Understanding Dark Triad Traits: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy

The Dark Triad is a constellation of three personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. While these three traits have different conceptual histories and separate measurement strategies, they all encompass character with tendencies towards social malevolence, emotional coldness, aggressiveness, duplicity, and self-promotion. Though these three traits are all connected by a common foundation of callousness and manipulation, each trait is still unique. These traits are similar in terms of readiness to harm others, but how they manifest in behaviours may be different based on each trait’s specific characteristics.

Narcissism is characterized by arrogance, superficial charm, superiority, dominance, a sense of entitlement, attention seeking, manipulation, and grandiosity. Narcissistic individuals are better perceived and initially found more attractive by others than Machiavellian and psychopathic individuals.

Machiavellianism is characterized by an exploitative interpersonal style, strategic long-term manipulation tactics, strivings for money and power, immorality, deceit, cynicism, detached affect and coldness, and a negative worldview.

Finally, psychopathy is characterized by lack of empathy and remorse, low anxiety, thrill-seeking, callousness, high impulsivity, interpersonal manipulation, and antisocial tendencies.

As a constellation, the Dark Triad traits have a vicious reputation, as they share an exploitative and agentic interpersonal style at the expense of others’ welfare. All three traits are negatively related to honesty and humility, empathy, and agreeableness. They also reflect an orientation that favours short-term and immediate goals, and a tendency towards avoiding commitment in relationships and having a higher number of sexual partners.

In relationships these traits can influence things such as partner communication, courtship behaviours or attitudes towards love, and intentions towards infidelity. These areas will be explored more in-depth in future articles, which (once posted) will be linked below.

References

Christie, R., & Geis, F. L. (1970). Studies in Machiavellianism. New York: Academic Press.

Jones, D. N., & Figueredo, A. J. (2013). The Core of Darkness: Uncovering the Heart of the Dark Triad. European Journal of Personality, 27(6).

Jones, D. N., & Olderbak, S. G. (2014). The Associations Among Dark Personalities and Sexual Tactics Across Different Scenarios. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2010). Differentiating the Dark Triad within the interpersonal circumplex. In L. M. Horowitz, & S. Strack (Eds.). Handbook of interpersonal psychology: Theory, research, assessment, and therapeutic interventions. New York: Wiley & Sons.

Paulhus, D. L., & Williams, K. M. (2002). The Dark Triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Journal of Research in Personality, 36(6).

Raskin, R. N., & Hall, C. S. (1979). A narcissistic personality inventory. Psychological Reports, 45.

Rauthmann, J. F., & Kolar, G. P. (2012). How “dark” are the Dark Triad traits? Examining the perceived darkness of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Personality and Individual Differences, 53.

Smith, C. V., Øverup, C. S., & Webster, G. D. (2019). Sexy deeds done dark? Examining the relationship between dark personality traits and sexual motivation. Personality and Individual Differences, 146.

If you or someone you know would like to support in dealing with Dark Triad traits individually or in a relationship, Aleena and our team at The Growth & Wellness Therapy Centre can help. Please contact our intake and administration team to set up a free consultation with Aleena, or book yourself through her online booking link.

About the Author

Aleena Kazi, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), is an individual and child therapist at The Growth & Wellness Therapy Centre focused on issues of depression, anxiety, trauma, stress and identity.