Dark Triad Personality Research Articles

The Relationship between Leader's Dark Triad Personality Traits and Workplace Relationship Quality “An applied study on Mansoura University Hospitals employees”

The Relationship between Leader's Dark Triad Personality Traits and Workplace Relationship Quality “An applied study on Mansoura University Hospitals employees”

Dark Triad Personality and Student Anti-Corruption Perceptions

Dark Triad Personality and Student Anti-Corruption Perceptions

Personality and motivation of physical activity in adolescent girls: effects of perceived parental support and social physical anxiety

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between personality and motivation for physical activity while introducing perceived parental support and social physical anxiety in adolescent girls (N = 318, Mage: 16.19 ± 0.51 years). The present study was a retrospective correlational study that was conducted to analyze of a path model. Dark triad traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, student’s motivation for physical activity, social physique anxiety, and participants’ perceptions of parents’ behaviors were measured. The findings indicated that psychopathy and Machiavellianism were directly and indirectly associated with motivation for physical activity, but Narcissism could only directly predict the motivation for physical activity. Also, need-thwarting (the most), need-supportive and social physical anxiety could predict motivation for physical activity. This model of the result suggests that among adolescent girls, dark triad personality could, directly and indirectly, predict motivation with need-supportive and need-thwarting and also social physical anxiety. It seems that the sense of importance and more attention to oneself in adolescent girls, which exists in the narcissistic personality, can directly lead to more motivation for physical activity. Also, the duplicitous ways of Machiavellian people in pursuing their motives were confirmed in this research.

Unmasking the Nexus between Maladaptive Alcohol use and Dark Triad Personality Traits

As young adults enter college, many seem to increase their alcohol consumption. Whether this behavior change is solely due to environmental factors, such as peer pressure or lack of supervision, has not been fully separated from developing or emerging intrapersonal traits that might facilitate the behavior. This trend underscores the importance of investigating the relationship between excessive drinking habits and deviant personality traits. This study, aimed at investigating the relationship between "dark triad" personality traits and harmful alcohol behaviors, may provide valuable insights into the social cultures on college campuses that promote maladaptive drinking habits. Based on the trait theory of personality, we hypothesized that dark triad traits would be associated with negative alcohol behaviors. To test our hypothesis, we administered the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (YAACQ) and Short Dark Triad scale (SD3) to 800 participants. After cleaning the data, we analyzed 799 responses to study measures and demographic items. Our findings revealed that, of the dark personality traits, Machiavellianism and psychopathy had small positive associations with harmful alcohol consumption. Moreover, we found that both personality and Greek life participation were significant predictors of alcohol misuse. This study may serve as a stepping-stone for future research into the interplay between the behavioral tendencies and cultural settings in which alcohol abuse occurs among college students. Thus, provides additional insight into a complex problem plaguing college communities.

Faking good and bad on self‐reports versus informant‐reports of Dark Triad personality

AbstractResearch consistently demonstrates that people can distort their responses on self‐report personality tests. Informant‐reports (where a knowledgeable informant rates a target's personality) can be used as an alternative to self‐ratings. However, there has been little research on the extent to which informants can distort their responses on personality tests (or their motives for response distortion). The current study examines the effects of experimentally induced response distortion on self‐ and informant‐reports of the Dark Triad. The participants (N = 834 undergraduates) completed Dark Triad measures in a 2 × 3 between‐person design crossing format (self‐ vs. informant‐report [imagined friend]) with instruction condition (answer honestly, look good, or look bad). “Look good” effects were significant for both self‐reports (d = −1.22 to 1.42) and informant‐reports (d = −1.35 to 0.62). “Look bad” effects were also significant for both self‐reports (d = −0.56 to 3.58) and informant‐reports (d = −0.55 to 3.70). The Five Factor Machiavellianism Inventory results were opposite to hypotheses, but Dirty Dozen Machiavellianism results were as expected. We conclude that people can distort Dark Triad scores for themselves (self‐report) and on behalf of someone else (informant‐report). We discuss the relevance of our findings for self‐ and informant‐report assessment in applied contexts.

