Running Head: THE DARK TRIAD TRAITS AND THEIR DETECTION BY NORMAL POPULATIONS 1

The Dark Triad Traits and Their Detection by Normal Populations

Naomi Griffin

Alverno College
DETECTION OF DARK TRAID TRAITS 2

Abstract

Individuals high in the Dark Triad traits are all around us. The Dark Triad pertains to the

undesirable, antisocial traits known as psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism (Paulhus

& Williams, 2002). Despite these traits being bad for individuals and society, people high in the

Dark Triad can usually lead an adaptive, successful life (Jones, 1976). But how? Attribution

theory is a theory about how people reason and explain the behaviors of others. Fritz Heider

viewed the common man as “naïve psychologists” and wanted to study how people make sense

of their world, thus he became the key originator of attribution theory (McLeod, 2012). Heider

still serves as a focal point for ideas on social perception in contemporary psychology. The

theory aims to discover if a person acts the way they do because that is just who they are, or if in

fact they are responding to situational occurrences. A person who uses internal and external

attribution concepts as well as Kelley’s covariation model to form judgments can educate people

on how to detect a Dark Triad individual in their life.

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The Dark Triad Traits and Their Detection by Normal Populations

Introduction

Have you ever felt like you were wronged by a person, maybe someone you liked, or

even loved? Did you wonder how come you “didn’t see it coming?” Almost all of us have or

have had someone in our life who seems to have a complete disregard for the other people

around him or her. You may have seen someone take advantage of another person or situation

for their own selfish gain. They could be anyone from coworkers, fellow peers, friends, spouses,

family members, or even politicians and CEO’s of big companies.

These individuals are known in the world of psychology as possessing the “The Dark

Triad” personality traits. The Dark Triad is a term used to describe three specific aversive

personality traits. They are psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism. Psychopathy is

described as having no remorse, lack of empathy, recklessness to oneself and others, and violent.

Narcissism is excessive love for oneself and extremely high self-confidence. Machiavellianism is

manipulation and deception (Jones, 1976). They can be emotionally, financially, physically, and

mentally harmful to people around them, so detecting the Dark Triad in people can be a

beneficial skill for all populations. To detect the Dark Triad traits in people, it is crucial to have a

basic understanding of social perception and how we judge each other’s behaviors on a day to

day basis. Attribution theory and its key components, Correspondent Inference Theory and the

Covariation Model, thoroughly explain how and why we make attributions, or reasons as to why

someone acts the way they do (McLeod, 2012). The application of attribution theory can result in

the identification of individuals high in the Dark Triad. Knowing the difference between

individual behaving in the manner they do because it is their personality and behaving due to

outside circumstances can reveal a person’s true nature.

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Attribution Theory

The attributional approach explores the processes in which people attribute, or give

reason, for our own and others’ behavior. If people can understand the cause of someone’s

behavior, their response to that behavior is more likely to be predicted (Jones, 1976). If person A

attributes person B’s unprovoked anger to the fact that person B is going through a divorce,

person A is less likely to respond to that anger and take it personally. If a teacher attributes a

particular student’s unsatisfactory performance to lack of caring or motivation, the teacher is

more likely to scold the student and express disappointment as opposed to if the teacher

attributed the performance to a learning disability (Jones, 1976). Another factor of attributional

theory is that people tend to assign more traits to others than to themselves. We know more about

what is going on inside of us than others, so we have to use the information we have to make

judgments. Attribution correlates with perceptual focus, which means that we seem to attribute

causality to the person or thing we are looking at (Jones, 1976).

The main concepts of attribution theory are internal attribution and external attribution.

Internal attribution is the judgment that a person behaves in a specific way because the action is

caused by the person’s character or personality type. External attribution is the judgment that an

individual acts a certain way because of an outside influence like the situation that they are in or

some external pressure (Kelley, 1973). The internal and external concepts serve as a backbone to

the attribution theory. If someone’s perceived behavior is freely chosen, it is internally attributed.

If situational or environmental factors are influencing, it is externally attributed. (Kelley, 1973).

There may be cases where you just do not have enough information to make attributions. The

next process would be to go back to the person’s past history and look for what Kelley calls

multiple necessary causes and multiple sufficient causes (McLeod, 2012). Multiple necessary
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causes are causes that we would assume to be necessary to act a certain way or achieve a certain

goal. For example, a police aid finally completes his training, and graduates at the top of his

class. We attribute that he must be a quick learner, physically fit, very ambitious and a hard

worker. We assume he has all of these traits that are needed to graduate at the top of his class.

