The term “Dark Triad” refers to a trio of negative personality traits— narcissism , Machiavellianism , and psychopathy —which share some common malevolent features. The construct was coined by researchers Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002.
How Can I Recognize the Dark Triad?
The Dark Triad attempts to capture manipulative, exploitative traits that are not represented by the Big 5—the five-factor model of core traits of an individual’s personality which is considered the most reliable current model of personality. To identify these traits in clinical settings, clinicians and researchers typically use individual scales measuring narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism separately, or a 12-item scale known as the “Dirty Dozen” designed to measure all three at once.
It can be difficult to spot someone high in Dark Triad traits , and without a formal evaluation, you may never know for sure. But someone who repeatedly lies, demonstrates a marked lack of empathy, or bullies others to achieve their own goals may be high in one or more dark traits.
Though there are physical and behavioral cues that have been shown to be associated with the Dark Triad in research settings, individuals with these traits may excel at hiding their true nature s, especially at first. Narcissists, for instance, often appear charming and likable upon first meeting; some evidence suggests that this may be due to the perception that they have high self-esteem , a socially desirable trait.
In response to rising interest in the Dark Triad, researchers Peter K. Jonason and Gregory D. Webster developed a concise, 12-item measure of these personality traits called “ The Dirty Dozen .” The Dirty Dozen offers a faster, easier way to identify the Dark Triad traits than does testing for narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy individually.
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