A Study on the Relationship between Teachers’ Dark Triad Personality Traits and Organizational Cynicism Behaviours

In the literature, there have been many studies regarding the personality traits of the “Dark Triad,” which includes Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, that affect individuals’ lives in every aspect, including their workplace. However, the research on the impact of these traits on organizational cynicism has been limited. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine whether having Dark Triad personality traits affects individuals’ attitudes towards organizational cynicism and how it affects them. The research group consists of 266 teachers working in Gaziantep province during the 2022-2023 academic year. To determine the relationship between the two variables under investigation, research data was collected using the “Dark Triad Personality Traits Test” and the “Organizational Cynicism Scale for Teachers.” While demographic variables were analyzed with descriptive analyses, correlation and regression analyses were used to analyze the empirical data. Upon examining the research findings, it was determined that there is a moderate positive correlation between teachers’ dark triad personality traits and their organizational cynicism behavior. Additionally, the dark triad personality traits account for 44. 3% of teachers’ organizational cynicism behavior (R2=0. 443). Considering the limitations of the chosen method, such as being restricted to the number of participants in the sample, it becomes important to address the effects of personality traits, which influence organizational cynicism like many other organizational behaviors, through different research methods or combinations of methods.

Examining the impact of website layout and dark triad approach on real estate purchase decisions in India: a young adult socialization mediated model

Purpose This study aims to determine website quality, young adult socialization and dark triad personality as the factors influencing the real estate purchase decision. In addition, this study also measures the mediating effects of young adult socialization on real estate purchase buying behavior. Design/methodology/approach Related literature, quantifiable variables with a five-point Likert scale, hypothesis testing and mediators are used to study the model. A systematic questionnaire that was divided into four sections was used. A total of 336 valid responses were collected and analyzed through a structural equation model. Findings The results suggest that dark triad personality and young adult socialization considerably affect real estate purchase decisions. The development proves website quality does not significantly impact real estate purchase behavior. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to a few young consumers’ responses. Future studies could be more widespread globally and should include more variables and offline methods of purchasing behavior. Originality/value As per the review of existing literature, this research is the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to determine the factors affecting the real estate purchase decision with factors like website quality, dark triad personalities and young adult socialization involving it.

Malevolent Monitoring: Dark Triad Traits, Cyber Dating Abuse, and the Instrumental Role of Self-Control.

Cyber dating abuse (CDA) concerns the use of digital technology to control, monitor, and hurt one's intimate partner. CDA can have profound detrimental outcomes, such as mental health problems. As such, it is important to identify intrapersonal factors that may explain these behaviors. Previous research suggests that one such factor is the personality cluster of Dark Triad traits (DTT), comprising Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Additionally, DTT and CDA perpetration have both been linked to poor self-control ability, but these relationships have not yet been tested together in one model. As such, the present study examines if individuals' poor self-control ability mediates the relationship between the DTT and CDA perpetration. To test these associations, we conducted a survey study among a representative sample of Belgian adults (n = 1,144; Mage = 47.66 years; 51.3% female). Findings from correlation analyses revealed that all three DTT were individually associated with CDA perpetration, such that higher scores on these traits corresponded with more CDA perpetration. Additionally, pathway analyses from structural equation modeling revealed that individuals' poor self-control ability fully explained the relationship between Machiavellianism and narcissism and CDA perpetration, and partially explained the relationship between psychopathy and CDA perpetration. As our findings suggest that self-control plays an instrumental role in explaining why individuals control and monitor their partner via digital technology, prevention and intervention efforts should seek ways to improve individuals' self-control ability in situations that may trigger such harmful interpersonal behaviors, particularly among individuals who exhibit Dark Triad personality traits.

How Dark Is the Core of Dark Personality Traits?

