Dark triad

The Dark Triad is a group of three personality traits: narcissism; Machiavellianism; and psychopathy, all of which are interpersonally aversive.

Introduction

The Dark Triad refers to three theoretically distinct but empirically overlapping personality constructs.^[1] The term reflects the perception that these three diagnostic categories, have at least some common underlying factors:

• The narcissistic personality (in the clinical sense) is characterized by a grandiose self-view, a sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, and self-centered egotist. On some theories, such as Kohut, it is associated with protection of a radically weak, shamed, or damaged self.^[2]

• The Machiavellian personality is characterized by manipulation and exploitation of others, with a cynical disregard for morality and a focus on self-interest and deception.^[3]

• The psychopath, or antisocial personality, is characterized by impulsive thrill-seeking, and in its "primary" form by selfishness, callousness, lack of personal affect, superficial charm, and remorselessness.

All three characters involve a callous-manipulative interpersonal style,^[4] and are considered aversive. Jakobwitz and Egan carried out a factor analysis and found agreeableness strongly dissociated with all dark triad personality types, but other factors (neuroticism, lack of conscientiousness) were associated only with some members of the triad.

It has also been argued that narcissists aggress when insulted whereas psychopaths aggress when threatened,^[5] and that Machiavellian students cheat by plagiarizing essays whereas psychopaths impulsively copy other students' answers during exams.^[6]

Relationship to moral judgments

A study of 17 social and economic issues found the Dark Triad to correlate significantly with eleven traditionally "conservative" positions (including capital punishment, anti-gay marriage, free markets, detention of suspected terrorists without trial, and the right of a government to wage war in violation of UN resolutions). No significant relationships were found between the Dark Triad and traditionally liberal judgments.^[7]

Notes

1. ^ Paulhus, D.L., Williams, K.M. (2002). "The Dark Triad of personality: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy". Journal of Research in Personality 36 (6): 556–563. doi:10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00505-6. 
2. ^ Kohut, H. (1977). The Restoration of the Self. New York: International Universities Press. 
3. ^ Jakobwitz, S., Egan, V. (2006). "The 'dark triad' and normal personality traits". Personality and Individual Differences 40 (2): 331–9. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.07.006. http://leicester.academia.edu/VincentEgan/Papers/45043/The_dark_triad_and_personality. 
4. ^ Jones, D.N., Paulhus, D.L. (2010). "Differentiating the Dark Triad within the interpersonal circumplex". In Horowitz, L.M., Strack, S.N.. Handbook of interpersonal theory and research. New York: Guilford. pp. 249–267. 
5. ^ Jones, D.N., Paulhus, D.L. (2010). "Different provocations trigger aggression in narcissists and psychopaths". Social and Personality Psychology Science 1: 12–18. doi:10.1177/1948550609347591. 
6. ^ Williams, K.M., Nathanson, C., Paulhus, D.L. (2010). "Identifying and profiling scholastic cheaters: Their personality, cognitive ability, and motivation". Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 16 (3): 293–307. doi:10.1037/a0020773. 
7. ^ Arvan M (2011). "Bad News for Conservatives? Moral Judgments and the Dark Triad Personality Traits: A Correlational Study". Neuroethics. doi:10.1007/s12152-011-9140-6. 

References

• Jonason, P.K., Li, N.P., Webster, G.D., Schmitt, D.P. (2008). "The Dark Triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy in men". European Journal of Personality 23: 5–18.