResultsCorrelations between unethical consumer attitudes, lower Agreeableness, lower Conscientiousness, higher moral disengagement, higher psychopathy, and higher Machiavellianism were captured by a single factor. When this broad factor was examined using regression, demographic, personality and the dark triad traits all predicted moral disengagement, specific influences being age, education, Intellect, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. A similar model examining predictors of unethical consumer attitudes again found all blocks contributed to the outcome, with specific influence provided by age, Intellect, and moral disengagement, the latter showing incremental validity as a predictor of unethical consumer attitudes. ConclusionsMoral disengagement is based on low Agreeableness, Machiavellianism and psychopathic-type traits, but provides incremental validity in predicting antisocial attitudes to a trait model alone. Narcissism is neither related to moral disengagement, nor unethical consumer attitudes.

مقدمه: تشخیص و شناسایی پیش‌آیندهای ریسک‌پذیری رفتاری و بی‌تفاوتی اخلاقی منجر به طراحی برنامه‌های درمانی – مداخله‌ای بهتر به‌منظور پیشگیری و در نهایت کاهش رفتارهای غیراخلاقی و رفتارهای ریسک‌پذیر خواهد شد. در همین راستا، پژوهش حاضر با هدف پاسخ‌گویی به این سوال انجام شد که آیا سه گانه‌های تاریک شخصیت در ریسک‌پذیری رفتاری و بی‌تفاوتی اخلاقی نقش دارند؟ روش: در یک پژوهش توصیفی - همبستگی، تعداد 265 نفر از دانش‌آموزان پسر مقطع پیش‌دانشگاهی شهر بیرجند به‌ روش نمونه‌گیری خوشه‌ای مرحله‌ای انتخاب شدند. برای گردآوری داده‌ها از مقیاس شخصیت تاریک (2010)، پرسشنامه خطرپذیری جوانان (1390) و مقیاس عدم درگیری اخلاقی (1996) استفاده شد. داده‌های پژوهش به کمک نرم‌افزار آماری «اس‌. پی. اس. اس.» و با استفاده از شاخص‌های آمار توصیفی و تحلیل رگرسیون چندمتغیره تحلیل شد. نتایج: نتایج نشان داد که خودشیفتگی، جامعه‌ستیزی و ماکیاولیسم 33 درصد از واریانس ریسک‌پذیری رفتاری را تبیین می‌کنند. به‌علاوه جامعه‌ستیزی و ماکیاولیسم تبیین‌کننده 29 درصد واریانس بی‌تفاوتی اخلاقی هستند، اما خودشیفتگی پیش‌بینی‌کننده بی‌تفاوتی اخلاقی نبود. بحث و نتیجه‌گیری: نتایج پژوهش حاضر نشان داد که سه گانه‌های تاریک شخصیت نقش مهمی در پیش‌بینی ریسک‌پذیری رفتاری و بی‌تفاوتی اخلاقی دانش‌آموزان پسر بازی می‌کنند.

The present study aimed to test the relationships of Dark Triad constructs with propensity toward moral disengagement and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Alternative Model of Personality Disorder (AMPD) maladaptive personality traits. A total of 279 community-dwelling adult participants (41.6% male; Mage = 32.27 years) were administered the Two-Dimensional Mach-IV Scale, Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory-Short Form, Triarchic Psychopathy Measure, Personality Inventory for DSM-5, and Moral Disengagement Scale. Multiple regression results showed differential associations between Dark Triad construct traits and propensity toward moral disengagement. Correlation analyses showed that all Dark Triad trait dimensions could be substantially described in terms of AMPD maladaptive trait profile. When the effect of Moral Disengagement Scale scores was taken into account in relative importance weights analysis (Radjusted2 = .66), DSM-5 AMPD maladaptive trait profile explained 27% of the variance in the "Dark Triad" latent factor over and above the effect of moral disengagement. As a whole, our findings supported the idea that the Dark Triad personality constructs are likely to share a common core of antagonistic maladaptive personality traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Prior studies have found associations between dark triad personality traits and counterproductive work behaviours. However, the link between the dark triad traits and quiet quitting has not been investigated in the literature. Moreover, little is known about the psychological mechanism underlying this relationship. This study sought to investigate the link between dark triad personality traits and quiet quitting intention of senior-level managers. Additionally, the role of psychological entitlement and moral disengagement was evaluated in this relationship. A cross-sectional survey-based design was adopted to collect data from 402 respondents. The data was analysed using PLS-SEM technique on SmartPLS 4 software. The findings revealed that individuals exhibiting narcissism and psychopathy are positively associated with both psychological entitlement and moral disengagement, which subsequently, are linked to a higher tendency to develop quiet quitting intention. However, no significant relationship between Machiavellianism and psychological entitlement, moral disengagement or quiet quitting intention was found. The study outlines several theoretical and practical implications to address the growing challenges of quiet quitting.

Scholars pay great attention to sociopsychological factors that predict attitudes toward military action, but they rarely address personality variables. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the Dark Triad traits, general moral disengagement, and military attitudes. We conducted three surveys between May and November 2022 in three samples of Russian residents (N = 736, 795, and 752). The results showed that the Dark Triad was only marginally related to attitudes toward military action abroad, but emerged as a consistent positive predictor of support for violence against civilians with psychopathy showing the strongest effect. Moreover, this relationship was mediated by moral disengagement. At the same time, Big Five traits and sociopsychological variables predicted the attitudes toward military action, but were generally unrelated to the attitudes toward violence against civilians. The findings suggest the existence of distinct pathways underlying the support of general military action and unethical military action.

Understanding the correlates of academic dishonesty is crucial for designing effective preventive interventions, as is the investigation of moderating factors that could affect these interactions. Despite increased interest in the Dark Triad personality traits and their potential link with unethical behavior, there is limited evidence regarding the moderating role of moral disengagement in the relationship. This study aimed to investigate academic dishonesty among Greek university students, its relationship with the Dark Triad, and the moderating role of moral disengagement, using gender as a covariate. Overall, 587 students attending Greek public Universities voluntarily completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire assessing the constructs under investigation. Results showed that male students had higher scores in unauthorized collaboration, plagiarism, Dark Triad, and moral disengagement. Moderation analysis indicated that moral disengagement had an effect in the relationship of psychopathy with unauthorized collaboration, especially among men. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the importance of psychopathy and moral disengagement in the prediction of academic dishonesty and have the potential to make a significant contribution to its prevention, particularly in Greek universities where relative initiatives are lacking.