Dark Triad Personality Traits in Cyber Aggression Among College Students

Antecedents of problematic social media use and cyberbullying among adolescents: attachment, the dark triad and rejection sensitivity

With the acceleration of internet use, problematic social media use (PSMU) is included in our lives. When looking at the antecedents of PSMU, being young has been found to be a risk factor for PSMU. In addition to the benefits of technological advances in education and training, rapid technological developments may also result in problematic behaviors, especially among children and young. Recently, possibilities brought by technology and more widespread use of technology by young people have created a new concept, namely, cyberbullying. The present study aims to examine the effects of attachment anxiety and avoidance on PSMU and cyberbullying as with the partial mediating effects of the Dark Triad personality traits, angry rejection sensitivity, and anxious rejection sensitivity among adolescents. In general, the findings supported the proposed theoretical model. The results are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications along with suggestions for future research.

La relación de los factores de personalidad y la conducción agresiva: los Cinco Grandes y la Tríada Oscura

El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar el papel que los factores de personalidad pertenecientes a los Cinco Grandes y la Tríada Oscura —maquiavelismo, narcisismo y psicopatía— tienen en la conducción agresiva. La muestra se compuso de 318 estudiantes universitarios con permiso de conducir, quienes contestaron a una batería de pruebas que evaluaba los factores de personalidad de los Cinco Grandes (tipi), la Tríada Oscura (dd) y la conducción agresiva (das y dax). Los análisis de regresión jerárquica controlando las variables de edad y sexo, respaldan la utilidad predictiva de los factores de personalidad de los Cinco Grandes y la Tríada Oscura. Los resultados mostraron cómo la afabilidad, la estabilidad emocional y la apertura a la experiencia predicen de manera significativa diversos aspectos de la conducción agresiva. El maquiavelismo y el narcisismo son predictores significativos de diversas formas de expresión de la ira en la conducción, una vez controladoslos efectos de los Cinco Grandes.

Dark triad and cyber aggression among Chinese adolescents during COVID-19: A moderated mediation model

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of online learning has become a necessary choice for students, and would increase the probability of cyber aggression (CA). Despite the relationship between Dark Triad and CA previous was explored in previous research, the underlying psychological mechanism of CA in adolescents is still unclear. The current study aimed to examine the mediating role of moral disengagement (MD) and the moderating of gender in the relationship between Dark Triad and CA. A sample consists of 501 Chinese adolescents (246 females; 255 males) between the ages of 11 ~ 20. Participants completed the Dirty Dozen Scale, Moral Disengagement Scale, and Cyber Aggressive Behavior Scale. Results show that higher levels of dark personality were associated with higher levels of MD and CA. Moral disengagement partially mediated this positive effects of dark personality on CA. Moreover, gender moderated the mediation model. Specially, the positive relationship between dark triad personality and CA was stronger among females adolescents. These findings advance the understanding of how dark triad personality induces Chinese adolescents' cyber aggressive behavior.

A Combined Administration of Testosterone and Arginine Vasopressin Affects Aggressive Behavior in Males

Aggressive behavior is modulated by many factors, including personality and cognition, as well as endocrine and neural changes. To study the potential effects on the reaction to provocation, which was realized by an ostensible opponent subtracting money from the participant, we administered testosterone (T) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) or a respective placebo (PL). Forty males underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging session while performing a provocation paradigm. We investigated differential hormone effects and the potential influence of Machiavellian traits on punishment choices (monetary subtractions by the participant) in the paradigm. Participants in the T/AVP group subtracted more money when they were not provoked but showed increased activation in the inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule during feedback compared to PL. Higher Machiavellian traits significantly increased punishing behavior independent of provocation only in this group. The pilot study shows that T/AVP affects neural and behavioral responses during a provocation paradigm while personality characteristics, such as Machiavellian trait patterns, specifically interact with hormonal influences (T/AVP) and their effects on behavior.