Theoretical models of Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) and its relationship with socially desirable responding: Findings on the Croatian version

Abstract

The interest in the so-called dark traits in the area of individual differences is rising, and there are several instruments assessing currently the most prominent dark traits constellation, the Dark Tetrad. The first aim of this study was to examine the structure of the newly developed Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) measure in the Croatian context using latent variable modeling and testing two competing models: the confirmatory factor analytic model with four interrelated factors where items load only on their respective trait or factor, and the bifactor model with both the general “dark” factor where all the items load on and four specific orthogonal factors on which only their respective items load. The second aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Dark Tetrad traits and egoistic and moralistic socially desirable responding. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 439 participants (81% female) in Croatia. The results showed that, although some of the fit statistics of both tested models fell somewhat below the conventional acceptable fit threshold, their values were comparable to those from the original validation study, indicating that the Croatian version of SD4 is valid and can be used to assess the Dark Tetrad traits. Moreover, relations between the Dark Tetrad traits and egoistic and moralistic socially desirable responding point to the distinctiveness of narcissism from the rest of the Dark Tetrad.