A test of two brief measures of the dark triad: The dirty dozen and short dark triad.

Abstract

There has been a substantial increase in the simultaneous study of 3 related constructs--psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism--since being termed the dark triad (DT; Paulhus & Williams, 2002). Growing interest in the DT has led to the development of 2 short, efficient measures that reduce the number of items typically used from 124 to 12 (Dirty Dozen, or DD; Jonason & Webster, 2010) and 27 (Short Dark Triad, or SD3; Jones & Paulhus, in press), respectively. Using a community sample collected online (N = 287), we examined the convergent, discriminant, incremental, and criterion validity of scores from 2 brief measures of the DT. In general, scores from the SD3 scales manifested stronger convergent and incremental validity in relation to longer, more established measures of the DT constructs. Scores from both brief DT measures evidenced adequate discriminant validity as well as criterion validity in relation to traits from the five-factor model. However, the SD3 Narcissism Scale appears to assess primarily the grandiose aspects of this construct, whereas the DD captures both vulnerable and grandiose features of narcissism. Overall, if a short measure of the DT is required, the SD3 yields data that are more consistent with these constructs as they are measured using more established and validated measures.

Relationships between the Dark Triad and Delayed Gratification: An Evolutionary Perspective

“…Previous research has found stronger convergent and incremental validity between the Short-D3 and the original measures of the Dark Triad, as compared to the Dirty Dozen (Jonason & Webster, 2010;Maples, Lamkin, & Miller, 2014). In the present study, the Dirty Dozen measure demonstrated weaker convergent validity with the original Dark Triad measures and Honesty-Humility.…”

“…Previous work also found that links between the Dirty Dozen and other measures of personality are weaker than those found with the SRP-III (e.g., Jonason & McCain, 2012;Jonason & Luévano, 2013;Miller et al, 2012). The same criticism may be applied to the Short-D3, because its items are not reflective of a vulnerable narcissism component (Maples et al, 2014). This may be why larger differences in correlations were found between the Short-D3 and NPI-16 than with the Dirty Dozen and NPI-16.…”

The Adaptation of the Short Dark Triad Personality Measure – Psychometric Properties of a German Sample

“…However, the second tool -the Dirty Dozen -is controversial. Although some researchers have found it to be useful (Jonason and Luévano 2013;Rauthmann, 2012), the instrument has been critiqued in several recent reports (Jones and Paulhus 2014;Lee et al 2013;Maples et al 2014;Miller et al 2012). The main limitation is the psychometric cost of using this short measure.…”

The Malevolent Side of Revenge Porn Proclivity

“…Extensive psychometric testing has been conducted on the utility of the SD3. Maples, Lamkin, and Miller (2014) found the SD3 to have adequate discriminant and criterion validity, as well as stronger convergent and incremental validity, than comparative measures available (e.g. The Dirty Dozen; Jonason & Webster, 2010).…”