Multiple sufficient causes are reasons that only need to be sufficient enough to explain the

behavior, and are not particularly necessary. For example, our graduating police aide failed a

drug test, testing positive for steroids which are illegal unless prescribed for medical purposes.

Sufficient causes would be; 1) he took steroids to power his way through the physical training

(cheating), or he took the drug by accident because he confused it for another substance. These

are all acceptable reasons.

Correspondent Inference Theory

Jones and Davis’s Correspondent Inference Theory, a spinoff idea from Heider, focuses

on internal attributions. Internal attributions can foreshadow a lot about a person’s future

behavior. Jones and Davis say that motive and behavior have to be understood to cause people to

more likely make an internal attribution to a person. According to Jones and Davis, there are five

components of information we need to make an internal attribution, or correspondent inference.

The term correspondent inference is nothing more than an interchangeable term for internal

attribution (McLeod, 2012). They are; Choice, Accidental vs. Intentional Behavior, Social

Desirability, Hedonistic Relevance, and Personalism (McLeod, 2012).

Choice most obviously represents that a behavior is acted upon by the person’s own free

will. Accidental behavior is considered to be attributed to the situation and external pressure as

opposed to personality. The situation or accident would have occurred only because something
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that happened by chance or without apparent cause influencing it (McLeod, 2012). There is no

workable motive to attribute, so it is simply external. Intentional behavior is more associated

with the individual’s personality because the behavior was acted out with a conscious effort

(intention) (McLeod, 2012). Social desirability can be described as behavior that society

categorizes as good or bad. Behaviors low in social desirability are behaviors that are taboo or go

against the social norm, and behaviors high in desirability are behaviors that would socially

acceptable (McLeod, 2012). Now non-conforming or socially undesirable behaviors will cause a

person to make the attribution that the bad behavior is due to the person’s personality, not

outside factors. For example, if you were to witness a person habitually spitting on the sidewalk,

you would judge that to be an internal attribution. If a behavior is not socially undesirable,

people are more likely to make either internal attributions or external attributions. Hedonistic

relevance refers to if the individual’s behavior is intentionally meant to harm or help other

people. If the behaviors of the actor directly influenced another individual, whether the outcome

was good or bad, the behaviors are internally attributed. Personalism is the event in which a

behavior that affected us was meant to influence us on purpose, and we assume it as a personally

motivated act. (McLeod, 2012). The behavior is not judged as merely a result of an external

situation that’s happening. For example, if a husband surprises his wife with lunch and coffee at

her job, her coworkers are more likely to judge the behavior as an internal attribution. His wife

did not ask him to do it, he just did it to make her feel good.

Covariation Model

Kelley’s covariation model is another form of attribution theory. The covariation model

expands on when the attributor has information about the behavior that is coming from two or

more perspectives experienced at different times. After taking into account all information, the
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attributor then determines if the behavior is due to an internal or external cause. It explains the

process of how a person concludes an internal or external attribution for the behavior, but not

why the behavior occurred. In this model, Kelley proposes three elements that he believes we use

to form our judgments. These three pieces of information are consensus, distinctiveness, and

consistency. If the factors are low in these areas, people will make internal attributions. If the

factors are high, then people are more likely to make external attributions. However, the model

does not explain if the causes of the behavior were internal or external (McLeod, 2012).

Consensus is the degree to which people imitate each other’s behavior and act in a similar

fashion (McLeod, 2012). For example, Lucille goes to a restaurant with her friends to celebrate

her college graduation, and orders an alcoholic beverage with her meal. If her friends also drink,

consensus is high. If everyone else orders soda instead of alcohol, her behavior is low in

consensus. Distinctiveness is how much a person behaves or reacts the same way when

confronted with familiar and similar situations (McLeod, 2012). For example, if Lucille only

drinks socially (out with friends), she is high in distinctiveness. If Lucille drinks in a variety of

situations, or drinks just because she likes drinking, her distinctiveness is low and the cause of

her drinking is attributed to her personality traits, not specific circumstances. Consistency is the

level to which a person engages in the same behavior every time the same event takes place

(McLeod, 2012). If Lucille only drinks alcohol when she is with her friends, she is high in

consistency. If Lucille only drank on that one occasion because she was celebrating, then her

behavior is low in consistency.

