The Core of Darkness: Uncovering the Heart of the Dark Triad

TLDR

The Dark Triad comprises narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, yet no study has empirically identified the underlying factor that explains their overlap or whether other traits share this core. This study investigates the reasons and mechanisms behind the overlap of dark personality traits. Using multisample structural equation modeling, the authors found that manipulation and callousness fully account for the associations among the facet scores of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. Hare’s Factor 1—manipulation–callousness—emerged as the common dark core, and Social Dominance Orientation was shown to share this same core. © 2012 European Association of Personality Psychology.

Abstract

The Dark Triad consists of three overlapping but distinct personality variables: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. To date, however, no research has empirically identified what leads these three variables to overlap or whether other variables share the same core. The present research addresses why and how dark personalities overlap. Drawing from classic work in psychopathy, Hare's Factor 1 or manipulation and callousness were found to be the common antagonistic core. A series of latent variable procedures, including Multisample Structural Equation Models, revealed that for both samples, manipulation and callousness, completely accounted for the associations among the facet scores of the psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism scales. Sample 2 also included Social Dominance Orientation, and results further confirmed that Social Dominance Orientation has the same common core as the Dark Triad. In sum, Hare's Factor 1—manipulation–callousness—emerged as common dark core that accounts for the overlap among antagonistic traits. Copyright © 2012 European Association of Personality Psychology