Abstract: Previous research on the organizing structure of the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits has consistently found support for the presence of a strong commonality among the DT traits. However, such research has typically relied on a data collection method (e.g., single-source data, multiple traits measured together at the same time) that increases the likelihood of common method variance (CMV) that can artifactually increase the covariance between item scores. In the current study, we administered the 27-item Short Dark Triad (SD3) to 509 working adults in South Korea. Specifically, we added a procedural remedy to mitigate the effect of CMV (temporal separation of 2–5 days between measures), then used a bifactor model to extract a general core of the DT traits along with specific variance that is unique to each trait. Then, we calculated several model-based psychometric indices (omega coefficients, explained common variance) to examine the relative strength of the general and specific variances. Additionally, we examined the degree to which unique variance associated with each DT trait provides incremental validity beyond prediction provided by the commonality among the DT traits for predicting counterproductive work behavior. Results showed that the empirical overlap among the DT traits was not as strong as indicated in previous research.

The dark triad and entrepreneurial intention: The moderating role of family business exposure

AbstractA substantial body of research has documented that personality traits, namely, negative personality traits generally known as the dark triad, play a significant role in determining entrepreneurial intention. However, despite the important role that parents play in the construction of their children's personality traits, studies examining the role of family business exposure on these socially aversive traits and its effect on the development of entrepreneurial intention are rarely developed. The current research is set to fill this gap through a quantitative approach based on a sample of 896 students. More specifically, we test the moderating effect of family business exposure on the relationship between dark triad personality traits and entrepreneurial intention. Our results provide evidence that narcissism and psychopathy have a direct effect on entrepreneurial intention and that family business exposure moderates the relationship between Machiavellianism and entrepreneurial intention. Several implications for educators and public policies are discussed.

Dark triad personality traits are associated with decreased grey matter volumes in 'social brain' structures.

Personality traits and the degree of their prominence determine various aspects of social interactions. Some of the most socially relevant traits constitute the Dark Triad - narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism - associated with antisocial behaviour, disregard for moral norms, and a tendency to manipulation. Sufficient data point at the existence of Dark Triad 'profiles' distinguished by trait prominence. Currently, neuroimaging studies have mainly concentrated on the neuroanatomy of individual dark traits, while the Dark Triad profile structure has been mostly overlooked. We performed a clustering analysis of the Dirty Dozen Dark Triad questionnaire scores of 129 healthy subjects using the k-means method. The variance ratio criterion (VRC) was used to determine the optimal number of clusters for the current data. The two-sample t-test within the framework of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed to test the hypothesised differences in grey matter volume (GMV) for the obtained groups. Clustering analysis revealed 2 groups of subjects, both with low-to-mid and mid-to-high levels of Dark Triad traits prominence. A further VBM analysis of these groups showed that a higher level of Dark Triad traits may manifest itself in decreased grey matter volumes in the areas related to emotional regulation (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the cingulate cortex), as well as those included in the reward system (the ventral striatum, the orbitofrontal cortex). The obtained results shed light on the neurobiological basis underlying social interactions associated with the Dark Triad and its profiles.

Exploring Parent-Child Traits and Relationship Quality: A Network Study

Big five and dark triad personality traits are likely to influence the perceived quality of the parent-child relationship, as they can impact the behavior of family members and parenting styles. The main objective of this study was to analyze how adult children's and parents' personality traits affect the perceived quality of the parent-child relationship within dyadic interactions. The results revealed that parents' agreeableness and psychopathy had positive or negative effects on children's positive behaviors and feelings toward their parents, respectively. Moreover, mothers' and fathers' positive behaviors and feelings toward their children were positively or negatively associated, respectively, with children's conscientiousness and psychopathy. Furthermore, network analyses demonstrated that the impact of parents' emotional stability and psychopathy on children's perceived quality of the parent-child relationship varied depending on the gender of the parents. Thus, the relationship between personality traits and the perceived quality of the parent-child relationship is influenced by family roles, revealing a complex and variable structure in different dyadic family relationships.

