Dark triad#Dark tetrad

{{See also|History of narcissism|History of psychopathy}}

In 1998, John McHoskey, William Worzel, and Christopher Szyarto provoked a controversy by claiming that narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy are more or less interchangeable in normal samples.{{cite journal|last1=McHoskey|first1=John W.|last2=Worzel|first2=William|last3=Szyarto|first3=Christopher|date=1998|title=Machiavellianism and psychopathy|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|publisher=American Psychological Association|location=Washington D.C.|volume=74|issue=1|pages=192–210|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.192|pmid=9457782}} Delroy L. Paulhus and McHoskey debated these perspectives at a subsequent American Psychological Association conference, inspiring a body of research that continues to grow in the published literature. Paulhus and Kevin Williams found enough behavioral, personality, and cognitive differences between the traits to suggest that they were distinct constructs; however, they concluded that further research was needed to elucidate how and why they overlap. While some psychologists argue that Machiavellianism seems to be indistinguishable from psychopathy and that scales of Machiavellianism seem to measure the psychopathy construct,{{cite journal | url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jopy.12251 | doi=10.1111/jopy.12251 | title=Psychopathy and Machiavellianism: A Distinction Without a Difference?: Psychopathy and Machiavellianism | journal=Journal of Personality | publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |date=August 2017 | volume=85 | issue=4 | pages=439–453 | last1=Miller | first1=Joshua D. | last2=Hyatt | first2=Courtland S. | last3=Maples-Keller | first3=Jessica L. | last4=Carter | first4=Nathan T. | last5=Lynam | first5=Donald R. | pmid=26971566 | url-access=subscription }} there is enough evidence to suggest that they are two separate traits, as Paulhus notes that psychopaths are impulsive and careless, which is opposed to the behavior of High Machs who are calculating and plan for the long term.

The dark triad traits have significant theoretical and empirical overlap. All three traits share characteristics such as a lack of empathy, interpersonal hostility,{{cite journal |last1=Lynam |first1=Donald R. |last2=Gaughan |first2=Eric T. |last3=Miller |first3=Joshua D. |last4=Miller |first4=Drew J. |last5=Mullins-Sweatt |first5=Stephanie |last6=Widiger |first6=Thomas A. |title=Assessing the basic traits associated with psychopathy: Development and validation of the Elemental Psychopathy Assessment |journal=Psychological Assessment |date=2011 |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=108–124 |doi=10.1037/a0021146 |pmid=21171784 }} and interpersonal offensiveness.{{cite journal|last1=Egan|first1=Vincent|last2=McCorkindale|first2=Cara|date=December 2007|title=Narcissism, vanity, personality and mating effort|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=43|issue=8|pages=2105–2115|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2007.06.034|s2cid=4500638 }}

A number of measures have been developed to measure all three dark triad traits simultaneously, such as the Dirty Dozen{{cite journal |last1=Jonason |first1=Peter K. |last2=Webster |first2=Gregory D. |title=The dirty dozen: A concise measure of the dark triad |journal=Psychological Assessment |date=June 2010 |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=420–432 |doi=10.1037/a0019265 |pmid=20528068 }} and the Short Dark Triad (SD3).{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Daniel N. |last2=Paulhus |first2=Delroy L. |title=Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3): A Brief Measure of Dark Personality Traits |journal=Assessment |date=February 2014 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=28–41 |doi=10.1177/1073191113514105 |pmid=24322012 |s2cid=17524487 }} Most of these measures are questionnaire-style and either self-response or observer-response (e.g., ratings from supervisors or coworkers as measured by the Dark Informant-Rated Triad [DIRT]Walker, S. A., MacCann, C., & Jonason, P. K. (2023). The Dark Informant-Rated Triad (DIRT): A concise informant-rated measure of the Dark Triad. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000796). Both methods can prove problematic when attempting to measure any socially-aversive trait. Self-responders may be motivated to lie,{{cite journal |last1=O'Boyle |first1=Ernest H. |last2=Forsyth |first2=Donelson R. |last3=Banks |first3=George C. |last4=McDaniel |first4=Michael A. |title=A meta-analysis of the Dark Triad and work behavior: A social exchange perspective |journal=Journal of Applied Psychology |date=May 2012 |volume=97 |issue=3 |pages=557–579 |doi=10.1037/a0025679 |pmid=22023075 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/850152 |citeseerx=10.1.1.713.2055 }} and with observer responses—particularly for Machiavellianism—individuals who are skilled at deceiving and manipulating others should be perceived as low in deceptiveness and manipulation by others, resulting in inaccurate ratings.

One study claimed that the Dirty Dozen gives mixed results on the construct validity of previous studies done on it. To show this, the study used a sample of over 3000 people and measured the convergent validity of the traits to other measures and questionnaires. They then used the Item Response Theory to analyze all of the results. This showed that there was an uneven distribution in the traits and that the scale was better at revealing Machiavellianism and psychopathy than narcissism.{{Cite journal |last1=Kajonius |first1=Petri J. |last2=Persson |first2=Björn N. |last3=Rosenberg |first3=Patricia |last4=Garcia |first4=Danilo |date=March 1, 2016 |title=The (mis)measurement of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen: exploitation at the core of the scale |journal=PeerJ |language=en |volume=4 |pages=e1748 |doi=10.7717/peerj.1748 |pmid=26966673 |issn=2167-8359|pmc=4782707 |doi-access=free }}

Despite these challenges and the acknowledged commonalities among the dark triad traits, there is evidence that the three traits are distinct.

Individuals who score high on narcissism display grandiosity, entitlement, dominance, and superiority.{{cite journal|last1=Corry|first1=N.|last2=Merritt|first2=R.D.|last3=Mrug|first3=S.|last4=Pamp|first4=B.|date=2008|title=The factor structure of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory|journal=Journal of Personality Assessment|volume=90|issue=6|pages=593–600|doi=10.1080/00223890802388590|pmid=18925501|s2cid=29486199}} Narcissism has been found to correlate positively with extraversion and openness and negatively with agreeableness. Narcissism has also been found to have a significant correlation with psychopathy.{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2007.11.003 |title=A behavioral genetic investigation of humor styles and their correlations with the Big-5 personality dimensions |year=2008 |last1=Vernon |first1=Philip A. |last2=Martin |first2=Rod A. |last3=Schermer |first3=Julie Aitken |last4=MacKie |first4=Ashley |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |volume=44 |issue=5 |pages=1116–1125 }}

Assessment of narcissism required clinical interviews until the popular Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) was created by Raskin and Hall in 1979.{{cite journal|last1=Raskin|first1=Robert N.|last2=Hall|first2=Calvin S.|date=October 1979|title=A Narcissistic Personality Inventory|journal=Psychological Reports|volume=45|issue=2|pages=590|doi=10.2466/pr0.1979.45.2.590|pmid=538183|s2cid=5395685}} Since the NPI, several other measures have emerged which attempt to provide self-report alternatives for personality disorder assessment.Hyler, S.E. (1994). Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 (Unpublished test). New York: NYSPI. In addition, new instruments have been developed to study pathological narcissism{{cite journal|author1=Pincus A. L.|author2=Ansell E. B.|author3=Pimentel C. A.|author4=Cain N. M.|author5=Wright A. G. C.|author6=Levy K. N.|year=2009|title=Initial construction and validation of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory|journal=Psychological Assessment|volume=21|issue=3|pages=365–379|doi=10.1037/a0016530|pmid=19719348|s2cid=18001836}} as opposed to grandiose narcissism, which is what many argue the NPI measures.{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=J. D.|last2=Campbell|first2=W. K.|year=2008|title=Comparing clinical and Social-Personality Conceptutalizations of narcissism|journal=Journal of Personality|volume=76|issue=3|pages=449–476|doi=10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00492.x|pmid=18399956|s2cid=6794645}}{{cite journal|author=Wink P|year=1991|title=Two faces of narcissism|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=61|issue=4|pages=590–597|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.61.4.590|pmid=1960651|s2cid=12617826}}

People who score high on this trait, conceptualized in 1970 by psychologists Richard Christie and Florence Geis, are callous, unprincipled, and are excessively motivated by self-interest.{{cite web | url=https://dictionary.apa.org/machiavellianism | title=APA Dictionary of Psychology }} They view interpersonal manipulation as the key for life success, and behave accordingly. Individuals who are measured to have a high level of Machiavellianism tend to have low agreeableness and conscientiousness.

