Psychometric properties of the Short Dark Triad measure

Psychology

Authors

  • Dmitriy S. Kornienko Perm State University, 15, Bukirev st., Perm, 614990, Russia
  • Fedor V. Derish Perm State University, 15, Bukirev st., Perm, 614990, Russia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17072/2078-7898/2019-4-525-538

Keywords:

psychometrics, validity, reliability, personality traits, Dark Triad, Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy, IRT

Abstract

In recent years, negative personality traits have attracted research attention. One of the examples is Dark Triad, which is a constellation of three personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Some Dark Triad measures have been created. The article is devoted to the adaptation and validation of the Short Dark Triad (SD3) measure. We examined the structure, reliability, and validity of the items and scales in samples of 459 participants (69,5 % of them were female). Two versions of the questionnaire were offered: the full one (27 items) and the revised one (18 items). The structures of both versions correspond to the original SD3. The alpha reliabilities were 0,72 for Machiavellianism, 0,75 for narcissism, and 0,65 for psychopathy. The test-retest reliabilities were good for Machiavellianism and narcissism, and appropriate for psychopathy. To evaluate the convergent validity of SD3, it was compared with Russian adaptation of HEXACO-60. The Dark Triad traits have negative relationships with Honesty – Humility, Emotionality and Agreeableness. This study indicates that SD3 provides efficient, reliable, and valid measures of the personality traits included in the Dark Triad.

Author Biographies

Dmitriy S. Kornienko, Perm State University, 15, Bukirev st., Perm, 614990, Russia

Doctor of Psychology, Docent, Head of the Department of General and Clinical Psychology

Fedor V. Derish, Perm State University, 15, Bukirev st., Perm, 614990, Russia

Assistant of the Department of General and Clinical Psychology

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References

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Jones, D.N. and Paulhus, D.L. (2014). Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3): A brief measure of Dark Personality traits. Assessment. Vol. 21, iss. 1, pp. 28–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191113514105

Jones, D.N. and Paulhus, D.L. (2011). The role of impulsivity in the Dark Triad of personality. Personality and Individual Differences. Vol. 51, iss. 5, pp. 679–682. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.04.011

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McHoskey, J.W. (1995). Narcissism and Machiavellianism. Psychological Reports. Vol. 77, iss. 3, pp. 755–759. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1995.77.3.755

Morizot, J.M., Ainsworth, A.T. and Reise, S.P. (2007). Towards modern psychometrics: Application of item response theory models in personality research. Handbook of research methods in personality psychology, ed. by R.W. Robins, R.C. Fraley, R.F. Krueger. New York: Guilford Press, pp. 407–423.

Paulhus, D.L. and Dutton, D.G. (2016). Everyday sadism. The dark side of personality: Science and practice in social, personality, and clinical psychology, ed. by V. Zeigler-Hill, D.K. Marcus. Washington: American Psychological Association Publ., pp. 109–120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/14854-006

Paulhus, D. and Williams, K. (2002). The Dark Triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Journal of Research in Personality. Vol. 36, iss. 6, pp. 556–563. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-6566(02)00505-6

Raskin, R. and Hall, C.S. (1979). A Narcissistic Personality Inventory. Psychological Reports. Vol. 45, iss. 2, p. 590. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1979.45.2.590

Roeser, K., McGregor, V.E., Stegmaier, S. et al. (2016). The Dark Triad of personality and unethical behavior at different times of day. Personality and Individual Differences. Vol. 88, pp. 73–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.09.002

Samejima, F. (2016). Graded response models. Handbook of item response theory: Volume 1. London: Chapman and Hall Publ., pp. 123–136. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315374512

Schumacker, R.E. (2002). Latent variable interaction modeling. Structural Equation Modeling. Vol. 9, iss. 1, pp. 40–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem0901_3

Stankov, L. and Knezevic, G. (2005). Amoral social attitudes and value orientations among Serbs and Australians. Australian Journal of Psychology. Vol. 57, iss. 2, pp. 115–128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530500048649

Veselka, L., Schermer, J.A. and Vernon, P.A. (2012). The Dark Triad and an expanded framework of personality. Personality and Individual Differences. Vol. 53, iss. 4, pp. 417–425. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.01.002

Williams, K.M., Paulhus, D.L. and Hare, R.D. (2007). Capturing the four-factor structure of psychopathy in college students via self-report. Journal of Personality Assessment. Vol. 88, iss. 2, pp. 205–219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890701268074

Published

2019-12-30

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Psychology

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