High Dark Triad Research Articles

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 relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying among Chinese adolescents: the role of social exclusion and sense of control.

Abundant evidence has proved the association between the Dark Triad and bullying. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are still not fully understood. Based on the temporal need-threat model, three studies were designed to explore the mediating role of social exclusion and sense of control in this research. In study 1 we recruited 571 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.53, SD = 0.716) to participate in a cross-sectional study. And two experiments were respectively designed in Study 2 (N = 88) and Study 3 (N = 102) to verify the effects of real and cyber social exclusion on adolescent bullying behavior. Study 1 showed that social exclusion and sense of control would play the serial mediating role in the relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying (except social exclusion as a mediator between the Dark Triad and cyberbullying). Study 2 and 3 showed that adolescents with high Dark Triad show lower sense of control and more bullying behavior after experiencing social exclusion. These findings extend the research on the Dark Triad and bullying by providing a solid empirical foundation and intervention strategies to avoid bullying so that the problem can be rationally and scientifically approached.

The Relationship Between Market Culture, Clan Culture, Benevolent Leadership, Work Engagement, and Job Performance: Leader's Dark Triad as a Moderator.

Benevolent leadership is one of the leadership styles which provides a positive influence on employees. However, the current leadership literature has yet to investigate how benevolent leadership leads to job performance, the processes involved, the relationship between organizational culture and benevolent leadership, and the role of dark side of leaders in affecting this relationship. Using the leader-culture fit framework within an Eastern context, the current study first investigates the relationship between benevolent leadership and job performance through work engagement. The study then compares two contrasting organizational culture (i.e., market culture and clan culture) on benevolent leadership. Finally, the study investigates how leaders' dark triad affects the relationship between organizational culture and benevolent leadership. 374 full-time white-collar employees (Males = 54.01%; Mean age: 32.7years) from various private organizations within the service industry participated in this study. The results showed that work engagement mediated benevolent leadership and job performance. Market culture showed a negative relationship with benevolent leadership while clan culture showed a positive relationship with benevolent leadership. Benevolent leadership mediated clan culture (but not market culture) and work engagement. Under a high market culture with a high dark triad leader, benevolent leadership is at its lowest level. Under a high clan culture with a low dark triad leader, benevolent leadership is at its highest level. The findings suggest the importance of benevolent leadership within a clan culture (rather than market culture), in aligning with the leader-culture fit framework in increasing employees' work engagement and job performance.

Gender Differences and Relationship of 2D:4D-Ratio, Mental Toughness and Dark Triad Traits among Active Young Adults.

There is consistent evidence that prenatal exposures to higher testosterone and lower estrogen concentrations during the first trimester of embryonal and fetal development are associated with a lower 2D:4D-ratio, which is to say: The index finger (2D) is shorter, compared to the ring finger (4D). Compared to non-active, athletes show lower 2D:4D ratios. However, athletes also report specific personality traits such as mental toughness, assertiveness, and competitive behavior. Here, we tested if 2D:4D-ratios were related to specific personality traits. We further investigated possible gender differences. A total of 460 active young adults (mean age: 24.81 years; 67% females) completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information and traits of the dark triad and mental toughness. Participants also provided a scan of their right palm hand to measure and calculate 2D:4D-ratios. t-tests, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression analysis were performed to analyze data. Compared to male participants, female participants had a higher 2D:4D-ratio. Female and male participants did not differ as regards dark triad traits and mental toughness traits. Irrespective of gender, and based on correlational computations, 2D:4D-ratios were unrelated to the dark triad (DT) and mental toughness (MT) scores. Higher DT scores were modestly associated with higher MT scores among females, but not among males. Lower 2D:4D-ratios were associated with higher constancy scores and the male gender. The constancy and male gender appeared to be associated with lower 2D:4D-ratios.

The tangled webs they weave: A scoping review of deception detection and production in relation to Dark Triad traits

People deceive for different reasons, from avoiding interpersonal conflicts to preserving, protecting, and nurturing interpersonal relationships, and to obtaining social status and power. A growing body of research highlights the role of personality in both deception detection and production, with a particular focus on high Dark Triad (DT) traits (Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy), for their shared tendency to engage in unethical self-benefitting behaviors, despite negative consequences for others. The main goal of the current scoping review was to bring together the studies investigating self-reported and performance-based deception production and detection performances, as presented in individuals characterized by high DT traits and point out the possible contribution of DT to deception research. To do so, we identified the relevant studies documenting the similarities and discrepancies between the three personality traits and presented their results, based on the procedure used for deception assessment: subjective or objective measurements for production / detection. Then, we discussed possible explanatory mechanisms for inter-individual differences in lie detection / production and argue for the contribution of DT to deception research beyond the typical personality models, particularly for the antisocial character of deception.