The original published version of the MACH-IV is the most widely used measure in empirical research.{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Daniel N. |last2=Paulhus |first2=Delroy L. |chapter=Machiavellianism |pages=93–108 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VgcGZ5sCEcIC&pg=PA93 |editor1-last=Leary |editor1-first=Mark R. |editor2-last=Hoyle |editor2-first=Rick H. |title=Handbook of Individual Differences in Social Behavior |date=2009 |publisher=Guilford Press |isbn=978-1-59385-647-2 }}{{cite book |last1=Christie |first1=Richard |last2=Geis |first2=Florence L. |title=Studies in Machiavellianism |year=1970 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-174450-2 |page=10 }}

Psychopathy is considered the most malevolent of the dark triad.{{cite journal|last1=Rauthmann|first1=John F.|s2cid=690757|date=July 2012|title=The Dark Triad and interpersonal perception: Similarities and differences in the social consequences of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy|journal=Social Psychological and Personality Science|publisher=SAGE Publications|location=Thousand Oaks, California|volume=3|issue=4|pages=487–496|doi=10.1177/1948550611427608}} Individuals who score high on psychopathy show low levels of empathy and high levels of impulsivity and thrill-seeking.{{cite journal|last1=Hare|first1=Robert D.|authorlink=Robert D. Hare|date=1985|title=Comparison of procedures for the assessment of psychopathy|journal=Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology|publisher=American Psychological Association|location=Washington, D.C.|volume=53|issue=1|pages=7–16|doi=10.1037/0022-006x.53.1.7|pmid=3980831}} With respect to the Big Five personality factors, psychopathy has been found to correlate negatively with agreeableness and conscientiousness.{{cite journal|first1=Philip A.|last1=Vernon|first2=Vanessa C.|last2=Villania|first3=Leanne C.|last3=Vickersa|first4=Julie Aitken|last4=Harris|date=January 2008|title=A behavioral genetic investigation of the Dark Triad and the Big 5|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|publisher=Elsevier|location=Maryland Heights, Missouri|volume=44|issue=2|pages=445–452|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2007.09.007}}

Robert Hare revolutionized the study of psychopathy with his Psychopathy Checklist (PCL), and its revision (PCL-R). Hare noted that asking psychopaths to self-report on psychologically important matters does not necessarily provide accurate or unbiased data.{{cite book|last1=Hare|first1=Robert D.|authorlink=Robert D. Hare|title=Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us|date=1999|isbn=978-1-57230-451-2|page=30|publisher=Guilford Press }} However, efforts have been made to study psychopathy in the dimensional realm using self-reported instruments, as with the Levenson Primary and Secondary Psychopathy Scales,{{cite journal|author1=Levenson M. R.|author2=Kiehl K. A.|author3=Fitzpatrick C. M.|year=1995|title=Assessing psychopathic attributes in a noninstitutionalized population|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=68|issue=1|pages=151–158|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.68.1.151|pmid=7861311}} The Psychopathic Personality Inventory,{{cite journal|author1=Lilienfeld S. O.|author2=Andrews B. P.|year=1996|title=Development and preliminary validation of a self-report measure of psychopathic personality traits in noncriminal population|journal=Journal of Personality Assessment|volume=66|issue=3|pages=488–524|doi=10.1207/s15327752jpa6603_3|pmid=8667144}} and the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale.Paulhus, D. L., Neumann, C. S., & Hare, R. D. (2015). Manual for the Self-Report Psychopathy scales (4th ed.). Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems. {{No ISBN}}

Other groupings of dark personality traits have been proposed.

Several researchers have suggested that sadism should be considered a fourth dark trait.{{Cite news|url=https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/everyday-sadists-take-pleasure-in-others-pain.html|title=Everyday Sadists Take Pleasure In Others' Pain|work=Association for Psychological Science|access-date=2018-05-26|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527025804/https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/everyday-sadists-take-pleasure-in-others-pain.html|archive-date=2018-05-27}} While sadism is highly correlated with the dark triad, sadism predicts anti-social behavior beyond the dark triad.{{cite journal|author1=Chabrol H.|author2=Van Leeuwen N.|author3=Rodgers R.|author4=Séjourné S.|year=2009|title=Contributions of psychopathic, narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sadistic personality traits to juvenile delinquency|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=47|issue=7|pages=734–39|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2009.06.020}}{{cite journal |last1=Buckels |first1=Erin E. |last2=Jones |first2=Daniel N. |last3=Paulhus |first3=Delroy L. |title=Behavioral Confirmation of Everyday Sadism |journal=Psychological Science |date=November 2013 |volume=24 |issue=11 |pages=2201–2209 |doi=10.1177/0956797613490749 |pmid=24022650 |s2cid=30675346 }} Sadism shares common characteristics with psychopathy and antisocial behavior (lack of empathy, readiness for emotional involvement, inflicting suffering), but sadism distinctively predicts unprovoked aggression separate from psychopathy.{{cite journal |last1=Reidy |first1=Dennis E. |last2=Zeichner |first2=Amos |last3=Seibert |first3=L. Alana |title=Unprovoked Aggression: Effects of Psychopathic Traits and Sadism: Psychopathy, Sadism, and Unprovoked Aggression |journal=Journal of Personality |date=February 2011 |volume=79 |issue=1 |pages=75–100 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00691.x |pmid=21223265 }}{{cite journal |last1=Međedović |first1=Janko |last2=Petrović |first2=Boban |title=The Dark Tetrad: Structural Properties and Location in the Personality Space |journal=Journal of Individual Differences |date=November 2015 |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=228–236 |doi=10.1027/1614-0001/a000179 }} Furthermore, sadism predicts delinquent behavior separately from the other dark triad traits when evaluating high school students. Harmful behavior against living creatures, brutal and destructive amoral dispositions, and criminal recidivism are additionally more prominently predicted by sadism than psychopathic traits.

Studies on how sadists gain pleasure from cruelty to subjects were applied towards testing people who possessed dark triad traits. Results showed that only people exhibiting traits of sadism derived a sense of pleasure from acts of cruelty, concluding that sadism encompasses distinctly cruel traits not covered by the rest of the dark triad, therefore deserving of its position within the dark tetrad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/were-only-human/everyday-sadism-throwing-light-on-the-dark-triad.html|title=Everyday Sadism: Throwing Light on the Dark Triad|website=Association for Psychological Science – APS|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-09}}

The vulnerable dark triad comprises three related and similar constructs: vulnerable narcissism, secondary psychopathy, and borderline personality traits.Jones, D. N., & Figueredo, A. J. (2013). The core of darkness: Uncovering the heart of the Dark Triad. European Journal of Personality, 27(6), 521-531. A study found that these three constructs are significantly related to one another and manifest similar nomological networks. Although the vulnerable dark triad members are related to negative emotionality and antagonistic interpersonal styles, they are also related to introversion and disinhibition.{{cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Joshua D. |last2=Dir |first2=Ally |last3=Gentile |first3=Brittany |last4=Wilson |first4=Lauren |last5=Pryor |first5=Lauren R. |last6=Campbell |first6=W. Keith |s2cid=7923414 |title=Searching for a Vulnerable Dark Triad: Comparing Factor 2 Psychopathy, Vulnerable Narcissism, and Borderline Personality Disorder |journal=Journal of Personality |date=October 2010 |volume=78 |issue=5 |pages=1529–1564 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00660.x |pmid=20663024 }}

According to both research and theory, persons who are highly affected by the Dark Triad are influenced by external, controllable factors. On the contrary, those who are high in the Vulnerable Dark Triad (VDT) are driven by internal, embedded desires.{{Cite journal |last1=Curtis |first1=Shelby R. |last2=Jones |first2=Daniel N. |date=2020 |title=Understanding what makes dark traits "vulnerable": A distinction between indifference and hostility |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.109941 |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |volume=160 |pages=109941 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2020.109941 |s2cid=213356264 |issn=0191-8869 |via=Elsevier Science Direct|url-access=subscription }}

