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Cease CK, Hart W, Lambert JT, Witt DE. Is "sadistic pleasure" a contrived process of signaling one's antagonism? J Pers 2024; 92:837-853. [PMID: 36825359 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sadistic pleasure presumably incorporates processes that support an authentic enjoyment of others' pain. However, antagonism confirmation theory, grounded in social-psychological theorizing on identity maintenance and the notion of ego-syntonicity, suggests that individuals higher in sadism report greater pleasure in response to others' pain because such reports are immoral responses that confirm their self-views. This alternative conception has yet to be tested. METHOD In two preregistered experiments (total N = 968), participants completed measures of sadism, read about situations involving others' pain, and rated their pleasure. We manipulated the extent to which pleasure from others' pain could be used to signal morality or antagonism. RESULTS We found that relatively sadistic people indicated greater pleasure across the studies but, like relatively non-sadistic people, they altered their pleasure ratings to signal greater morality or less antagonism. CONCLUSIONS The findings fail to support antagonism confirmation theory, but they support recent perspectives on sadism that suggest that sadistic people may occasionally care about seeming moral (or not seeming antagonistic) and that sadism may be somewhat ego-dystonic in this respect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte K Cease
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - William Hart
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Joshua T Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Danielle E Witt
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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2
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Lobbestael J, Wolf F, Gollwitzer M, Baumeister RF. Those who (enjoy to) hurt: The influence of dark personality traits on animal- and human directed sadistic pleasure. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2024; 85:101963. [PMID: 38739973 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2024.101963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Sadistic pleasure - gratuitous enjoyment from inflicting pain on others - has devastating interpersonal and societal consequences. The current knowledge on non-sexual, everyday sadism - a trait that resides within the general population - is scarce. The present study therefore focussed on personality correlates of sadistic pleasure. It investigated the relationship between the Dark Triad traits, and both dispositional and state-level sadistic pleasure. METHODS N = 120 participants filled out questionnaires to assess their level of Dark Triad traits, psychopathy subfactors, and dispositional sadism. Then, participants engaged in an animal-directed task in which they were led to believe that they were killing bugs; and in a human-directed task where they could ostensibly noise blasts another participant. The two behavioral tasks were administered within-subjects, in randomized order. Sadistic pleasure was captured by increases in reported pleasure from pre-to post-task. RESULTS All Dark Triad traits related to increased dispositional sadism, with psychopathy showing the strongest link. The coldheartedness psychopathy subscale showed a unique combination with both self-reported sadism and increased pleasure following bug grinding. LIMITATIONS Predominantly female and student sample, limiting generalizability of findings. CONCLUSIONS Out of all Dark Triad components, psychopathy showed the strongest link with gaining pleasure from hurting others. The results underscore the differential predictive value of psychopathy's subcomponents for sadistic pleasure. Coldheartedness can be considered especially disturbing because of its unique relationship to deriving joy from irreversible harm-infliction (i.e. killing bugs). Our findings further establish psychopathy - and especially its coldheartedness component - as the most adverse Dark Triad trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Lobbestael
- Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Franziska Wolf
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie (Ausbildungszentrum Ostwestfalen-Lippe) [German Association for Behavioural Therapy (training Centre East Westphalia-Lippe)], Germany
| | - Mario Gollwitzer
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Roy F Baumeister
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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3
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Furnham A, Cuppello S. Correlates of the Dark Tetrad. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 245:104222. [PMID: 38502994 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study explored demographic, ideological, self-rating and personality traits correlates of the Dark Tetrad (DT4) which measures Narcissism (Special), Machiavellianism (Crafty), Psychopathy (Wild), and Sadism (Mean) traits. In total, 447 adults completed three tests: a bright-side, work-related, personality test (HPTI: High Performance Type Indicator), a dark-side test (Short Dark Tetrad) and a number of self-ratings. Correlations and regressions showed that all four dark traits were associated with low Adjustment (Neuroticism), but also with high Risk-Taking and Competitiveness (low Agreeableness). The various measures accounted for a third of the variance in explaining the Mean (Sadistic) score, and 40 % for Special (Narcissism). Trait Competitiveness was most closely associated with all four dark traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Furnham
- Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour, Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Stephen Cuppello
- Department of Psychology, City University London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Thomas International, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Moraes MCDL, Russo GC, Prado JDS, Lima-Costa AR, Bonfá-Araujo B, Schermer JA. Exploring Substance Abuse and the Dark Tetrad in Health Sciences and Non-Health Sciences Students. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:778. [PMID: 37754056 PMCID: PMC10525443 DOI: 10.3390/bs13090778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance abuse can be used as a coping strategy to manage stress related to academic activities and is a risk-taking behavior that is also associated with people with higher levels of the Dark Tetrad personality traits. Our study aimed to investigate the association between substance abuse and the Dark Tetrad in students in health and non-health sciences fields. Our sample was composed of 174 college students between 18 and 58 years old (M = 25.60; SD = 9.14). Students completed self-report psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, sadism, and substance use scales. Results suggest that men consumed more substances and scored higher on the Dark Tetrad than women. Also, when comparing fields, men from health sciences tended to score higher on dark personality traits. These results emphasize the potential risk factors associated with dark personality traits and the consumption of licit and illicit substances by college students, highlighting the need for further studies with this population and the impact of these behaviors and characteristics on future professional practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Carvalho de Lima Moraes
- Department of Psychology, São Francisco University, Campinas 13045-510, Brazil; (M.C.d.L.M.); (G.C.R.); (J.d.S.P.); (A.R.L.-C.)
