Developing a Taxonomy of Dark Triad Triggers at Work - A Grounded Theory Study Protocol

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Organizational Behavior
• Personality Science

Background:

• The Dark Triad (narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) has detrimental workplace effects.
• These traits are often viewed as stable, but situational factors can influence their expression as personality states.
• Understanding these state-level dynamics is crucial for addressing workplace issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively identify specific situational triggers that evoke Dark Triad states in the workplace.
• To develop a structured categorization of these triggers for future research and intervention.
• To inform organizational strategies for mitigating the negative impacts of Dark Triad behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research design employing grounded theory.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth insights.
• Data analysis focused on identifying patterns and themes related to trigger identification.

Main Results:

• The study is a research protocol, therefore no main results are available yet.
• The protocol outlines a method for categorizing situational triggers of Dark Triad states.
• This approach facilitates structured study and intervention development.

Conclusions:

• Identifying situational triggers is key to understanding and managing Dark Triad states at work.
• A comprehensive categorization of triggers will enable more effective organizational interventions.
• This research protocol provides a foundation for future studies on personality states in organizational contexts.