Researchers who criticize the dark triad model note that many of the theoretical characteristics that is stated to separate Psychopathy, Machiavellianism and Narcissism from each other do not appear in empirical research.Glenn, Andrea L.; Sellbom, Martin (June 2015). "Theoretical and Empirical Concerns Regarding the Dark Triad as a Construct". J Machiavellianism in particular is stated to be distinguished from psychopathy in better impulse control and in the ability to form strategic long term plans, but Machiavellianism has also been correlated with reckless behavior in certain situations.O’Boyle, E. H., Forsyth, D. R., Banks, G. C., Story, P. A., & White, C. D. (2015). A meta-analytic test of redundancy and relative importance of the Dark Triad and five-factor model of personality. Journal of Personality, 83, 644–664. Much of the traits within measures of psychopathy already include Machiavellianism and narcissism. For example, Machiavellianism is featured in most of the Factor 1 traits in the PCL-R, in the "Interpersonal Manipulation" factor within the Hare’s Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III, and in the "Manipulation" scale in the Elemental Psychopathy Assessment.Miller, J. D., Hyatt, C. S., Maples‐Keller, J. L., Carter, N. T., & Lynam, D. R. (2017). Psychopathy and Machiavellianism: A distinction without a difference?. Journal of personality, 85(4), 439-453. Narcissism is featured within the Psychopathy Checklist as "Grandiose sense of self worth".Glenn, Andrea L.; Sellbom, Martin (June 2015). "Theoretical and Empirical Concerns Regarding the Dark Triad as a Construct". Journal of Personality Disorders. 29 (3): 360–377. Overall, Factor 1 of the Psychopathy Checklist is correlated heavily with narcissism, and it been dubbed "aggressive narcissism".Bogaerts, S., Polak, M., Spreen, M., & Zwets, A. (2012). High and low aggressive narcissism and anti-social lifestyle in relationship to impulsivity, hostility, and empathy in a group of forensic patients in the Netherlands. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 12(2), 147-162.Huchzermeier, C.; Geiger, F.; Bruss, E.; Godt, N.; Köhler, D.; Hinrichs, G.; Aldenhoff, JB. (2007). "The relationship between DSM-IV cluster B personality disorders and psychopathy according to Hare's criteria: clarification and resolution of previous contradictions". Behavioral Sciences & the Law. 25 (6): 901–11. doi:10.1002/bsl.722. PMID 17323344. Machiavellianism and psychopathy also share the nearly exact same correlations between the Big Five personality traits, which led one research team to conclude that the results of the study supported McHoskey's claim that Machiavellianism ‘‘is a global measure of Psychopathy in non-institutionalized populations.’’Lee, K., & Ashton, M. C. (2005). Psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism in the Five-Factor Model and the HEXACO model of personality structure. Personality and Individual differences, 38(7), 1571-1582. Even a recent study from 2016 notes that Machiavellianism seems to be indistinguishable from psychopathy and that scales of Machiavellianism seem to measure the psychopathy construct.{{cite journal | url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jopy.12251 | doi=10.1111/jopy.12251 | title=Psychopathy and Machiavellianism: A Distinction Without a Difference?: Psychopathy and Machiavellianism | journal=Journal of Personality | publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |location=Hoboken, New Jersey | date=August 2017 | volume=85 | issue=4 | pages=439–453 | last1=Miller | first1=Joshua D. | last2=Hyatt | first2=Courtland S. | last3=Maples-Keller | first3=Jessica L. | last4=Carter | first4=Nathan T. | last5=Lynam | first5=Donald R. | pmid=26971566 | url-access=subscription }} Because of these issues, researchers have proposed that the dark triad traits be merged into one singular construct.Persson, B. N. (2019). The latent structure of the Dark Triad: unifying machiavellianism and psychopathy. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Turku]. Finland, UA.{{cite journal | url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-01031-001 | title=APA PsycNet | journal=Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment | date=May 2019 | volume=10 | issue=3 | pages=235–245 | doi=10.1037/per0000323 | last1=Persson | first1=Björn N. | pmid=30628801 | url-access=subscription }} Some authors have stated that Machiavellianism and psychopathy represent the issue of a jangle fallacy, as both constructs are named differently yet describe the same concept.{{cite journal |last1=Kowalski |first1=Christopher Marcin |last2=Vernon |first2=Philip A. |last3=Schermer |first3=Julie Aitken |title=The Dark Triad and facets of personality |journal=Current Psychology |volume=40 |issue=11 |date=2021 |issn=1046-1310 |doi=10.1007/s12144-019-00518-0 |pages=5547–5558}} Narcissism has also been viewed as interchangeable with Machiavellianism.McHoskey, J. (1995). Narcissism and machiavellianism. Psychological reports, 77(3), 755-759.

Psychopathy and narcissism both have their clinical counterparts recognized by psychiatrists, known as narcissistic personality disorder (or NPD) and antisocial personality disorder (or ASPD).{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm|title=Psychiatry.org - DSM}} Given the dimensional model of narcissism and psychopathy, these traits are present at the subclinical level, meaning that they are present in the general population as opposed to clinical settings."Research shows the role of healthy narcissism occurs at subclinical levels in everyday populations and can help motivate people to enhance themselves and to progress in life." Neel, R. (2023, September 11). A little bit of narcissism is normal and healthy – here’s how to tell when it becomes pathological. The Conversation. People with subclinical traits can be identified using self-report assessments that are appropriate for the general population.{{cite book|last1=LeBreton|first1=J. M.|title=Comprehensive Handbook of Personality and Psychopathology, Personality and Everyday Functioning|last2=Binning|first2=J. F.|last3=Adorno|first3=A. J.|date=2005|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-471-48837-8|editor1-last=Thomas|editor1-first=Jay C.|pages=388–411|chapter=Sub-clinical psychopaths|editor2-last=Segal|editor2-first=Daniel L.}} In the general population, the prevalence rates for sub-clinical and clinical psychopathy are estimated at 1% and 0.2%, respectively.{{cite journal|last1=Babiak|first1=P.|last2=Neumann|first2=C. S.|last3=Hare|first3=R. D.|year=2010|title=Corporate psychopathy: Talking the walk|journal=Behavioral Sciences & the Law|volume=28|issue=2|pages=174–193|doi=10.1002/bsl.925|pmid=20422644|s2cid=15946623}}{{cite journal|last1=Coid|first1=Jeremy|last2=Yang|first2=Min|last3=Ullrich|first3=Simone|last4=Roberts|first4=Amanda|last5=Hare|first5=Robert D.|date=March 2009|title=Prevalence and correlates of psychopathic traits in the household population of Great Britain|url=http://roar.uel.ac.uk/660/1/Coid%2C%20JW%20%282009%29%20IJLP%2032%20%282%29%2065-73.pdf|journal=International Journal of Law and Psychiatry|volume=32|issue=2|pages=65–73|doi=10.1016/j.ijlp.2009.01.002|pmid=19243821}}{{cite journal|last1=Neumann|first1=C. S.|last2=Hare|first2=R. D.|year=2008|title=Psychopathic traits in a large community sample: Links to violence, alcohol use, and intelligence|journal=Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology|volume=76|issue=5|pages=893–899|citeseerx=10.1.1.908.4276|doi=10.1037/0022-006X.76.5.893|pmid=18837606|s2cid=1789397}}

Machiavellianism is not referenced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It has been treated as strictly a personality construct."MACH has historically been

the province of personality and social psychology"
– McHoskey, J. W., Worzel, W., & Szyarto, C. (1998). Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(1), 192–210.

{{See also|Psychopathy in the workplace|Narcissism in the workplace|Machiavellianism in the workplace|label 1=Psychopathy|label 2=Narcissism}}

Oliver James identifies each of the three dark triadic personality traits as typically being prevalent in the workplace.{{cite book|last=James|first=Oliver|title=Office Politics: How to Thrive in a World of Lying, Backstabbing and Dirty Tricks|year=2013|publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-4090-0557-5|page=4 }} Furnham (2010) has identified that the dark triad is related to the acquisition of leadership positions and interpersonal influence. In a meta-analysis of dark triad and workplace outcomes, Jonason and colleagues (2012) found that each of the dark triad traits were related to manipulation in the workplace, but each via unique mechanisms. Specifically, Machiavellianism was related with the use of excessive charm in manipulation, narcissism was related with the use of physical appearance, and psychopathy was related with physical threats.{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=Peter K.|last2=Slomski|first2=Sarah|last3=Partyka|first3=Jamie|date=February 2012|title=The Dark Triad at work: How toxic employees get their way|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=52|issue=3|pages=449–453|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.11.008}} Jonason and colleagues also found that the dark triad traits fully mediated the relationship between gender and workplace manipulation. All three dark triad traits lead to knowledge sabotage{{cite journal | last1 = Serenko | first1 = A. | last2 = Choo | first2 = C.W. | year = 2020 | title = Knowledge sabotage as an extreme form of counterproductive knowledge behavior: The role of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and competitiveness | journal = Journal of Knowledge Management | volume = 24 | issue = 9| pages = 2299–2325| url = https://www.aserenko.com/papers/Knowledge_Sabotage_Study_3_Serenko_Choo.pdf |doi = 10.1108/JKM-06-2020-0416 | s2cid = 225316071 }} and knowledge hiding.{{cite journal | last1 = Serenko | first1 = A. | year = 2025 | title = A structured literature review of personality traits research in the knowledge behavior context: Synthesis of the findings and practical recommendations | journal = VINE: Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems | volume = in-press| url = https://www.aserenko.com/papers/PersonalityTraitsKM.pdf |doi = 10.1108/VJIKMS-10-2024-0374 }} It was shown that those high on Machiavellianism are more drawn to academic majors like economics, law, and politics, as opposed to the "person-oriented" majors like education, nursing, and social work that were associated with lower Machiavellianism scores.{{cite journal |last1=Gruda |first1=Dritjon |last2=McCleskey |first2=Jim |last3=Khoury |first3=Issa |title=Cause we are living in a Machiavellian world, and I am a Machiavellian major: Machiavellianism and academic major choice |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=April 2023 |volume=205 |pages=112096 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2023.112096 |hdl=10400.14/40205 |hdl-access=free}} High levels of the Dark Triad negatively affects subordinates' career success and well-being.Volmer, J., Koch, I. K., & Göritz, A. S. (2016). The bright and dark sides of leaders' dark triad traits: Effects on subordinates' career success and well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 413-418. Individuals high in MACH found it easier to obtain leadership positions, and a better salary.Spurk, D., Keller, A. C., & Hirschi, A. (2016). Do bad guys get ahead or fall behind? Relationships of the dark triad of personality with objective and subjective career success. Social psychological and personality science, 7(2), 113-121. Machiavellianism was identified as a significant moderator in the relationship between perceptions of both adhocracy and hierarchy cultures and bullying victimization.Pilch, I., Turska, E. Relationships Between Machiavellianism, Organizational Culture, and Workplace Bullying: Emotional Abuse from the Target’s and the Perpetrator’s Perspective. J Bus Ethics 128, 83–93 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2081-3 A 2017 UK study found that companies with leaders who show "psychopathic characteristics" destroy shareholder value, tending to have poor future returns on equity.Wisniewski TP, Yekini LS, Omar AMA, [https://ssrn.com/abstract=2984999 Psychopathic Traits of Corporate Leadership as Predictors of Future Stock Returns], Social Science Research Network, Jun 2017. Narcissists typically perform well at job interviews; they receive more favorable hiring ratings from interviewers than individuals who are not narcissists. Typically, because they can make favorable first impressions, though that may not translate to better job performance once hired.{{cite journal | last1=Grijalva | first1=Emily | last2=Harms | first2=P. D. | title=Narcissism: An Integrative Synthesis and Dominance Complementarity Model | url= https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=pdharms | journal=Academy of Management Perspectives | publisher=Academy of Management | volume=28 | issue=2 | year=2014 | issn=1558-9080 | doi=10.5465/amp.2012.0048 | pages=108–127 |access-date=2023-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016173516/https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1000&context=pdharms |archive-date=2023-10-16 |url-status=live| url-access=subscription }}

