Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3)

TLDR

The Dark Triad comprises Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, traits studied as a socially aversive constellation. The study develops and validates the Short Dark Triad (SD3), a brief proxy measure of the Dark Triad. Four studies with 1,063 participants examined the structure, reliability, and validity of SD3 subscales across community and student samples. Across these studies, the SD3 showed a three‑factor structure, strong alignment with established measures, and validity against informant ratings, confirming it as an efficient, reliable, and valid assessment.

Abstract

Three socially aversive traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—have been studied as an overlapping constellation known as the Dark Triad. Here, we develop and validate the Short Dark Triad (SD3), a brief proxy measure. Four studies (total N = 1,063) examined the structure, reliability, and validity of the subscales in both community and student samples. In Studies 1 and 2, structural analyses yielded three factors with the final 27 items loading appropriately on their respective factors. Study 3 confirmed that the resulting SD3 subscales map well onto the longer standard measures. Study 4 validated the SD3 subscales against informant ratings. Together, these studies indicate that the SD3 provides efficient, reliable, and valid measures of the Dark Triad of personalities.