| | - Giulia Cunha Russo
- Department of Psychology, São Francisco University, Campinas 13045-510, Brazil; (M.C.d.L.M.); (G.C.R.); (J.d.S.P.); (A.R.L.-C.)
| | - Julia da Silva Prado
- Department of Psychology, São Francisco University, Campinas 13045-510, Brazil; (M.C.d.L.M.); (G.C.R.); (J.d.S.P.); (A.R.L.-C.)
| | - Ariela Raissa Lima-Costa
- Department of Psychology, São Francisco University, Campinas 13045-510, Brazil; (M.C.d.L.M.); (G.C.R.); (J.d.S.P.); (A.R.L.-C.)
| | - Bruno Bonfá-Araujo
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada;
| | - Julie Aitken Schermer
- Department of Psychology and Management and Organizational Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
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5
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Bonfá-Araujo B, Simpson B, Schermer JA. The dark side of giving: Examining the relationship between the Dark Tetrad and charitable behavior. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2023.112188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
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6
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The next distinction without a difference: Do psychopathy and sadism scales assess the same construct? PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2023.112102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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7
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Borgholthaus CJ, White JV, Harms PD. CEO dark personality: A critical review, bibliometric analysis, and research agenda. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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8
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The Dark Tetrad and online sexual victimization: Enjoying in the distance. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2023.107659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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9
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Blötner C, Beisemann M. The Dark Triad is dead, long live the Dark Triad: An item-response theoretical examination of the Short Dark Tetrad. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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10
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Pineda D, Rico-Bordera P, Martínez-Martínez A, Galán M, Piqueras JA. Dark tetrad personality traits also play a role in bullying victimization. Front Psychol 2022; 13:984744. [PMID: 36312177 PMCID: PMC9616045 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.984744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bullying refers to physical and/or psychological mistreatment or abuse by one individual or group toward another individual or group. Bullying is widespread in our society and carries considerable negative consequences. This phenomenon is caused by multiple factors, which include personality. Much more attention has been paid to the study of the perpetrators' negative personality traits than the victims. Several studies have examined the relationship between these traits—the Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad—and being a victim of bullying (or mobbing) in adults, especially in the workplace. However, only two studies have been located that have studied these relationships in adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between being a victim of bullying and the ark Tetrad traits, delving into the specific contribution of Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism in victims of bullying in Spanish adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out by administering the Short Dark Triad, the Assessment of Sadistic Personality, and the Peer Bullying Questionnaire to 393 adolescents aged 12–18 years (M = 14.18; SD = 2.52; 53.7% male). The Dark Tetrad traits predicted the victimization variables in the seven models analyzed, with the verbal abuse model being the model with the largest contribution. Of the four dark traits, sadism stands out as the trait with the highest specific contribution. Our results indicate, despite not implying a causal relationship, that those people with high scores in the Dark Tetrad traits tend to be more victimized by bullying. Knowing the personality traits of the bullying perpetrators and their victims, practitioners will have a complete picture of the personality variables that play a role in preventing bullying and its associated victimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pineda
- Forensic Psychology Unit, Department of Health Psychology, Centre of Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
| | - Pilar Rico-Bordera
- Forensic Psychology Unit, Department of Health Psychology, Centre of Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
| | - Ana Martínez-Martínez
- Forensic Psychology Unit, Department of Health Psychology, Centre of Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
- *Correspondence: Ana Martínez-Martínez
| | - Manuel Galán
- Forensic Psychology Unit, Department of Health Psychology, Centre of Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - José A. Piqueras
- Forensic Psychology Unit, Department of Health Psychology, Centre of Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
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11
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Moral Disengagement, Dark Triad and Face Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2022; 12:1300-1310. [PMID: 36135228 PMCID: PMC9498222 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe12090090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Not wearing a face mask, despite the sanitary recommendation, represented a public health risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the aim of the study was to determine the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationship between the dark triad and face mask wearing during the second wave of the pandemic. We worked with a sample made up of 534 adults, who were administered the Dirty Dozen Dark test, the Moral Disengagement Mechanisms Scale and a questionnaire on the frequency of use of face masks. The results showed that moral disengagement mediates the effect of each trait of the dark triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism) on the use of face masks. It is concluded that those who possess any of the dark personality traits morally disengage in order not to use a face mask, exercising a reckless behavior of the possible contagion of COVID-19 to others.