Recent studies have found that people who are identified as internet trolls tend to have dark personality traits and show signs of sadism, antisocial behavior, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism.{{cite journal|last1=Buckels|first1=Erin E.|last2=Trapnell|first2=Paul D.|last3=Paulhus|first3=Delroy L.|date=September 2014|title=Trolls just want to have fun|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=67|pages=97–102|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2014.01.016|s2cid=8103910 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/your-online-secrets/201409/internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists|title=Internet Trolls Are Narcissists, Psychopaths, and Sadists | Psychology Today|website=www.psychologytoday.com}}{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Nate|date=20 February 2014|title=Science confirms: Online trolls are horrible people (also, sadists!)|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2014/02/science-confirms-online-trolls-are-horrible-people-also-sadists/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104004119/http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/02/science-confirms-online-trolls-are-horrible-people-also-sadists/|archive-date=4 November 2016|access-date=2 November 2016|website=Ars Technica}} The 2013 case study suggested that there are a number of similarities between anti-social and flame trolling activities,{{Cite journal |last=Bishop |first=Jonathan |date=2013-01-01 |title=The effect of deindividuation of the Internet Troller on Criminal Procedure implementation: An interview with a Hater |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256437027 |journal=International Journal of Cyber Criminology |volume=7 |pages=28–48}} and the 2014 survey indicated that trolling is a manifestation of everyday sadism. Both studies suggest that this trolling may be linked to bullying in both adolescents and adults. A 2021 study found that the dark triad's influence may be mediated by malicious motives, and that there is no strong connection between having these traits and engaging in trolling.{{Cite journal |last1=Brubaker |first1=Pamela Jo |last2=Montez |first2=Daniel |last3=Church |first3=Scott Haden |date=April 2021 |title=The Power of Schadenfreude: Predicting Behaviors and Perceptions of Trolling Among Reddit Users |journal=Social Media + Society |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=205630512110213 |doi=10.1177/20563051211021382 |s2cid=235724896 |issn=2056-3051|doi-access=free }}

Adolescents who score higher in dark triad traits show higher amounts of violent delinquency, specifically with interpersonal violence.{{Cite journal |last1=Wright |first1=John Paul |last2=Morgan |first2=Mark Alden |last3=Almeida |first3=Pedro R. |last4=Almosaed |first4=Nora F. |last5=Moghrabi |first5=Sameera S. |last6=Bashatah |first6=Fawzia S. |date=2016-07-14 |title=Malevolent Forces: Self-Control, the Dark Triad, and Crime |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1541204016667995 |journal=Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice |language=en |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=191–215 |doi=10.1177/1541204016667995 |s2cid=151954017 |issn=1541-2040|url-access=subscription }} Individuals with low self control and dark triad traits showed more overall delinquency, however higher self control lowered the delinquency. Another study found that those who have admitted to stealing at some point in their life score higher on Machiavellianism and primary and secondary psychopathy.{{Cite journal |last1=Lyons |first1=Minna |last2=Jonason |first2=Peter K. |date=2015-11-01 |title=Dark Triad, Tramps, and Thieves |url=https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/1614-0001/a000177 |journal=Journal of Individual Differences |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=215–220 |doi=10.1027/1614-0001/a000177 |issn=1614-0001|url-access=subscription }} Those higher in psychopathy and Machiavellianism were shown to predict psychological abuse with intimate partner violence, however agreeableness was found to be the main factor.{{Cite journal |last1=Carton |first1=Hannah |last2=Egan |first2=Vincent |date=2017-01-15 |title=The dark triad and intimate partner violence |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188691630993X |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |language=en |volume=105 |pages=84–88 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2016.09.040 |issn=0191-8869}}

There is a clear distinction in the methods of a cyber attack between each part of the dark triad. Psychopathy correlated with faster speeds of persistence and exploitation; narcissism correlated with faster privilege escalation, persistence, and extraction; and Machiavellianism correlated with stealth.{{Cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Daniel N. |last2=Padilla |first2=Edgar |last3=Curtis |first3=Shelby R. |last4=Kiekintveld |first4=Christopher |date=2021-09-01 |title=Network discovery and scanning strategies and the Dark Triad |journal=Computers in Human Behavior |language=en |volume=122 |pages=106799 |doi=10.1016/j.chb.2021.106799 |issn=0747-5632|doi-access=free }} Individuals with higher levels of psychopathy are more likely to engage in cyber bullying, with some correlation to both narcissism and Machiavellianism.{{Cite journal |last1=Balakrishnan |first1=Vimala |last2=Khan |first2=Shahzaib |last3=Fernandez |first3=Terence |last4=Arabnia |first4=Hamid R. |date=2019-04-15 |title=Cyberbullying detection on twitter using Big Five and Dark Triad features |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886919300364 |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |language=en |volume=141 |pages=252–257 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2019.01.024 |s2cid=151013262 |issn=0191-8869|url-access=subscription }} Individuals with dark triad traits were also found to be more likely to commit acts of online fraud, with each trait having different impacts on factors. Machiavellianism has impacts on opportunity and motivation; psychopathy has impacts on rationalization; and narcissism has impacts on perceptions of motivation and capabilities.{{Cite journal |last1=Harrison |first1=Andrew |last2=Summers |first2=James |last3=Mennecke |first3=Brian |date=2018-11-01 |title=The Effects of the Dark Triad on Unethical Behavior |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3368-3 |journal=Journal of Business Ethics |language=en |volume=153 |issue=1 |pages=53–77 |doi=10.1007/s10551-016-3368-3 |s2cid=151844243 |issn=1573-0697|url-access=subscription }}

Dark triad characteristics correlate with support for various extremist ideologies. Support for the alt-right, which was prolifically associated with online trolling and harassment, and politically correct authoritarianism both correlate with all three traits as well as measures of entitlement. To a lesser extent, support for a more liberal form of political correctness correlates negatively with psychopathy.{{Cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04453 |title=The Dark Triad traits predict authoritarian political correctness and alt-right attitudes |date=2020 |last1=Moss |first1=Jordan |last2=O'Connor |first2=Peter J. |journal=Heliyon |volume=6 |issue=7 |pages=e04453 |doi-access=free |pmid=32715130 |pmc=7369609 |bibcode=2020Heliy...604453M }} Dark triad characteristics correlate positively with out-group threat perceptions, anti-immigrant prejudice, and social dominance orientation, a psychological disposition toward group-based supremacy.{{Cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2009.02.005 |title=The role of "dark personalities" (Narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy), Big Five personality factors, and ideology in explaining prejudice |date=2009 |last1=Hodson |first1=Gordon |last2=Hogg |first2=Sarah M. |last3=MacInnis |first3=Cara C. |journal=Journal of Research in Personality |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=686–690 }} Costello et al (2022) found that left- and right-wing authoritarianism correlate similarly with psychopathy.{{Cite journal |pmid=34383522 |date=2022 |last1=Costello |first1=T. H. |last2=Bowes |first2=S. M. |last3=Stevens |first3=S. T. |last4=Waldman |first4=I. D. |last5=Tasimi |first5=A. |last6=Lilienfeld |first6=S. O. |title=Clarifying the structure and nature of left-wing authoritarianism |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |volume=122 |issue=1 |pages=135–170 |doi=10.1037/pspp0000341 |url=https://psyarxiv.com/3nprq/ }} Bell et al noted that the findings for associations between the Dark Triad and political orientations have been mixed.{{Cite journal |last1=Bell |first1=Edward |last2=Kowalski |first2=Christopher Marcin |last3=Vernon |first3=Philip Anthony |last4=Schermer |first4=Julie Aitken |date=December 2021 |title=Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics |journal=Behavioral Sciences |language=en |volume=11 |issue=12 |pages=169 |doi=10.3390/bs11120169 |doi-access=free |issn=2076-328X |pmc=8698749 |pmid=34940104}}

