Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics
Background: This study investigated the relationships between the Dark Triad of personality (sub-clinical psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and four political variables: socio-religious conservatism, support for greater economic equality, overall liberal–conservative orientation, and in...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/12/169 |
| _version_ | 1827674063382773760 |
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| author | Edward Bell Christopher Marcin Kowalski Philip Anthony Vernon Julie Aitken Schermer |
| author_facet | Edward Bell Christopher Marcin Kowalski Philip Anthony Vernon Julie Aitken Schermer |
| author_sort | Edward Bell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This study investigated the relationships between the Dark Triad of personality (sub-clinical psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and four political variables: socio-religious conservatism, support for greater economic equality, overall liberal–conservative orientation, and interest in politics. A theoretical approach that focused on the influence of the Dark Triad in large groups was provided to interpret those relationships. Methodological issues found in previous research that related to the use of abbreviated scales to measure the dark traits and the use of unidimensional indicators of political orientations were addressed. Methods: A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine whether any of the three dark traits could explain variance in the aforementioned political attributes over and above that accounted for by the Big Five, sex, age, and nationality, using the full personality scales and measures of political orientation that captured both social and economic liberalism–conservatism. Results: Machiavellianism uniquely predicted lower levels of socio-religious conservatism, and both Machiavellianism and narcissism uniquely predicted lower levels of overall conservatism. Conclusions: There were important links between the Dark Triad and politics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:34:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1598ceebe4d14172ac470dabe66a9a49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:34:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1598ceebe4d14172ac470dabe66a9a492023-11-23T03:51:34ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2021-12-01111216910.3390/bs11120169Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in PoliticsEdward Bell0Christopher Marcin Kowalski1Philip Anthony Vernon2Julie Aitken Schermer3School of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Brescia University College at Western University, 1285 Western Road, London, ON N6G 1H2, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, CanadaFaculty of Arts, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, CanadaPsychology and Management and Organizational Studies, Faculty of Social Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, CanadaBackground: This study investigated the relationships between the Dark Triad of personality (sub-clinical psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and four political variables: socio-religious conservatism, support for greater economic equality, overall liberal–conservative orientation, and interest in politics. A theoretical approach that focused on the influence of the Dark Triad in large groups was provided to interpret those relationships. Methodological issues found in previous research that related to the use of abbreviated scales to measure the dark traits and the use of unidimensional indicators of political orientations were addressed. Methods: A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine whether any of the three dark traits could explain variance in the aforementioned political attributes over and above that accounted for by the Big Five, sex, age, and nationality, using the full personality scales and measures of political orientation that captured both social and economic liberalism–conservatism. Results: Machiavellianism uniquely predicted lower levels of socio-religious conservatism, and both Machiavellianism and narcissism uniquely predicted lower levels of overall conservatism. Conclusions: There were important links between the Dark Triad and politics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/12/169Dark TriadBig Fivepersonalitypoliticspolitical orientationsliberal |
| spellingShingle | Edward Bell Christopher Marcin Kowalski Philip Anthony Vernon Julie Aitken Schermer Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics Behavioral Sciences Dark Triad Big Five personality politics political orientations liberal |
| title | Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics |
| title_full | Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics |
| title_fullStr | Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics |
| title_short | Political Hearts of Darkness: The Dark Triad as Predictors of Political Orientations and Interest in Politics |
| title_sort | political hearts of darkness the dark triad as predictors of political orientations and interest in politics |
| topic | Dark Triad Big Five personality politics political orientations liberal |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/12/169 |
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