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12
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Hart W, Kinrade C, Lambert JT. Sadistic pleasure and diminished suffering perceptions: Further evidence that sadism entails rationalization. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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13
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Wang B, Fiaz M, Hayat Mughal Y, Kiran A, Ullah I, Wisetsri W. Gazing the dusty mirror: Joint effect of narcissism and sadism on workplace incivility via indirect effect of paranoia, antagonism, and emotional intelligence. Front Psychol 2022; 13:944174. [PMID: 35983196 PMCID: PMC9378989 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Workplace productivity is badly affected by many negative factors such as narcissism, and sadism. In addition, paranoia and antagonism play an important role in increasing workplace incivility. Through emotional intelligence, such negative behaviors could be addressed by managers and their junior colleagues. The current study aims to investigate the parallel mediating role of paranoia, antagonism, and emotional intelligence on the relationship between narcissism, sadism, and workplace incivility. A survey approach was used. Primary data was collected in PLS-SEM. The population of the study was all faculty members in higher education institutions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan) region. A measurement model and structural model were developed. The measurement model demonstrated that convergent and discriminant validities were established. The structural model's findings revealed that narcissism, antagonism, and emotional intelligence were not mediated between narcissism and workplace incivility. Similarly, emotional intelligence did not play any mediating role between sadism and workplace incivility. This implied that emotional intelligence has no role in decreasing or reducing workplace uncivil behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- Research Centre for Sustainable Development & Intelligent Decision, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Muhammad Fiaz
- Department of Management Science, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Hayat Mughal
- Department of Health Administration, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alina Kiran
- Department of Technology and Management, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Malacca, Malaysia
| | - Irfan Ullah
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Irfan Ullah
| | - Worakamol Wisetsri
- Department of Social Science, Faculty of Applied Arts, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Bangkok, Thailand
- Worakamol Wisetsri
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14
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Dark personalities and Bitcoin®: The influence of the Dark Tetrad on cryptocurrency attitude and buying intention. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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15
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Torres-Marín J, Navarro-Carrillo G, Carretero-Dios H. Differentiating the traits of the Dark Tetrad in their linkages with humor styles, dispositions toward ridicule and laughter, and comic styles. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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16
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Seto E, Davis WE. Authenticity predicts positive interpersonal relationship quality at low, but not high, levels of psychopathy. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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17
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Paulhus DL, Gupta R, Jones DN. Dark or disturbed?: Predicting aggression from the Dark Tetrad and schizotypy. Aggress Behav 2021; 47:635-645. [PMID: 34402070 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Research on the personality foundations of aggression typically implicates either (a) aspects of the so-called "Dark Tetrad" or (b) severe mental disturbance (psychosis). The appearance of psychotic symptoms in general populations is termed schizotypy. We conducted two studies to compare the effects of dark personalities and schizotypy on aggression. Study 1 used standard inventories to investigate the overlap of Dark Tetrad traits with schizotypy in a sample of 977 undergraduates. All tetrad traits except narcissism were positively associated with schizotypy, but only at moderate levels. Study 2 administered the same personality battery to 303 members of an online community sample: Aggression outcomes were measured with both self-reports and a behavioral measure-the Voodoo Doll Task. Regression analyses determined the unique contributions of the five personality variables. Two dark traits-psychopathy and sadism-were strong predictors of self-report aggression. Schizotypy added incrementally to the Dark Tetrad in predicting both self-report and behaviorally measured aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delroy L. Paulhus
- Department of Psychology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Rohin Gupta
- Department of Psychology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Daniel N. Jones
- Department of Management University of Nevada Reno Nevada USA
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18
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Nott D, Walker BR. The Dark Tetrad in the prediction of self-reported and behavioural risk-taking. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00049530.2021.1955224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Nott