Psychologists have studied how dark triad traits affected individuals in their romantic relationships. In most cases these traits cause people to have shorter-term relationships. The people who tend to score higher in these traits will gravitate towards relationship types such as "one-night stands" (primarily sexual relationships that occur one time only), "hook-ups", "booty-calls" (i.e., relationships where there is solicitation from a non-long-term partner for the explicit or implicit intent of engaging in sexual activity), and even "friends with benefits" relationships.{{Cite journal |last1=Jonason |first1=Peter K. |last2=Luevano |first2=Victor X. |last3=Adams |first3=Heather M. |date=August 2012 |title=How the Dark Triad traits predict relationship choices |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.007 |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=180–184 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.007 |issn=0191-8869|url-access=subscription }} People who score highly in dark triad traits tend to be less likely to have long-lasting relationships, and report lower relationship satisfaction. They are also more willing to terminate relationships than people who score lower on the dark triad.{{Cite journal |last1=Brewer |first1=Gayle |last2=Parkinson |first2=Madison |last3=Pickles |first3=Alice |last4=Anson |first4=Joshua |last5=Mulinder |first5=Georgia |date=April 2023 |title=Dark Triad traits and relationship dissolution |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |volume=204 |pages=112045 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2022.112045 |issn=0191-8869|doi-access=free }}

A study published in 2020 proposed that men who embody the dark tetrad are well-represented among the clientele of prostitutes.{{Cite journal |last1= Davis |first1= A. |last2= Vaillancourt |first2= T. |last3= Arnocky |first3= S. |year= 2020 |title= The Dark Tetrad and Male Clients of Female Sex Work |journal= Frontiers in Psychology |volume= 11 |pages= 577171 |doi= 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577171 |doi-access= free |pmid= 33071917 |pmc= 7533589 }} However, the authors admit that "there is a dearth of research on the personality characteristics that typify men who buy sex from those who do not", while other researchers have claimed that there "is no evidence of a peculiar quality that differentiates customers in general from men who have not paid for sex."{{cite journal |last1=Monto |first1=Martin A. |last2=Milrod |first2=Christine |date=22 March 2013 |title=Ordinary or Peculiar Men? Comparing the Customers of Prostitutes With a Nationally Representative Sample of Men |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0306624X13480487?journalCode=ijoe |journal=International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology |volume=58 |issue=7 |pages=802–820 |doi=10.1177/0306624X13480487 |pmid=23525181 |access-date=15 September 2024|url-access=subscription }}

In a similar manner to research on the Big Five personality traits, twin studies have been conducted in an effort to understand the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors in the development of dark triad traits.

All three traits of the dark triad have been found to have substantial genetic components.{{cite journal |doi=10.1375/twin.14.1.35 |title=Trait Emotional Intelligence and the Dark Triad Traits of Personality |year=2011 |last1=Petrides |first1=K. V. |last2=Vernon |first2=Philip A. |last3=Schermer |first3=Julie Aitken |last4=Veselka |first4=Livia |journal=Twin Research and Human Genetics |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=35–41 |pmid=21314254 |s2cid=4202896 |doi-access=free }} It has also been found that the observed relationships between the three traits, and with the Big Five, are strongly driven by individual differences in genes.{{cite journal |last1=Furnham |first1=Adrian |last2=Richards |first2=Steven C. |last3=Paulhus |first3=Delroy L. |title=The Dark Triad of Personality: A 10 Year Review: Dark Triad of Personality |journal=Social and Personality Psychology Compass |date=March 2013 |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=199–216 |doi=10.1111/spc3.12018 |citeseerx=10.1.1.694.6559 }} Within the triad, psychopathy and narcissism have both been found to be more inheritable than Machiavellianism.

Environmental factors contribute to the development of dark triad traits, although they have less influence than genetics. During childhood and adolescence, environmental factors that are not shared with siblings (such as friends or extracurricular activities) contribute to all three dark triad traits. However, only Machiavellianism is related to environmental factors that are shared with siblings. The results of a study among German adolescents reveal a positive association between the experience of parental rejection by both parents and punishment as well as parental control and overprotection and Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy.{{Cite journal |last1=Yendell |first1=Alexander |last2=Clemens |first2=Vera |last3=Schuler |first3=Julia |last4=Decker |first4=Oliver |date=2022-06-22 |editor-last=Jonason |editor-first=Peter Karl |title=What makes a violent mind? The interplay of parental rearing, dark triad personality traits and propensity for violence in a sample of German adolescents |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=e0268992 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0268992 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=9216556 |pmid=35731719 |bibcode=2022PLoSO..1768992Y |doi-access=free }} Some researchers have interpreted these findings to mean that, of the three, Machiavellianism is the trait most likely to be influenced by the environment.{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Daniel N. |last2=Paulhus |first2=Delroy L. |title=The role of impulsivity in the Dark Triad of personality |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=October 2011 |volume=51 |issue=5 |pages=679–682 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.04.011}}Petrides, K. V.; Vernon, Philip A.; Schermer, Julie Aitken; Veselka, Livia (2011). "Trait Emotional Intelligence and the Dark Triad Traits of Personality". Twin Research and Human Genetics. 14 (1): 35–41

Evolutionary theory may also explain the development of dark triad traits. Despite the relationship of these traits with clinical disorders, some argue that adaptive qualities may accompany the maladaptive ones; their frequency in the gene pool requires at least some local adaptation.{{cite book|last1=Larsen|last2=Buss|last3=Wismeijer|last4=Song|last5=van den Berg|last6=Jeronimus|title= Personality psychology, domains of knowledge about human nature |date=2020 |url= https://www.mheducation.co.uk/personality-psychology-domains-of-knowledge-about-human-nature-3e-9781526847874-emea-group |publisher=McGraw-Hill|location=London, United Kingdom}} The everyday versions of these traits appear in student and community samples, where even high levels can be observed among individuals who manage to get along in daily life. Even in these samples, research indicates correlations with aggression,{{cite journal|author1=Jones D.N.|author2=Paulhus D. L.|year=2010|title=Different provocations trigger aggression in narcissists and psychopaths|journal=Social Psychological and Personality Science|volume=1|pages=12–18|doi=10.1177/1948550609347591|s2cid=144224401}} racism,{{cite journal|last1=Hodson|first1=G. M.|last2=Hogg|first2=S. M.|last3=MacInnis|first3=C. C.|year=2009|title=The role of "dark personalities" (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy), Big Five personality factors, and ideology in explaining prejudice|journal=Journal of Research in Personality|volume=43|issue=4|pages=686–690|doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2009.02.005}} and bullying among other forms of social aversiveness.

It has been argued that evolutionary behavior predicts not only the development of dark triad personalities, but also the flourishing of such personalities.{{cite journal |last1=Mealey |first1=Linda |s2cid=53956461 |title=The sociobiology of sociopathy: An integrated evolutionary model |journal=Behavioral and Brain Sciences |date=4 February 2010 |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=523–541 |doi=10.1017/s0140525x00039595 }} Indeed, it has been found that individuals demonstrating dark triad personality can be highly successful in society. However, this success is typically short-lived. The main evolutionary argument behind the dark triad traits emphasizes mating strategies.{{cite journal |last1=Jonason |first1=Peter K. |last2=Li |first2=Norman P. |last3=Webster |first3=Gregory D. |last4=Schmitt |first4=David P. |s2cid=12854051 |title=The dark triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy in men |journal=European Journal of Personality |date=February 2009 |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=5–18 |doi=10.1002/per.698 |url=https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/960 }}{{cite journal |last1=Brumbach |first1=Barbara Hagenah |last2=Figueredo |first2=Aurelio José |last3=Ellis |first3=Bruce J. |title=Effects of Harsh and Unpredictable Environments in Adolescence on Development of Life History Strategies |journal=Human Nature |date=6 February 2009 |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=25–51 |doi=10.1007/s12110-009-9059-3 |pmid=20634914 |pmc=2903759 }} This argument is based on life history theory, which proposes that individuals differ in reproductive strategies; an emphasis on mating is termed a "fast life" strategy, while an emphasis on parenting is termed a "slow reproductive" strategy.{{cite journal|last1=Rushton|first1=J.Philippe|date=January 1985|title=Differential K theory: The sociobiology of individual and group differences|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=6|issue=4|pages=441–452|doi=10.1016/0191-8869(85)90137-0}} There is some evidence that the dark triad traits are related to fast life history strategies;{{cite journal |last1=Jonason |first1=Peter K. |last2=Tost |first2=Jeremy |title=I just cannot control myself: The Dark Triad and self-control |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=October 2010 |volume=49 |issue=6 |pages=611–615 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.031}}{{cite journal |last1=Jonason |first1=Peter K. |last2=Koenig |first2=Bryan L. |last3=Tost |first3=Jeremy |title=Living a fast life: The Dark Triad and Life History Theory |journal=Human Nature |date=19 November 2010 |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=428–442 |doi=10.1007/s12110-010-9102-4|s2cid=142541037 }} however, there have been some mixed results, and not all three dark triad traits have been related to this strategy. A more detailed approach{{cite journal |last1=McDonald |first1=Melissa M. |last2=Donnellan |first2=M. Brent |last3=Navarrete |first3=Carlos David |title=A life history approach to understanding the Dark Triad |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=April 2012 |volume=52 |issue=5 |pages=601–605 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.12.003}} has attempted to account for some of these mixed results by analyzing the traits at a finer level of detail. These researchers found that while some components of the dark triad are related to a fast life strategy, other components are related to slow reproductive strategies.