Dealing with the devil: Combined effects of destructive leadership and Dark Triad personality on revenge, happiness and psychological detachment

AbstractUtilizing the cognitive appraisal theory of stress and coping, we examined the combined effects of destructive leadership and Dark Triad personality on revenge and employee outcomes (happiness and psychological detachment). Adopting a time‐lagged research design (three time lags), we collected data from 288 employees from the service sector in Pakistan. Using Process technique, our findings showed that revenge mediated the destructive leadership and outcomes relationship. We also found that the impact of destructive leadership on revenge was more substantial for individuals having high Dark Triad personality. The results supported our moderated mediation hypothesis, proving that revenge mediates the relationship between destructive leadership and outcomes for individuals with a high Dark Triad Personality.

Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch? Customers' dark triad traits predict abuse of food refund policies

Customers may abuse the refund policies of online food delivery services. Given restrictions on returning online food orders and high levels of consumer power, customers who falsely claim an order was missing, damaged, or incorrect may receive both their original food order and a full refund. In an online study, we surveyed 197 food-delivery service customers regarding their refund fraud behavior and Dark Triad personality traits (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy). The Dark Triad predicted fraudulent refund claims, the frequency of previously placed false refund claims, its perceived acceptability, and the likeliness of placing one in the future. Moreover, we also found evidence that individuals with high Dark Triad traits were more likely to engage in refund fraud when the perceived cost to the food delivery company was high.

O efeito dos traços dark triad na relação entre a pressão de obediência e a folga orçamentária,

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of personality traits on the relationship between obedience pressure and the creation of budgetary slack. Concatenating the dark triad personality traits and obedience pressure in a decision-making scenario relating to the creation of budgetary slack enables us to widen the investigation of factors associated with the practicing of budgetary slack. The relevance of this study lies in understanding how personality traits influence decision making under hierarchical obedience pressure in relation to the creation of budgetary slack, enabling us to measure and detect possible biases in managers’ decision making due to these factors, thus being able to predict or mitigate decisions in the organizational environment. It was verified that the practice of creating budgetary slack can be carried out independently of a hierarchical order and that personality traits influence decision making with relation to the execution and planning of budgets. The article makes theoretical contributions to the accounting area, enabling the advancement and deepening of the discussion of social aspects (obedience theory) and behavioral aspects (personality traits) associated with decision making relating to the creation of budgetary slack. The approach is quantitative and experimental (2 x 2 factorial design), using 82 accounting sciences students. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests and binary logistic regression. It was found that, independently of being under obedience pressure, individuals with high dark triad personality traits were more inclined toward the creation of budgetary slack, demonstrating that the intrinsic personality traits of each individual have an effect over decision making. However, regarding obedience pressure, it was verified that there was no significant effect on the creation of budgetary slack. These results offer contributions to organizations, as their managers and teams do not practice slack due to obedience pressure scenarios, but rather according to personality traits.

The positive connection between dark triad traits and leadership levels in self- and other-ratings

People with high dark triad tendencies are often found in leadership positions. Yet research is lacking on whether dark triad personality traits positively correlate with the height of leadership levels (no leadership position, low-level leaders, high-level leaders, head and founder of the company). To explore this relationship between the dark triad and these leadership levels, three studies (NGermany = 137; NHungary = 333; NBothCountries = 355) were conducted, to measure dark triad scores for each leadership level. The results reveal that people in higher leadership levels display both higher self-rated and subordinate-rated dark triad scores. Further research is needed to investigate whether this finding is replicable for more objective measures and longitudinal studies as well as cultural norms, which may discourage or support dark triad traits. As the organizations are an important factor in promoting ethic-oriented behavior in individuals, one practical implication could be increased focus on developing ethical behavior during the assessment and training of leadership positions.