To tie this all in together, if everyone drinks at the restaurant and Lucille only drinks with

friends, an external attribution can be made to her and it would be decided that Lucille is just a

social drinker. Alternatively, if Lucille is the only one drinking and she drinks in any situation or
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setting, we make the internal attribution that Lucille drinks because she is the type of person who

drinks a lot. The thought process of this model is when two out of three observations match, we

attribute the causality based off of those matches, and then we judge that relationship as either

internal or external.

Attribution Theory and Dark Triad Traits

Now, how would you apply attribution theory to the Dark Triad traits? Is it possible that

this information can help you narrow down a toxic person in your life? People high in the Dark

Triad traits (psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) are known to have “dark” or

malevolent like qualities. These people are more likely to commit crimes and create social

disorder both in their personal lives and in the workplace (Jones, 1976). They think of how they

can manipulate and play people to benefit themselves. These traits are often hand in hand with

antisocial behaviors such as lying, cheating, aggressiveness, disagreeableness, alcohol and drug

abuse, and cigarette use (Jones, 1976). They also do not hesitate on using aggression to get what

they want, especially those high in psychopathy. To avoid being noticed or detected, individuals

that are high in the Dark Triad traits adopt a multifaceted approach when it comes to influencing

people (Jonason & Webster, 2012). They will wear a different social mask for different groups of

people to figure out how to use charm and good looks to get what that want from the people they

are trying to exploit. (Jonason & Webster, 2012).

People with these traits are linked to a variety of methods of social influence. They are

self-centered, very competitive, ego driven, and calculated. The psychopathic character might

use seduction, coercion, or have a “whatever it takes” mentality to get whatever they want. Those

high in Machiavellianism may use superficial charm to get their way. Narcissists may go out of
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their way to please other people in order to gain approval from others and to be perceived as

likeable. Their methods of manipulation are usually comparing themselves to others and

exploiting others’ weaknesses if they can (Jones, 1976).

Understanding some possible motives behind the anti-social behaviors of those high in

the Dark Triad is essential to learning how to detect these people in your life. A research article

published in 2014 discovered the ways in which each member of the Dark Triad personality

traits may deceive a person in the form of lies. Psychopaths and Machiavellians told more lies

than narcissists. Psychopaths told lies just because it was fun (meaning, they had no reason too),

and Machiavellians told what would be considered “white lies”. Narcissists lied if it benefited

them in some way. Since psychopaths are the most reckless, they could also have the least

amount of planned strategy and tell more reckless lies, while Machiavellians may have a more

planned out motive to tell a white lie to benefit them somehow. Narcissists may tell more lies

about themselves such as lies that will benefit them like furthering their career, getting a new

mate, social status, appearance, and prestige, etc. to feel important. They also discovered that

men scored higher on the dark triad than women, and they lied more in the study than women

because they benefit more from it and are better at exploitation (Jonason, 2014).

People tend to assume that a low-status person’s behavior is caused by either internal

(attitudes) or external (situational pressure) factors, while they associate a person of high status

as being in more control, thus their behavior is attributed to internal causes. It is also assumed

that when a life event or situation has significant obstacles to overcome, and there are sacrifices

or risks that are involved in the way of accomplishing a goal, it is thought that the perseverance

of the person is due to their own personal characteristics (internal), not external circumstances

(Kelley, 1973). Someone of high status with bad intentions who is high in the Dark Triad can
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take advantage of this by adding superficial charm and be seen by others as highly ambitious,

intelligent, an up and coming talent, etc. It would be easy for a psychopath, narcissist or a

manipulator to use their fake personality to step on others. Some signs for detection would be

noticing a person who never takes no for an answer, someone who always has an explanation for

insensitive behavior, and often dominates work discussions or meetings. A method of detection

would be to look for any necessary or sufficient causes. Is the person that always explains away

their hurtful behavior never at fault and points the finger to the other person? Is it always because

the victim brought it upon themselves? Despite the fact the person never claims responsibility

when things go wrong, you, the attributor, notice you cannot match any external explanations to

their behavior. They are simply attempting to manipulate. We tend to make internal attributions

when no external attributions would seem to make sense (McLeod, 2012).

Our emotions also play a role in how we make attributions (Universiteit Twente, n.d.).

Sometimes, people don’t like to feel guilty or take personal responsibility for their behavior. For

example, a rapist blaming the victim by saying she was “asking for it” with the way she dressed.