Studies have suggested that, on average, those who exhibit the dark triad of personality traits have an accelerated mating strategy, reporting more sex partners, more favorable attitudes towards casual sex,{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=Peter K.|last2=Li|first2=Norman P.|last3=Webster|first3=Gregory D.|last4=Schmitt|first4=David P.|date=February 2009|title=The dark triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy in men|journal=European Journal of Personality|volume=23|issue=1|pages=5–18|citeseerx=10.1.1.650.5749|doi=10.1002/per.698|s2cid=12854051}} lowered standards in their short-term mates,{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=Peter K.|last2=Valentine|first2=Katherine A.|last3=Li|first3=Norman P.|last4=Harbeson|first4=Carmelita L.|date=October 2011|title=Mate-selection and the Dark Triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy and creating a volatile environment|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=51|issue=6|pages=759–763|citeseerx=10.1.1.648.3614|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.025|s2cid=12310143 }} a tendency to steal or poach mates from others,{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=Peter K.|last2=Li|first2=Norman P.|last3=Buss|first3=David M.|date=March 2010|title=The costs and benefits of the Dark Triad: Implications for mate poaching and mate retention tactics|url=https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/729|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=48|issue=4|pages=373–378|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2009.11.003|s2cid=8475412 }} more risk-taking in the form of substance abuse, a tendency to prefer immediate but smaller amounts of money over delayed but larger amounts of money,{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=P. K.|last2=Li|first2=N. P.|last3=Teicher|first3=E. A.|year=2010|title=Who is James Bond?:The Dark Triad as an agentic social style|url=https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1109|journal=Individual Differences Research|volume=8|pages=111–120}} limited self-control and greater incidence of ADHD symptoms, and a pragmatic and game-playing romance style.{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=Peter K.|last2=Kavanagh|first2=Phillip|date=October 2010|title=The dark side of love: Love styles and the Dark Triad|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=49|issue=6|pages=606–610|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.030|hdl-access=free|hdl=10983/15422}} These traits have been identified as part of a strategy that appears to be enacted by an exploitative, opportunistic, and protean approach to life in general{{cite journal|last1=Jonason|first1=Peter K.|last2=Webster|first2=Gregory D.|date=March 2012|title=A protean approach to social influence: Dark Triad personalities and social influence tactics|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=52|issue=4|pages=521–526|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.11.023}} and at work.

The evidence is mixed regarding the exact link between the dark triad and reproductive success. For example, there is a lack of empirical evidence for reproductive success in the case of psychopathy. Additionally, these traits are not universally short-term-oriented nor are they all impulsive. Furthermore, much of the research reported pertaining to the dark triad cited in the above paragraph is based on statistical procedures that assume the dark triad is a single construct, in spite of genetic and meta-analytic evidence to the contrary.

There has been research on the potential "attractiveness" of the dark triad traits.{{cite journal |last1=Carter |first1=Gregory Louis |last2=Campbell |first2=Anne C. |last3=Muncer |first3=Steven |title=The Dark Triad personality: Attractiveness to women |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=January 2014 |volume=56 |pages=57–61 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2013.08.021}} Out of all of the traits in the dark triad, Machiavellianism was the least attractive to the opposite sex.{{cite journal |last1=Rauthmann |first1=John F. |last2=Kolar |first2=Gerald P. |title=The perceived attractiveness and traits of the Dark Triad: Narcissists are perceived as hot, Machiavellians and psychopaths not |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=April 2013 |volume=54 |issue=5 |pages=582–586 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2012.11.005}}{{cite journal |last1=Jauk |first1=Emanuel |last2=Neubauer |first2=Aljoscha C. |last3=Mairunteregger |first3=Thomas |last4=Pemp |first4=Stephanie |last5=Sieber |first5=Katharina P. |last6=Rauthmann |first6=John F. |title=How Alluring Are Dark Personalities? the Dark Triad and Attractiveness in Speed Dating |journal=European Journal of Personality |date=March 2016 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=125–138 |doi=10.1002/per.2040}}{{cite journal |last1=Borráz-León |first1=Javier I. |last2=Rantala |first2=Markus J. |title=Does the Dark Triad predict self-perceived attractiveness, mate value, and number of sexual partners both in men and women? |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=January 2021 |volume=168 |pages=110341 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2020.110341}} One of the studies concluded that "The third DT trait, Machiavellianism, was significantly negatively associated with being chosen and mate appeal for STR (short term relationships) in women." Another study claimed that this was because high Machs tend to be way less extroverted than narcissists and psychopaths, and that "it is possible that individuals do not like cynical, manipulative, aggressive, remorseless, and duplicitous people such as Machiavellians and psychopaths". Two more studies found that only narcissistic subjects were judged to be better-looking, but the other dark triad traits of Machiavellianism and psychopathy had no correlation with looks.{{cite journal|last1=Dufner|first1=Michael|last2=Rauthmann|first2=John F.|last3=Czarna|first3=Anna Z.|last4=Denissen|first4=Jaap J. A.|date=2 April 2013|title=Are Narcissists Sexy? Zeroing in on the Effect of Narcissism on Short-Term Mate Appeal|journal=Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin|volume=39|issue=7|pages=870–882|doi=10.1177/0146167213483580|pmid=23554177|s2cid=7712753}}{{cite journal|last1=Back|first1=Mitja D.|last2=Schmukle|first2=Stefan C.|last3=Egloff|first3=Boris|date=2010|title=Why are narcissists so charming at first sight? Decoding the narcissism–popularity link at zero acquaintance.|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=98|issue=1|pages=132–145|doi=10.1037/a0016338|pmid=20053038|citeseerx=10.1.1.842.9133}} Facial features associated with dark triad traits tend to be rated as less attractive.{{cite journal|last1=Brewer|first1=Gayle|last2=Christiansen|first2=Paul|last3=Dorozkinaite|first3=Diana|last4=Ingleby|first4=Beth|last5=O'Hagan|first5=Lauren|last6=Williams|first6=Charlotte|last7=Lyons|first7=Minna|date=April 2019|title=A drunk heart speaks a sober mind: Alcohol does not influence the selection of short-term partners with dark triad traits|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=140|pages=61–64|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2017.11.028|s2cid=149324049|url=https://www.psypost.org/2017/12/study-women-dislike-men-dark-triad-facial-features-even-theyre-drunk-50507|url-access=subscription}}

A 2020 study concluded that "only narcissism was positively correlated to self-perceived attractiveness and mate value in both sexes."{{cite journal | url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886920305328 | doi=10.1016/j.paid.2020.110341 | title=Does the Dark Triad predict self-perceived attractiveness, mate value, and number of sexual partners both in men and women? | journal=Personality and Individual Differences | date=January 2021 | volume=168 | last1=Borráz-León | first1=Javier I. | last2=Rantala | first2=Markus J. | url-access=subscription }}

