Review on the Studies of the Dark Triad

Abstract

The studies on the Big Five represent the exploration into non-clinical personalities, whereas the studies on the Dark Triad represent the exploration into the shadow of the subclinical personalities. The Dark Triad is composed of three personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy, which are usually defined as antisocial personalities in the western culture. Results of recent studies on the Dark Triad indicate: (1) Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy are independent yet intertwining personality traits; (2) valid tools have been developed to measure these personality traits; (3) the Dark Triad traits exhibit both antisociality and prosociality; (4) the Dark Triad may reflect a fast life strategy; (5) genetic and environmental factors play different roles in the development of the Dark Triad; (6) the Dark Triad is definitely a different personality trait cluster in contrast to the Big Five.

Mediating Effect of Dark Triad Personality Traits on the Relationship Between Parental Emotional Warmth and Aggression

“…Therefore, personality traits are consistent with individual life history strategies (Figueredo, Vásquez, Brumbach, & Schneider, 2007; Figueredo et al, 2005), and studies have empirically proven that Dark Triad personality traits are linked to life history strategy (Figueredo et al, 2005; Jonason et al, 2010). Specifically, life history theory emphasizes the long-term role of the environment in shaping personality; thus, the Dark Triad is no longer a group of personality traits of “maladjustment” and “need for treatment” but the result of an individual’s active adaptation to the environment (Qin & Xu, 2013).…”

“…Indeed, research has shown that the Dark Triad personality traits can at least partially develop due to environmental causes (Barlett, 2016; Qin & Xu, 2013). Family is the principal environment in which human development takes place and has been shown to influence Dark Triad personality traits.…”

The Relationship Between the Dark Triad and Internet Adaptation Among Adolescents in China: Internet Use Preference as a Mediator

“…The result also showed that psychopathy was a stronger predictor of Internet adaptation than Machiavellianism or narcissism. One possible reason is that individuals with high psychopathy are impulsive, lack of empathy and responsibility (Qin and Xu, 2013) and have negative social adaptation characteristics (Repacholi et al, 2003). Since Internet adaptation is a special kind of social adaptation, it should be highly correlated with psychopathy.…”

“…Although traditional personality traits (e.g., Big Five personality traits) are widely accepted, they excessively focus on the “bright” aspects of personality and lack consideration for the “impolite” aspects of personality (Block, 2010). Recently, Dark Triad traits were developed to make up for the limitations of traditional personality research and have gradually been noticed in China (Stead et al, 2012; Qin and Xu, 2013; Zhang and Zhang, 2014). There is little doubt that the Dark Triad traits represent three related traits: Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism.…”

“…It should be noted that the Dark Triad is not a maladaptive individual trait but the result of an individual’s active adaptation to the environment (Qin and Xu, 2013). From this perspective, the Internet can be regarded as a specific environment of modern information society.…”