The dark triad and cyber aggression: Testing the longitudinal mediation of moral disengagement and toxic online disinhibition

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.

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.

This study examines Dark Triad personality profiles in economic versus common criminals, assessing their links to power sensation, moral disengagement, and social dominance. It involves 682 inmates in a Spanish prison, divided into 350 economic and 332 common criminals. Participants answered questionnaires on Dark Triad traits (machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy), power types (hard, soft), moral disengagement, and social dominance orientation. Findings reveal common criminals scored higher in machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and moral disengagement but lower in soft power compared to economic criminals. Regression analysis identified psychopathy, moral disengagement, and soft power as predictors of criminal type. Economic criminals showed lower psychopathy and moral disengagement but higher soft power scores. The results indicate distinct psychological profiles for each group, suggesting tailored rehabilitation approaches: ethical reinforcement for economic criminals and empathy development for common criminals. This study contributes to understanding criminal behavior, emphasizing the need for differentiated criminal justice and rehabilitation strategies based on specific personality traits.

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.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of online learning has become a necessary choice for students, and would increase the probability of cyber aggression (CA). Despite the relationship between Dark Triad and CA previous was explored in previous research, the underlying psychological mechanism of CA in adolescents is still unclear. The current study aimed to examine the mediating role of moral disengagement (MD) and the moderating of gender in the relationship between Dark Triad and CA. A sample consists of 501 Chinese adolescents (246 females; 255 males) between the ages of 11 ~ 20. Participants completed the Dirty Dozen Scale, Moral Disengagement Scale, and Cyber Aggressive Behavior Scale. Results show that higher levels of dark personality were associated with higher levels of MD and CA. Moral disengagement partially mediated this positive effects of dark personality on CA. Moreover, gender moderated the mediation model. Specially, the positive relationship between dark triad personality and CA was stronger among females adolescents. These findings advance the understanding of how dark triad personality induces Chinese adolescents' cyber aggressive behavior.

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 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.

Despite evidence supporting the importance of cyber aggression among early adolescents (Hinduja & Patchin, 2015), we know less about its correlates among college students. The present study examined the relationships of Dark Triad personality traits to cyber aggression in a college student sample (N = 297). Machiavellian, narcissistic (both grandiose and vulnerable forms), and psychopathic traits positively related to cyber aggression perpetration. A hierarchical multiple regression including gender, age, and Dark Triad traits found that only the erratic lifestyle component of psychopathic traits explained unique variance in cyber aggression perpetration. Gender did not moderate the relationships between Dark Triad traits and cyber aggression. These findings add to the literature on cyber aggression among college students, suggesting that psychopathic traits are a useful predictor.

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.

P.1.a.004 CRHR1 and ABCB1 modulate sleep disturbance in depression

How does chronotype mediate gender effect on Dark Triad?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how the constructs of false self, preference for online social interaction (POSI), compulsive internet use (CIU), and online disinhibition affect social withdrawal in a social media context. The mediating effects of moral disengagement and cyber aggression are also tested.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using an online survey (n = 533) from consumers in Japan. This study used structural equation modeling and PROCESS to examine the proposed relationships.FindingsThe study revealed that false self positively affects moral disengagement while online disinhibition positively affects cyber aggression and moral disengagement. Preference for online social interaction and compulsive internet use both positively impacts social withdrawal. Cyber aggression and moral disengagement were established mediators between false self/ Preference for online social interaction/ compulsive internet use/ online disinhibition and social withdrawal.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough restricted to cyberaggression, owing to the reciprocal relationship between cyber victimization and cyberaggression, cyber victimization can be included for further study. This study expands the understanding of social withdrawal within the context of social media.Practical implicationsBased on the findings, policies and programs that address mental health that build self-esteem, self-confidence and reduce anxiety ought to be undertaken. Managing and formulating guidelines on anonymity should also be taken into consideration.Originality/valueThis research demonstrates the crucial constructs that affect social media users negatively from the aspects of cyberaggression, moral disengagement and social withdrawal. It also establishes the importance of mental health in reducing adverse effects from social media.

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.

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.

This study aims to use personality-coping-outcome theory as a framework to examine the mechanism that associates dark triad traits, moral disengagement, and cyberbullying. It is expected that all three dark triad traits indirectly affect cyberbullying through moral disengagement, but only psychopath has a direct effect on cyberbullying. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 103 undergraduates to complete an online survey. The results reveal an indirect-only mediating effect that psychopath only affects cyberbullying through moral disengagement. No similar mediating effect was found in Machiavellianism and narcissism. The results indicate that psychopath is more likely to use moral disengagement to cyberbully others as the online context enables them to use their preferred way of exploiting others