The most pronounced group difference is in gender: numerous studies have shown that men tend to score higher than women on narcissism,{{cite journal |last1=Twenge |first1=Jean M. |last2=Konrath |first2=Sara |last3=Foster |first3=Joshua D. |last4=Keith Campbell |first4=W. |last5=Bushman |first5=Brad J. |title=Egos Inflating Over Time: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory |journal=Journal of Personality |date=August 2008 |volume=76 |issue=4 |pages=875–902 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00507.x|pmid=18507710 |citeseerx=10.1.1.586.7541 }} Machiavellianism,{{cite journal |last1=Chonko |first1=Lawrence B. |title=Machiavellianism: Sex Differences in the Profession of Purchasing Management |journal=Psychological Reports |date=31 August 2016 |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=645–646 |doi=10.2466/pr0.1982.51.2.645 |s2cid=145577786 }}{{cite journal |last1=Dahling |first1=Jason J. |last2=Whitaker |first2=Brian G. |last3=Levy |first3=Paul E. |s2cid=54937924 |title=The Development and Validation of a New Machiavellianism Scale |journal=Journal of Management |date=5 February 2008 |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=219–257 |doi=10.1177/0149206308318618 }}{{cite journal |last1=Wertheim |first1=Edward G. |last2=Widom |first2=Cathy S. |last3=Wortzel |first3=Lawrence H. |title=Multivariate analysis of male and female professional career choice correlates |journal=Journal of Applied Psychology |date=1978 |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=234–242 |doi=10.1037/0021-9010.63.2.234 }} and psychopathy,{{cite journal | last1 = Levenson | first1 = M. R. | last2 = Kiehl | first2 = K. A. | last3 = Fitzpatrick | first3 = C. M. | year = 1995 | title = Assessing psychopathic attributes in a noninstitutionalized population | journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | volume = 68 | issue = 1| pages = 151–158 | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.68.1.151 | pmid = 7861311 }}{{cite journal | last1 = Lilienfeld | first1 = S. O. | last2 = Andrews | first2 = B. P. | year = 1996 | title = Development and preliminary validation of a self-report measure of psychopathic personality traits in noncriminal population | journal = Journal of Personality Assessment | volume = 66 | issue = 3| pages = 488–524 | doi = 10.1207/s15327752jpa6603_3 | pmid = 8667144 }}{{cite journal |last1=Cale |first1=Ellison M. |last2=Lilienfeld |first2=Scott O. |title=Sex differences in psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder |journal=Clinical Psychology Review |date=November 2002 |volume=22 |issue=8 |pages=1179–1207 |doi=10.1016/s0272-7358(01)00125-8 |pmid=12436810 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Zágon |first1=Ilona K. |last2=Jackson |first2=Henry J. |title=Construct validity of a psychopathy measure |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=July 1994 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=125–135 |doi=10.1016/0191-8869(94)90269-0 }} although the magnitude of the difference varies across traits, the measurement instruments, and the age of the participants. One interesting finding related to narcissism—albeit one based on non-representative samples—is that while men continue to score higher than women, it seems that the gender gap has shrunk considerably when comparing cohort data from 1992 and 2006. More specifically, the aforementioned findings indicate that there has been a general increase in levels of narcissism over time among college students of both sexes, but comparatively, the average level of narcissism in women has increased more than the average level of narcissism in men. When looking at the Dirty Dozen measurement, one study found that men generally scored higher in narcissism and psychopathy than women, and that there was little variance between sex for Machiavellianism. One explanation was that the traditional gender roles in society contribute to these differences.{{Cite journal |last1=Klimstra |first1=Theo A. |last2=Sijtsema |first2=Jelle J. |last3=Henrichs |first3=Jens |last4=Cima |first4=Maaike |date=2014-12-01 |title=The Dark Triad of personality in adolescence: Psychometric properties of a concise measure and associations with adolescent adjustment from a multi-informant perspective |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092656614000981 |journal=Journal of Research in Personality |language=en |volume=53 |pages=84–92 |doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2014.09.001 |issn=0092-6566|hdl=2066/133749 |hdl-access=free }} A different study in 2017, using three separate samples of adults from northern Italy and an Italian version of the Dirty Dozen measurement, found that the difference in scores between men and women are not caused by measurement errors. It also found that men scored much higher than women in Machiavellianism and psychopathy than in narcissism.{{Cite journal |last1=Chiorri |first1=Carlo |last2=Garofalo |first2=Carlo |last3=Velotti |first3=Patrizia |date=2019-06-01 |title=Does the Dark Triad Manifest Similarly in men and Women? Measurement Invariance of the Dirty Dozen across sex |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9641-5 |journal=Current Psychology |language=en |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=659–675 |doi=10.1007/s12144-017-9641-5 |s2cid=255504855 |issn=1936-4733|hdl=11573/1359427 |hdl-access=free }}

There is far less information available on race differences in dark triad traits, and the data that is available is not representative of the population at-large. For instance, a 2008 research study using undergraduate participants found that Caucasians reported higher levels of narcissism relative to Asians.{{cite journal |last1=Trzesniewski |first1=Kali H. |last2=Donnellan |first2=M. Brent |last3=Robins |first3=Richard W. |title=Do Today's Young People Really Think They Are So Extraordinary? |journal=Psychological Science |date=February 2008 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=181–188 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02065.x |pmid=18271867 |s2cid=205573466 }}{{cite journal |last1=Twenge |first1=Jean M. |last2=Foster |first2=Joshua D. |title=Mapping the scale of the narcissism epidemic: Increases in narcissism 2002–2007 within ethnic groups |journal=Journal of Research in Personality |date=December 2008 |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=1619–1622 |doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2008.06.014 }} Similarly, another 2008 study using undergraduate participants found that Caucasians tended to score slightly higher than non-Caucasians on Machiavellianism. When attempting to discern whether there are ethnic differences in psychopathy, researchers have addressed the issue using different measurement instruments (e.g., the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale and The Psychopathic Personality Inventory), but no race differences have been found regardless of the measure used.{{cite journal |last1=Epstein |first1=Monica K. |last2=Poythress |first2=Norman G. |last3=Brandon |first3=Karen O. |title=The Self-Report Psychopathy Scale and Passive Avoidance Learning |journal=Assessment |date=26 July 2016 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=197–207 |doi=10.1177/1073191105284992 |pmid=16672734 |s2cid=22930917 }}{{cite journal |last1=Lander |first1=Gwendoline C. |last2=Lutz-Zois |first2=Catherine J. |last3=Rye |first3=Mark S. |last4=Goodnight |first4=Jackson A. |title=The differential association between alexithymia and primary versus secondary psychopathy |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=January 2012 |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=45–50 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.08.027 |url=https://works.bepress.com/jackson_goodnight/3/download/ |url-access=subscription }} Additionally, when comparing Caucasians and African Americans from correctional, substance abuse, and psychiatric samples—groups with typically high prevalence rates of psychopathy—researchers again failed to find any meaningful group differences in psychopathy.{{cite journal |last1=Skeem |first1=Jennifer L. |last2=Edens |first2=John F. |last3=Camp |first3=Jacqueline |last4=Colwell |first4=Lori H. |title=Are there ethnic differences in levels of psychopathy? A meta-analysis |journal=Law and Human Behavior |date=2004 |volume=28 |issue=5 |pages=505–527 |doi=10.1023/b:lahu.0000046431.93095.d8 |pmid=15638207 |s2cid=17224850 }} However, according to a fringe research study conducted by Richard Lynn, a substantial racial difference in psychopathy was found. Lynn proposes "that there are racial and ethnic differences in psychopathic personality conceptualised as a continuously distributed trait, such that high values of the trait are present in blacks and Native Americans, intermediate values in Hispanics, lower values in whites and the lowest values in East Asians."{{cite journal |last1=Lynn |first1=Richard |title=Racial and ethnic differences in psychopathic personality |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=January 2002 |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=273–316 |doi=10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00029-0 }} However this research has been heavily criticized for not distinguishing between psychopathy and other anti-social behaviors, confusing between personality and behavioral concepts of psychopathy and presuming rather than demonstrating genetic or evolutionary causes for supposed disparities.{{cite journal |last1=Skeem |first1=Jennifer L |last2=Edens |first2=John F |last3=Sanford |first3=Glenn M |last4=Colwell |first4=Lori H |title=Psychopathic personality and racial/ethnic differences reconsidered: a reply to Lynn (2002) |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=October 2003 |volume=35 |issue=6 |pages=1439–1462 |doi=10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00361-6 }}

Based on analyses of responses to the Narcissistic Personality Inventory collected from over 16,000 U.S. undergraduate students between 1979 and 2006, it was concluded that average levels of narcissism had increased over time. Similar results were obtained in a follow-up study that analyzed the changes within each college campus.{{cite journal |last1=Twenge |first1=Jean M. |last2=Campbell |first2=W. Keith |s2cid=17239061 |title=Birth Cohort Differences in the Monitoring the Future Dataset and Elsewhere: Further Evidence for Generation Me – Commentary on Trzesniewski & Donnellan (2010) |journal=Perspectives on Psychological Science |date=5 May 2017 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=81–88 |doi=10.1177/1745691609357015 |pmid=26162065 }} However, a 2017 study found little evidence of strong or widespread cohort-linked changes in disposition or behavioral strategies, although they did find some indications that the current generation is more cynical and less trusting.{{cite journal |last1=Trzesniewski |first1=Kali H. |last2=Donnellan |first2=M. Brent |title=Rethinking 'Generation Me': A Study of Cohort Effects from 1976–2006 |journal=Perspectives on Psychological Science |date=5 May 2017 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=58–75 |doi=10.1177/1745691609356789 |pmid=26162063 |s2cid=12426094 |citeseerx=10.1.1.424.1755 }}

An alternative perspective explored group differences in the dark triad and how they relate to positive emotion.{{cite journal |last1=Egan |first1=Vincent |last2=Chan |first2=Stephanie |last3=Shorter |first3=Gillian W. |title=The Dark Triad, happiness and subjective well-being |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=2014 |volume=67 |issue=1 |pages=17–22 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2014.01.004 |s2cid=17277308 |url=https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/219337558/Wellbeing.pdf }} Applying structural equation modeling and Latent Profile Analysis, a type of mixture model, to establish patterns in UK, US, and Canadian students, four groups were found: "unhappy but not narcissistic", "vulnerable narcissism", "happy non-narcissism" and "grandiose narcissism". Some extrapolations on how a person might deal with these groups of individuals in practice have been suggested.{{cite news |last1=Whitbourne |first1=Susan Krauss |title=8 Ways to Handle a Narcissist |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201408/8-ways-handle-narcissist |work=Psychology Today |date=30 August 2014 }}

The five factor model of personality has significant relationships with the dark triad combined and with each of the dark triad's traits. The dark triad overall is negatively related to both agreeableness and conscientiousness. More specifically, Machiavellianism captures a suspicious versus trusting view of human nature which is also captured by the Trust sub-scale on the agreeableness trait.{{Cite journal|title = Machiavellian beliefs and personality: Construct invalidity of the Machiavellianism dimension|last1 = Hunter|first1 = J. E.|date = 1982|journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.43.6.1293 |volume = 43|issue = 6|pages = 1293–1305|last2 = Gerbing|first2 = D. W.|first3 = F. J.|last3 = Boster}} Extraversion captures similar aspects of assertiveness, dominance, and self-importance as narcissism. Narcissism also is positively related to the achievement striving and competence aspects of Conscientiousness. Psychopathy has the strongest correlations with low dutifulness and deliberation aspects of Conscientiousness.

