How to Define and Measure the Dark Side in Business

Abstract

This chapter describes the diversity of approaches that can be used to measure the dark side of human personality at work from three approaches: self-report, other-report, and business outcomes. With breadth of coverage as a priority, this chapter spans both traditional scientific measures and informal narrative-driven ways of understanding the dark side. The self-report approach covers self-report personality scales, clinical scales, workplace behavior, and identity narratives. The other-report approach covers other-report personality scales, clinical measures and diagnoses, workplace behavior, performance management, and reputational narratives. The business metrics approach covers policy violations, employment actions, and financial outcomes. Each subsection contains a description of the measurement approach, examples, strengths and limitations, and implications for research and practice. This overview is presented to help readers organize their conceptual framework of the disparate methods and perspectives that have been used to understand the dark side at work.