Profiles and profile comparisons between Dark Triad constructs on self-presentation tactic usage and tactic beliefs

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Antisocial personality constructs, specifically the Dark Triad (DT), encompass narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.
• Understanding the relationship between personality and self-presentation is crucial in social interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Dark Triad traits and tactical self-presentation behaviors.
• To examine beliefs about the utility, ease, and normativity of self-presentation tactics in relation to DT constructs.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 524 MTurk participants completed measures of the Dark Triad.
• Participants self-reported their use of various self-presentation tactics and their beliefs regarding tactic execution and self-recrimination.

Main Results:

• Dark Triad constructs showed high convergence, indicating a shared malignant approach to self-presentation.
• DT traits were associated with increased use, perceived utility, and ease of execution for most tactics, except prosocial ones.
• Some non-convergent patterns were observed between specific DT constructs and tactic usage.

Conclusions:

• Dark Triad traits function similarly in self-presentation, suggesting a strategic approach to image management.
• DT constructs can be viewed as indicators of deliberate, subjectively logical behavior for cultivating and defending one's image.