In rough situations we may blame other people for things, turning it from internal attribution to

external attribution. Placing blame on others is a psychological defense mechanism to help

remove ourselves from the situation to avoid feeling vulnerable and victimized. Normally, we

tend to see ourselves as more dynamic and spontaneous than other people, therefore, we tend to

see other people as less multifaceted, and more “black and white” (Universiteit Twente, n.d). But

for a person who is high in the dark triad, especially narcissism, they may take this concept to the

extreme. A psychopath for instance wouldn’t feel a grain of remorse for anything he or she has

done.
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Researchers Peter K. Jonason and Gregory D. Webster created a 12-item scale, called the

“Dirty Dozen”, to measure the Dark Triad. They conducted 4 studies involving 1,085

participants and assessed the reliability and validity of this improved scale. The “Dirty Dozen”

scale is designed to accurately measure all three of the undesirable traits. The participants rated

these statements on the basis of agreeableness which is labeled from strongly disagree to strongly

agree (Jonason & Webster, 2010). This scale can be used to measure the Dark Triad in yourself

or other people. Below is the 12 item scale that can determine if someone you know may have

these traits, just replace the word “I” with “They”, and apply it to the person you have in mind.

1. I tend to manipulate others to get my way.

2. I tend to lack remorse.

3. I tend to want others to admire me.

4. I tend to be unconcerned with the morality of my actions.

5. I have used deceit or lied to get my way.

6. I tend to be callous or insensitive.

7. I have used flattery to get my way.

8. I tend to seek prestige or status.

9. I tend to be cynical.

10. I tend to exploit others toward my own end.

11. I tend to expect special favors from others.

12. I want others to pay attention to me.

If these destructive behaviors can be internally attributed to a person and you cannot find

any reasoning for an external attribution, you may have spotted a Dark Triad individual in your

midst. Say there is a particular coworker of yours named Tom, and he really stands out. He is a
DETECTION OF DARK TRAID TRAITS 12

very self-confident person. He seems sure of his goals and what he needs to do to achieve them.

However, when Tom comes into work, people feel the need to walk on eggshells around him.

Tom often tells racist and misogynistic jokes, and gets upset when people are offended instead of

amused by them. He is usually inconsiderate and cruel. He loves to brag about how he was the

captain of the wrestling team in high school, especially to female coworkers. Tom tends to use

people and is not above stepping on others now and then to keep his career moving. At home, his

wife and son would testify to that their home feels like a prison because of his insensitive

demands for their attention and services.

This is a personified example of the Dirty Dozen Scale. This is the kind of behavior an

individual would project if he were to rank high in agreeableness on the Dirty Dozen Scale.

Based on this description alone, there are no external factors. There is no reported conflict at the

workplace or at home. He feels the need to boast and brag about himself although no one is

trying to compete or challenge his identity. Tom seems to have no problem cutting corners to get

further in his career, despite having the intelligence to advance it honestly. There are no

explained motives for his behavior, so that confirms it is coming from his own free will.

In contrast, let’s meet Scott. Scott exhibits the same behaviors and personality traits as

Tom. His coworkers dislike him and his family resent him and his controlling “me, me, me,”

attitude. Scott actually discovered 6 months ago that his wife had had an affair. He accidentally

read the emails when he snuck on his wife’s laptop to set up a surprise birthday party for her

with her friends. He immediately confronted his wife in a frenzy of hurt and anger, and she broke

down and confessed, and begged for forgiveness. Heartbroken but still in love, he agreed to go to

therapy. Naturally, Scott is in his anger stage, so he is lashing out with emotionally abusive

behaviors against his family to get his entitled revenge on them for hurting him. Because this
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experience has made him feel like his masculinity is threatened, he takes these abusive behaviors

in the workplace to overcompensate for his insecurity and becomes aggressive to gain the control

he believes he has lost.

In this scenario, there is an external factor: the discovery of his wife’s infidelity. Learning

this new information has influenced the outcome of Scott and his behaviors. Since Scott was

influenced by external reasons, he is not to be considered a person of the Dark Triad. Tom is

more likely than Scott to be a Dark Triad person because his actions have no plausible external

explanations, so they are to be attributed to his internal characteristics.

Conclusion

Attribution theory, a theory of social psychology and social perception, is a useful tool

for accurately evaluating the people in your life, and judging them in a way that excludes bias

and prejudice. The understanding of internal and external attributions will enable you to notice a

person of the Dark Triad in your life and prepare you to adequately protect yourself from

emotional abuse, manipulation, exploitation, and general misbehaviors characteristic of these

particular individuals. The key piece of information is the presence of choice and free will. If

someone has an aversive personality with no plausible explanation for the behavior, the person

most likely has motives and intentions that are beyond the reason of normality. It is always best

to know who these people are and protect yourself from the toxicity.
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