The honesty–humility factor from the HEXACO model of personality is used to measure sincerity, fairness, greed avoidance, and modesty. Honesty–Humility has been found to be strongly negatively correlated to the dark triad traits.{{cite journal | last1 = Aghababaei | first1 = N. | last2 = Mohammadtabar | first2 = S. | last3 = Saffarinia | first3 = M. | year = 2014 | title = Dirty Dozen vs. the H factor: Comparison of the Dark Triad and Honesty–Humility in prosociality, religiosity, and happiness | journal = Personality and Individual Differences | volume = 67 | pages = 6–10 | doi=10.1016/j.paid.2014.03.026}} Likewise, all three dark triad traits are strongly negatively correlated with Honesty–Humility. The conceptual overlap of the three traits which represents a tendency to manipulate and exploit others for personal gain defines the negative pole of the honesty–humility factor.{{cite journal | last1 = Lee | first1 = K. | last2 = Ashton | first2 = M. C. | last3 = Wiltshire | first3 = J. | last4 = Bourdage | first4 = J. S. | last5 = Visser | first5 = B. A. | last6 = Gallucci | first6 = A. | year = 2013 | title = Sex, power, and money: Prediction from the Dark Triad and Honesty–Humility | journal = European Journal of Personality | volume = 27 | issue = 2| pages = 169–184 | doi=10.1002/per.1860| s2cid = 146205562 }} Typically, any positive effects from the Dark Triad and low Honesty–Humility occur at the individual level, that is, any benefits are conferred onto the one with the traits (e.g., successful mating, obtainment of leadership positions) and not onto others or society at large.

Influenced by the dark triad, Scott Barry Kaufman proposed a light triad of personality traits: humanism, Kantianism, and faith in humanity.{{cite web |title=Light Triad Scale |url=https://scottbarrykaufman.com/lighttriadscale/ |website=Scott Barry Kaufman |access-date=29 June 2019 |language=en}} High scorers on humanism are more likely to value others' dignity and self worth. High scorers on Kantianism are more likely to see others as people, not as a means to an end. High scorers for faith in humanity are more likely to believe others are fundamentally good.{{cite news |last1=Geher |first1=Glenn |title=The Light Triad of Personality |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/201903/the-light-triad-personality |work=Psychology Today |date=12 March 2019 }}{{cite news |last1=Schley |first1=Lacy |title=The Light Triad: Psychologists Outline the Personality Traits of Everyday Saints |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-light-triad-psychologists-outline-the-personality-traits-of-everyday-saints |work=Discover Magazine |date=5 April 2019 }}{{cite news |last1=Oakes |first1=Kelly |title=The 'light triad' that can make you a good person |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190617-the-light-triad-that-can-make-you-a-good-person |work=BBC Future |date=24 June 2019 }} When comparing individuals who take both dark triad and light triad tests, the average person was more likely to exhibit light triad traits. This test is not an inversion of dark triad tests, as Kaufman instead focused on developing characteristics that were conceptually opposite from the dark triad. A reliable measure of the light triad traits was developed, and demonstrated that they are not simply the opposite of the dark triad's Big Five and HEXACO model traits. The light triad predicts positive and negative outcomes regarding Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility personality traits, and expands on understanding the dark triad as a useful contrasting analog.

Individuals who score high on light triad traits also report higher levels of religiosity, spirituality, life satisfaction, acceptance of others, belief that they and others are good, compassion, empathy, self-esteem, authenticity, sense of self, positive enthusiasm, having a quiet ego, openness to experience, and conscientiousness. Additionally, those who score higher on the light triad scale are intellectually curious, secure in their attachments to others, and more tolerant to other perspectives. These individuals typically have less motives for achievement and self-enhancement (even though the light triad was positively related to productivity and competence). In contrast to the character strengths of the dark triad, the light triad was uncorrelated with bravery or assertiveness. Lack of such characteristics may be problematic for individuals attempting to reach more challenging goals and fully self-actualizing.{{cite news |last1=Kaufman |first1=Scott Barry |title=The Light Triad vs. Dark Triad of Personality |url=https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-light-triad-vs-dark-triad-of-personality/ |work=Scientific American Blog Network |date=19 March 2019 }}File:Dark Triad.svg

The Atlas of Personality, Emotion and Behaviour{{cite journal |last1=Mobbs |first1=Anthony E. D. |title=An atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour |journal=PLOS ONE |date=21 January 2020 |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=e0227877 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0227877 |pmid=31961895 |pmc=6974095 |bibcode=2020PLoSO..1527877M |doi-access=free }} is a catalogue of 2,400 words descriptive of personality, emotion and behaviour. The words in the catalogue were scored according to a two dimensional matrix taxonomy with orthogonal dimensions of affiliation and dominance. Adjectives representing the behavioural patterns described by the Dark Triad were scored according to the atlas and visualised using kernel density plots in two dimensions. The atlas clearly delineates the three components of the Dark Triad, narcissism (Yellow), Machiavellianism (blue), and psychopathy (red).

Some researchers have criticised the dark triad and studies which use it as a foundation, arguing that "such work is often superficial, statistically weak, and presents an overly simplistic view of human nature."{{Cite web |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/does-dark-triad-personality-traits-make-you-more-successful# |title=Does a 'dark triad' of personality traits make you more successful? |last=Adam |first=David |date=12 March 2019 |website=Science |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science |access-date=15 December 2024}} Clinical psychologist Joshua Miller published a critical appraisal of dark triad literature in 2019, arguing that issues and limitations had been "unrecognized or ignored",{{cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Joshua D. |last2=Vize |first2=Colin |last3=Crowe |first3=Michael L. |last4=Lynam |first4=Donald R. |date=30 April 2019 |title=A Critical Appraisal of the Dark-Triad Literature and Suggestions for Moving Forward |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721419838233 |journal=Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=353–360 |doi=10.1177/0963721419838233 |access-date=15 December 2024}} including:

{{blockquote|"the treatment of dark-triad constructs as unidimensional, contrary to evidence for their multidimensionality ... the indistinctness between current measures of Machiavellianism and psychopathy ... the use of multivariate statistical approaches that pose statistical and interpretive difficulties ... failure to test dark-triad relations directly against one another; and ... methodological concerns related to convenience sampling and reliance on mono-method approaches."}}

Other researchers have blamed "sloppy psychologists rather than fundamental weaknesses with the idea", and argue that "psychopathy and Machiavellianism can both be accurately measured by the dark triad."

Delroy Paulhus has rejected Miller's criticisms, claiming that they "can be made of any personality scale," and that he and other researchers "resent its popularity". However, he has conceded that much of the "research on the dark triad out there is less than stellar."

• Macdonald triad
• Malignant narcissism
• Dark Factor of Personality

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Bertl |first1=Bianca |last2=Pietschnig |first2=Jakob |last3=Tran |first3=Ulrich S. |last4=Stieger |first4=Stefan |last5=Voracek |first5=Martin |title=More or less than the sum of its parts? Mapping the Dark Triad of personality onto a single Dark Core |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=August 2017 |volume=114 |pages=140–144 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.002 }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Tran |first1=Ulrich S. |last2=Bertl |first2=Bianca |last3=Kossmeier |first3=Michael |last4=Pietschnig |first4=Jakob |last5=Stieger |first5=Stefan |last6=Voracek |first6=Martin |title='I'll teach you differences': Taxometric analysis of the Dark Triad, trait sadism, and the Dark Core of personality |journal=Personality and Individual Differences |date=May 2018 |volume=126 |pages=19–24 |doi=10.1016/j.paid.2018.01.015 }}
• [https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/beautiful-minds/the-light-triad-vs-dark-triad-of-personality/ The Light Triad vs. Dark Triad of Personality] - Scientific American
• [https://www.britannica.com/science/dark-triad Encyclopedia Britannica's article on the Dark Triad]
• [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dark-triad Dark Triad]- overview by Psychology Today

{{Narcissism}}

{{Psychopathy}}

Category:Personality traits

Category:Industrial and organizational psychology

Category:Moral psychology

Category:Psychological manipulation

Category:Personality theories

Category:Personality psychology