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South AJ, Barkus E, Walter EE, Mendonca C, Thomas SJ. Dark Triad Personality Traits, Second-to-Forth Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Circulating Testosterone and Cortisol Levels. Biol Psychol 2023; 179:108567. [PMID: 37086902 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108567] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dark Triad (DT) personality traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) show sex differences and associations with hormones. Understanding aetiology may assist in mitigating the harm of these potentially adverse characteristics. Low second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is hypothesised to be a marker of high prenatal testosterone exposure and may provide important information about organisational hormones. The aim of the present study was to measure Dark Triad and Big 5 personality traits in relation to digit ratio, salivary testosterone, and cortisol. METHODS A non-clinical sample (N=268; 49.25% Female, age M25.20 ± 8.77yrs) completed the Short Dark Triad and International Personality Inventory Pool - Mini. Afternoon saliva was analysed for testosterone and cortisol, and 2D:4D finger ratios were measured. RESULTS Males scored higher on DT traits than females. Females scored higher on Big 5 agreeableness and neuroticism. Males had higher testosterone and cortisol levels and lower 2D:4D than females. Digit ratio correlated inversely with salivary testosterone, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Testosterone levels correlated positively with cortisol levels and psychopathy and negatively with agreeableness, neuroticism, and Machiavellianism. CONCLUSIONS These results provide indications that Machiavellianism and psychopathy (Dark Triad) traits, but not narcissism or Big 5 traits, are linked to markers of prenatal testosterone exposure. Results also replicate sex differences seen in 2D:4D digit ratios, with males having a shorter second-relative-to-forth finger. Links between circulating testosterone, digit ratios, cortisol and personality traits provide further information about potential biological bases of personality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J South
- Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522; School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522.
| | - Emma Barkus
- School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
| | - Emma E Walter
- School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522; School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Bankstown, NSW, Australia, 2214.
| | - Carley Mendonca
- School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522
| | - Susan J Thomas
- Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522.
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Rico-Bordera P, Piqueras JA, Soto-Sanz V, Rodríguez-Jiménez T, Marzo JC, Galán M, Pineda D. Civic Engagement and Personality: Associations with the Big Five and the Dark Triad. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2126. [PMID: 36767493 PMCID: PMC9915084 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have analyzed the relationship between general personality traits and attitudes and behaviors, indicating that a person is more committed to the community. After raising the question of whether malevolent traits might also be related, the aim was to analyze the relationship between civic engagement and personality, delving into the contribution of the Dark Triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and controlling for the association with the Big Five. The Civic Engagement Questionnaire, the Short Dark Triad, and the Big Five Inventory-10 were administered to 1175 Spanish students (convenience sampling). After performing statistical analyses using SPSS statistical software, it was obtained that the three Dark Triad traits explained 11% of the total explained variance of civic engagement, while 19% was reached when the Big Five were included. Narcissism and openness were the factors most strongly associated with engagement. The positive relationship between narcissism and general personality traits could explain why narcissistic people have more favorable attitudes. Furthermore, people with narcissistic traits may display these attitudes for their own benefit. This study provides further evidence of how the narcissistic personality trait differs from the other two malevolent traits. Given that these traits are also associated with maladaptive behaviors, knowing all their characteristics could facilitate the design of prevention programs aimed at reducing such maladaptive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rico-Bordera
- Forensic Psychology Unit of the Centre for Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
- Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
| | - José A. Piqueras
- Forensic Psychology Unit of the Centre for Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
- Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
| | - Victoria Soto-Sanz
- Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Juan-Carlos Marzo
- Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
| | - Manuel Galán
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Murcia, Guadalupe de Maciascoque, 30107 Murcia, Spain
| | - David Pineda
- Forensic Psychology Unit of the Centre for Applied Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
- Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain
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