The Moderating Role of Family Functioning in the Relationship between Dark Triad Personality and Cyberbullying among Undergraduates

The emergence of modern technology has increased negative vices such as cyberbullying. This form of aggression has increased in intensity among the youths. However, ways of ameliorating this menace to curtail its debilitating effects have not been fully explored. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the moderating role of family functioning in the relationship between dark triad personality and cyberbullying among undergraduates. The participants were five hundred and sixty-five (565) undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 30 (Mean age 21.99; SD = 2.82) drawn through purposive sampling from a sample of Nigerian undergraduate students. Self-report measures of the 27-item Short Dark Triad Questionnaire (SD3), Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale (CVBS), and Family APGAR Scale were used for data collection. The hypotheses were tested using the Hayes PROCESS macro for SPSS version 3.00. The results showed that dark triad personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) were positively associated with cyberbullying among undergraduate students. Family functioning is negatively associated with cyberbullying. In addition, family functioning moderated the relationship between dark triad personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and cyberbullying among undergraduate students. The study revealed that dysfunctional family functioning increased the extent to which students engage in cyberbullying in the presence of a dark triad personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy).

Men with high dark triad personality traits can accurately infer dark triad traits from other people's faces.

The literature suggests that people can accurately infer dark triad (DT) personality traits from other peoples' faces. Using a self-report scale, this study investigated the impact of participants' DT personality traits on their ability to accurately infer other peoples' DT traits from facial cues. We created composite facial photographs of Japanese people with varying Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism scores. The Japanese participants (N = 170) assessed these three DT traits in the facial photographs and completed a questionnaire that assessed their own DT traits. The results indicated that the participants could accurately infer all three DT traits from female faces but not from male faces. Male participants showed a positive correlation between accurate inferences of other men's Machiavellianism and their own DT traits. In contrast, female participants showed a negative correlation between correct inferences of men's DT traits and their own DT traits. These findings offer novel insights into human evolutionary and social adaptations.

The Dark Triad Personality: The Impact and How to Manage at Work

This article is based on a literature review on the dark personality. The Dark Triad personality traits encompass malevolent and socially aversive characteristics and have been associated with a wide range of behaviors and outcomes, including short-term mating strategies, socially aversive outcomes, selfish and exploitative behaviors, and career-related implications. Understanding the implications of these traits is crucial for promoting responsible and ethical conduct in various contexts. The Dark Triad personality traits encompass malevolent and socially aversive characteristics and have been associated with a wide range of behaviors and outcomes, including short-term mating strategies, socially aversive outcomes, selfish and exploitative behaviors, and career-related implications. Understanding the implications of these traits is crucial for promoting responsible and ethical conduct in various contexts. The identification of Dark Triad traits has been approached using various measures and assessments, allowing researchers to explore the malevolent and socially aversive characteristics associated with narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism in different contexts and populations.

The Dark Triad Personality (DTP) and the Big Five Model (BFM) in their Relationship to Counterproductive Work Behaviors (CWBs)

The Dark Triad Personality (DTP) and the Big Five Model (BFM) in their Relationship to Counterproductive Work Behaviors (CWBs)

Development of a Structural Model of Emotional Divorce Based on the Dark Triad Personality Traits and Conflict Resolution Styles with the Mediation of Marital Conflicts