HEXACO and Dark Triad Personality Traits as Predictors of Male Attractiveness in Different Relationship Contexts

This study aimed to further investigate the perceived attractiveness of the Dark Triad (DT) personality in different types of relationships (i.e. friendship, short-term and long-term relationship) controlling for basic personality traits from the HEXACO model. The participants were 167 female students (M = 20.82 years, SD = 1.54) who rated personality and attractiveness of a man with highly expressed DT characteristics (n = 91) or a low-scoring DT character (n = 76) presented in a vignette. In line with recent findings, we observed a high negative correlation between the Honesty-Humility factor and DT personality (r = -.88, p < .001). As hypothesized, there was a significant difference in attractiveness ratings for the two characters in the context of different interpersonal relationships, with high DT character rated as significantly more attractive than the low DT character in the context of short-term mating. Furthermore, the hierarchical regression analysis showed that DT personality had a unique contribution in predicting attractiveness in the context of short-term relationship, after controlling for the basic personality traits.

INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLOSE PARTNER VIOLENCE, EMOTIONAL VIOLENCE AND DARK TRIAD PERSONALITY TRAITS

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between attitudes towards emotional violence and control behavior with dark triad personality traits together with physical and sexual violence against women. Another aim is to draw attention to psychological violence and control behaviors in the studies, to be carried out in the context of preventing intimate partner violence. The sample group consisted of 140 men aged 18 and over, who were reached through random sampling, reached through Google forms and face-to-face interviews. For the purposes of the research, the ISKEBE Violence against Women Scale (ISKEBE Attitude Scale) and Short Dark Triad Scale (SD3-T) were used, and personal information form was applied for demographic data. According to the statistics, men with a high dark triad total value have higher attitudes towards violence against women. There is a positive correlation between the high scores of psychopathy and body attitudes subscale scores. (B: 0.305, p <0.001) A positive relationship was found between the high scores of narcissisms and the attitudes towards identity subscale. (B: 0.308, p <0.001) There is a positive relationship between the high score of Machiavellianism and the attitudes towards identity subscale. (B: 0.470, p <0.001)) There is a positive correlation between Machiavellian score and psychopathy score. (B: 0.515, p <0.001). The results reveal that dark triad personality traits predict emotional and physical violence in close partner relationships.

Dark triad, partisanship and violent intentions in the United States

We have witnessed a drastic increase in partisanship in the United States in the past decades. This increase has sparked concern that the effects may not be as benign as the positive political engagement and activism behaviors sometimes associated with increased partisanship. This paper explicitly targets the risk that increased partisan identities may lead to stronger intentions to engage in violent political behaviors from an individual difference perspective. This paper integrates insights from the literature on political violence and personality psychology. It understands partisanship as social identity and focuses on the influence of the dark triad. In three original, population representative cross-sectional and experimental studies of adult Americans (total n = 3797), the paper shows that stronger partisan identities drive stronger intentions to engage in political violence, but that this effect holds for partisans with the callous, manipulative personality indicated by high dark triad scores only.

Coach me if you can! Dark triad clients, their effect on coaches, and how coaches deal with them

ABSTRACT People with high dark triad levels, consisting of subclinical narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, can have a destructive impact on their team members, subordinates, and the organisation. Recent research has even found that the higher the leadership position, the more dark triad traits were displayed. As coaching is often for people in (higher) leadership positions, the following study with 64 coaches investigated the dark triad traits among their clients and how this affected the coach as well as the coaching. The results show that the higher the client’s leadership level was, the higher their dark triad level was perceived and, thus, the more anxious and distressed the coaches were regarding the client, leading to less coaching success. Although the coaches did not name a definite strategy for dealing with such a client, the results showed that the higher their approach motivation was, the more successful the coaches was. The results depict the danger of high dark triad levels amongst coaching clients and its influences on the business coaching, implying theoretical and practical considerations.

The Dark Empath: Characterising dark traits in the presence of empathy

A novel psychological construct characterised by high empathy and dark traits: the Dark Empath (DE) is identified and described relative to personality, aggression, dark triad (DT) facets and wellbeing. Participants (n = 991) were assessed for narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, cognitive empathy and affective empathy. Sub-cohorts also completed measures of (i) personality (BIG5), indirect interpersonal aggression (n = 301); (ii) DT facets of vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, primary and secondary psychopathy and Machiavellianism (n = 285); and (iii) wellbeing (depression, anxiety, stress, anhedonia, self-compassion; n = 240). Latent profile analysis identified a four-class solution comprising the traditional DT (n = 128; high DT, low empathy), DE (n = 175; high DT, high empathy), Empaths (n = 357; low DT, high empathy) and Typicals (n = 331; low DT, average empathy). DT and DE were higher in aggression and DT facets, and lower in agreeableness than Typicals and Empaths. DE had higher extraversion and agreeableness, and lower aggression than DT. DE and DT did not differ in grandiose and vulnerable DT facets, but DT showed lower wellbeing. The DE is less aggressive and shows better wellbeing than DT, but partially maintains an antagonistic core, despite having high extraversion. The presence of empathy did not increase risk of vulnerability in the DE.

