Validation of the Five-Factor Model Antagonistic Triad Measure

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Personality Science

Background:

• The Dark Triad (DT) comprises psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, characterized by socially aversive behaviors.
• Existing DT measures face challenges in accurately differentiating these constructs.
• A need exists for refined assessment tools that align with established personality models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare newly developed, Five-Factor Model (FFM)-based measures of the DT constructs against existing inventories.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Super-Short Forms of the Elemental Psychopathy Assessment, Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory, and Five-Factor Machiavellianism Inventory (FFMI-SSF).

Main Methods:

• A sample of 516 undergraduate students completed the newly developed FFM-based DT measures and existing DT inventories.
• Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed by comparing scores with related constructs and the FFM Machiavellianism profile.

Main Results:

• The FFMI-SSF demonstrated superior divergence from psychopathy measures and better convergence with the FFM Machiavellianism profile compared to existing measures.
• Factors within the FFM assessments exhibited distinct correlational patterns, supporting multifaceted construct evaluation.

Conclusions:

• The FFM-based DT measures offer enhanced differentiation and validity for assessing psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism.
• These new instruments facilitate the integration of DT research into broader personality science, aiding both basic and clinical applications.