An in-depth analysis of Dark Tetrad traits and a new approach to their assessment: indirect and objective measuremen

Abstract

The Dark Triad is a set of malevolent personality traits, composed of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The Dark Tetrad adds sadism to this set of traits. These traits have received special attention due to their relation to a wide range of negative psychosocial outcomes, such as violent behaviour. In this doctoral thesis, two general objectives were formulated: (1) Broaden the understanding of dark traits (their relationship with other personality models and other variables of scientific interest). For this purpose, four studies were carried out with the following specific objectives and the following results. Study 1: Analyse the relationships between the Dark Triad model and the PEN model of general personality, including the relationship with the sincerity variable of this second model. Narcissism and Machiavellianism were positively related to neuroticism and extraversion, and psychopathy was negatively related to neuroticism and positively related to psychoticism. The three dark traits showed positive relationships with sincerity; Study 2: Analyse the relationship between civic engagement and personality (the Dark Triad and the Big Five traits). Narcissism and openness to experience were the factors most strongly associated with engagement. Study 3: Identify profiles based on the Dark Triad and Emotional Intelligence (EI). Three profiles were obtained: one with low scores on Dark Triad and EI; one with low scores on Machiavellianism and psychopathy, but medium-high scores on narcissism and high scores on EI; and one with high scores on Dark Triad and medium-low scores on EI. People in the second profile had higher self-esteem, psychological strengths, well-being, civic engagement, and lower personal distress and psychological difficulties. Study 4: Identify profiles based on Dark Tetrad and sociosexual orientation (unrestricted sex) and analyse the differences between them in terms of the different reasons for using Tinder. Three profiles were identified: one non-dark and non-sociosexual, one slightly narcissistic and sociosexual, and one very dark and slightly sociosexual. People in the first profile seem to use Tinder for the purpose of finding romantic partners, and those in the second for the purpose of having sexual encounters; (2) Improve the assessment of these dark traits by using instruments that complement self-report. To this end, three studies carried out with the following specific objectives and the following results. Study 5: Validate a brief, valid and reliable measure to assess the Dark Tetrad, based on the combination of the Short Dark Triad and the Assessment of Sadistic Personality. Adequate internal consistency, criterion and construct validity values and good test-retest reliability indices were obtained for the new scale: the Dirty Twenty. Study 6: Synthesise the instruments that have been used to assess the Dark Triad and Dark Tetrad traits objectively and indirectly through a systematic review. The use of more than 200 instruments was compiled. Study 7: Analyse the accuracy of observer-reports for assessing the Dark Triad and Dark Tetrad traits through a meta-analysis. Positive associations of medium magnitude were obtained between narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy assessed with self-reports and observer-reports. Narcissism and psychopathy were the most easily observable traits, and the more observers knew the persons to be observed, the greater the accuracy. The findings derived from this doctoral thesis allow two general conclusions to be drawn: (1) Unlike the other dark traits, narcissism maintains positive relationships with socially desirable variables. These people may display positive characteristics to achieve self-serving goals; (2) Self-report personality assessment has many advantages and the validated scales for measuring dark traits have adequate psychometric properties, such as the scale validated in this study. However, this assessment methodology also has some weaknesses, such as social desirability. In addition, people with high scores on dark traits may be sincere depending on the purpose of the assessment. This doctoral thesis has presented a synthesis of the objective tools used for the indirect assessment of the Dark Triad and Dark Tetrad traits, and statistical data on the accuracy of observer-reports have been presented. Using other tools that allow for more objective and indirect assessment may be the key to more complete and accurate assessments.