Dark Personality Traits and Counterproductive Work Behavior: A PRISMA Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Counterproductive work behavior (CWB) negatively impacts organizational performance and employee well-being.
• The Dark Triad (DT) personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy) are increasingly recognized as potential risk factors for CWB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between Dark Triad personality traits and counterproductive work behaviors.
• To determine the strength and robustness of the relationship between DT and CWB.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Inclusion of 21 relevant studies identified through comprehensive database searches.
• Meta-analysis to quantify the association between DT traits and CWB.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between Dark Triad traits and counterproductive work behaviors.
• Psychopathy demonstrated the strongest positive correlation with CWB, followed by Machiavellianism and narcissism.
• Machiavellianism and psychopathy correlated with both organizational and interpersonal CWB, while narcissism was linked only to interpersonal CWB.

Conclusions:

• Organizations may observe performance benefits from individuals with Dark Triad traits, but this is often accompanied by increased CWB.
• The presence of Dark Triad personalities poses risks to employee well-being and the overall work environment due to CWB.
• Understanding the DT-CWB link is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate negative workplace behaviors and foster a healthier organizational climate.