Objective: This study aims to model the structural equations of emotional divorce based on dark personality traits and conflict resolution styles with the mediation of marital conflicts. Methods and Materials: The research method was descriptive-correlational based on structural equations. The statistical population included all married women aged 25-50 years at Islamic Azad University (Yadegar-e-Imam, Abolfatoh Razi (Mothers), and Tehran North campuses) in the first half of 2021, selected online due to the COVID-19 pandemic using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Emotional Divorce Questionnaire (Gottman, 1994), the Dark Triad Personality Questionnaire (Johnson & Webster, 2010), Rahim's Conflict Resolution Styles (Rahim, 1983), and the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (Sanaei, 1996). Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. Findings: The results of structural equation modeling indicated that the proposed model fits the empirical data (RMSEA = 0.063). There was a significant relationship between Machiavellianism and emotional divorce (β = 0.173), and between constructive style (β = -0.556) and non-constructive style (β = 0.26) with marital conflicts. The indirect path coefficient of narcissistic traits (P = 0.007), constructive (P = 0.011) and non-constructive conflict resolution styles (P = 0.005) with the dependent variable emotional divorce through the mediating variable of marital conflicts was significant. However, the mediating role of marital conflicts in the relationship between antisocial traits (P = 0.798) and Machiavellianism (P = 0.877) with emotional divorce was not confirmed. Conclusion: Dark personality traits and constructive conflict resolution styles can indirectly affect emotional divorce by influencing marital conflicts, in addition to their direct effect.

The dark side of mental toughness: a meta-analysis of the relationship between the dark triad traits and mental toughness.

This meta-analysis investigates the relationships between the Dark Triad personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and mental toughness. Previous research has shown mixed results regarding the influence of these traits on mental toughness. The objective of this meta-analysis is to synthesize existing literature and provide a comprehensive understanding of how Dark Triad traits correlate with mental toughness. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 7 databases, Data were extracted by correlation and analyzed using a random-effects model. The results yielding 27 effect sizes with a total of 12,378 participants, revealed a significant moderate positive association between narcissism and mental toughness (r = 0.327, p < 0.001), suggesting that individuals with higher levels of narcissism tend to exhibit greater mental toughness. However, no significant associations were found between Machiavellianism (r = 0.023, p = 0.719) or psychopathy (r = -0.022, p = 0.625) and mental toughness. The findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the Dark Triad traits and their differential associations with adaptive psychological constructs, highlighting the unique role of narcissism in mental toughness. This meta-analysis provides valuable insights for future research and practical applications in fostering adaptive aspects of narcissism while mitigating its potential maladaptive consequences.

Deceptive Self-Presentation: The Role of Social Media User Motivation and the Dark Triad Personality

Online identity frauds such as love scams, catfishing, and fake content are associated with the freedom of personalization offered by social media platforms which can lead to deceptive self-presentation behavior and impressions. Therefore, this research aimed to examine the role of motivation to use Instagram and the dark triad personality on deceptive self-presentation. It was conducted quantitatively through structural equation model (SEM) analysis based on partial least squares (PLS) using data collected from 400 early adult Instagram users between the ages of 20 and 34 years in Indonesia. The results showed that motivation to use Instagram and the dark triad personality influenced deceptive self-presentation by 30.9% on ideal self-dimension and 41.9% on false self-dimension. Moreover, motivational dimensions of gaining new friendships, following and monitoring, social connectedness and social recognition had a significant influence on deceptive self-presentation. In the dark triad personality variable, only the narcissism dimension was observed to have a significant influence on deceptive self-presentation.

The Influence of the Dark Triad Personality on Bullying Behavior in Adolescents

Bullying behavior is a behavior that is not prosocial so that it can have a negative effect on both the perpetrator and the victim. This bullying behavior is influenced by certain negative factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the dark triad personality on bullying behavior in adolescents. Respondents to this study amounted to 100 adolescents with an age range of 13-18 years and had experienced verbal, physical or psychological bullying. The sampling technique in this study used accidental sampling. The measuring tool used is the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBVQ) to measure the bullying variable and the Short Dark Triad (SD3) to measure the dark triad personality variable. This study uses multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The results showed that the dimensions of Machiavellianism and psychopathy had a significant effect on bullying behavior, while the dimensions of narcissism did not have a significant effect. The conclusion of this study is that there is an influence of dark triad personality for aspects of machiavellianism and narcissism on bullying behavior in adolescents.