Shielding the Workforce: Does Subordinate Contract Frame Induce Leniency in Superiors’ Target-Setting Decisions?

Management control systems affect employees at every level of the organizational hierarchy, so it is crucial to evaluate how controls at one hierarchical level spillover to another level. We examine how subordinates’ contract frame, an important management control, affects superiors’ target-setting decisions, another important control. Using an experiment, we predict and find that superiors set lower targets for subordinates under a penalty contract compared to a bonus contract, as superiors can project their negative perceptions of penalties onto subordinates and seek to reduce these perceived negative effects. Further, we predict and find that increasing the salience of subordinates’ contract choice to the superior mitigates the effect of subordinate contract frame on target-setting, and that these effects are stronger in low Dark Triad superiors compared to high Dark Triad superiors. Our findings add insights into the interrelationships of management controls at different hierarchical levels within the organization.

Not My Protector—Women Have an Aversion to High Dark Triad Faces Irrespective of Childhood or Current Environmental Danger

Although the Dark Triad of personality (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) has been widely investigated in relation to mate choice, research has not yet considered environmental danger and women’s preference for Dark Triad characteristics. Women (N = 357) completed an online two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) task, choosing between high and low Dark Triad facial morphs for attractiveness, and for perceived danger. They also answered questions assessing danger in their childhood and current environments. Women perceived the high Dark Triad faces as less attractive and more dangerous that the low faces. Childhood and current environmental danger did not have an association with a preference for the Dark Triad faces. The results indicate that the cost associated with pairing up with a high Dark Triad male may outweigh the benefits, irrespective of the environment.

Relationship between the Dark Triad and depressive symptoms.

The Dark Triad (DT) is composed of three closely related personality traits: psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism. These traits have been linked to emotional deficits. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the DT traits, including sub-dimensions, and depressive symptoms in order to identify those factors most strongly associated with the development of depression in individuals scoring high on DT. For these purposes, a total of 791 adults (M = 35.76 years; 24.91% males) completed a questionnaire battery including DT traits and depression measures. A positive significant correlation was found between psychopathy and Machiavellianism traits (total score and all sub-dimensions) and depressive symptoms. For narcissism, the direction of the correlation was dependent on the sub-dimension assessed. A model explaining 26.2% of the depressive symptoms scores was composed of the callous affect and criminal tendencies sub-dimensions of psychopathy, cynical view of human nature, which is a sub-dimension of Machiavellianism, and entitlement and self-sufficiency, which are sub-dimensions of narcissism. In addition, some of the relationships found between DT sub-dimensions and depressive symptoms appeared to depend on gender. Our results could have implications for detection and intervention programs aimed at decreasing the negative emotional consequences suffered by individuals with high DT scores. Limitations and future lines of research are discussed.

The influence of instrumentality in trusting Dark Triad members

This study examined whether the association between the Dark Triad and a Fast Life History strategy illuminates how Dark Triad members with poor reputations gain trust from others. Undergraduate participants (N = 121) viewed vignettes of high or low Dark Triad (dark/light) actors proposing Fast Life History or Slow Life History (fast/slow) strategies to obtain desirable outcomes. They rated how successful the actor would be (perceived instrumentality) and how inclined they were to trust the actor. Participants were significantly less trusting of dark actors, an effect that is compounded when the actors proposed to enact fast strategies. Interestingly, dark actors proposing slow strategies were trusted significantly more than light actors proposing fast strategies. Across vignettes, instrumentality was significantly positively related to trust. An exploratory analysis found that psychopathy and Machiavellianism were associated with trusting Dark Triad actors, and that psychopathy was associated with perceiving Fast Life strategies as effective. Our results provide evidence for a complex relationship between the Dark Triad and Life History, the importance of perceived instrumentality in trusting behaviours, and the unique characteristics of narcissism within the Dark Triad.

Do People with High Dark Triad Choose Poor and Lonely Others as Friends?

Do People with High Dark Triad Choose Poor and Lonely Others as Friends?

Do People with High Dark Triad Tend to Litter?

Do People with High Dark Triad Tend to Litter?