- School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Benjamin R. Walker
- School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Jordan DG, Jonason PK, Zeigler-Hill V, Winer ES, Fletcher S, Underhill D. A Dark Web of Personality: Network Analyses of Dark Personality Features and Pathological Personality Traits. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09882-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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20
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Everyday sadism: psychometric properties of three Spanish versions for assessing the construct. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01434-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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21
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Is the COVID-19 pandemic even darker for some? Examining dark personality and affective, cognitive, and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2020; 171:110504. [PMID: 33191963 PMCID: PMC7648501 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic and interventions intended to minimize its spread continue to impact daily life, personality research may help to address the different ways in which people respond to a major global health crisis. The present study assessed the role of dark personality traits in predicting different responses to the pandemic. A nationally representative sample of 412 Americans completed measures of the Dark Tetrad as well as perceptions of COVID-19 threat, emergency beliefs, and positive and negative affect in response to COVID-19. Narcissism and Machiavellianism predicted greater negative affect and perceptions of threat during the pandemic, while psychopathy predicted positive affect. Conversely, sadism predicted greater positive affect. Dark personality also showed some predictive ability in explaining pandemic-related behaviors (e.g., more frequent cleaning) but not others (e.g., social distancing). Our findings provide evidence for differences in how dark personality traits predict individual responses to global crises.
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22
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Paulhus DL, Buckels EE, Trapnell PD, Jones DN. Screening for Dark Personalities. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Consensus is emerging that the constellation of dark personalities should include the sadistic personality. To build a four-factor measure, we modified and extended the Short Dark Triad (SD3) measure to include sadism. A series of three studies yielded the Short Dark Tetrad (SD4), a four subscale inventory with 7 items per construct. Study 1 ( N = 868) applied exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to a diverse 48-item pool using data collected on MTurk. A 4-factor solution revealed a separate sadism factor, as well as a shifted Dark Triad. Study 2 ( N = 999 students) applied EFA to a reduced 37-item set. Associations with adjustment and sex drive provided insight into unique personality dynamics of the four constructs. In Study 3 ( N = 660), a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the final 28 items showed acceptable fit for a four-factor solution. Moreover, the resulting 7-item subscales each showed coherent links with the Big Five and adjustment. In sum, the four-factor structure replicated across student and community samples. Although they overlap to a moderate degree, the four subscales show distinctive correlates – even with a control for acquiescence. We also uncovered a novel link between sadism and sexuality, but no association with maladjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delroy L. Paulhus
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin E. Buckels
- Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Paul D. Trapnell
- Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Daniel N. Jones
- Department of Management, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada at Reno, NV, USA
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The Dark Tetrad in Tinder: hook-up app for high psychopathy individuals, and a diverse utilitarian tool for Machiavellians? CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-019-00589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractLocation-based on-line dating applications are a popular tool for initiating short and long-term relationships. Besides seeking for partners, people use these applications for a myriad of other reasons. We investigated how the Dark Tetrad of personality, controlling for sex, age, and trolling tendencies, related to different motives for using Tinder. Current or former Tinder users (N = 216) completed online scales for Tinder use motivations, trolling, sadism, and the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy). Using Tinder for acquiring sexual experience was related to being male and being high in psychopathy. Psychopathy was positively correlated with using Tinder to distract oneself from other tasks (e.g., procrastination). Higher Machiavellianism and being female were related to peer pressure as a Tinder use motivation. Using Tinder for acquiring social or flirting skills had a negative relationship with narcissism, and positive relationship with Machiavellianism. Finally, Machiavellianism was also a significant, positive predictor of Tinder use for social approval and to pass the time. Results indicate that individuals high in Machiavellianism use Tinder for a number of utilitarian reasons, whereas the main motive for high psychopathy individuals is hook-up for casual sex.
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