What is a Dark Triad Personality?
At first mention, the "dark triad" sounds like something mystical or fictional. But the "dark triad" isn’t some made-up name for a dystopian novel — it’s the term for a trio of related personality traits that are typically negative or destructive in nature: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy.
The dark triad traits are considered harmful because they’re associated with egocentric, antisocial and manipulative behaviors. While each trait is different, they all have overlapping negative characteristics that seem to run together, including a lack of empathy, exploitation, and a need for power and control over others. It all sounds very, well, dark.
But are these personalities as dangerous as they sound? Should we fear them? And what are the tell-tale signs that someone has these traits? Let’s take a look.
What is the dark triad?
The term “dark triad” is very recent. It was first used in 2002 via a study published in the Journal of Research and Personality to describe a combination of three “offensive yet non-pathological personalities” – Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism and subclinical psychopathy.
The terms "non-pathological" and "sub-clinical" are important here. They mean that someone has enough of these traits to potentially cause harm and distress to others, but not enough (in intensity or frequency) to have a clinical diagnosis and treatment pathway. The dark triad is not an official diagnosis in the psychiatric bible, the DSM-V.
Narcissism
Narcissism is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, excessive self-absorption, and a constant need for admiration from others. People with this trait tend to be selfish, boastful and vain. They think they are superior to others and are often hypersensitive to criticism because they believe they cannot be wrong.
Psychopathy
Psychopathy is defined by a lack of empathy and remorse, superficial charm, and a tendency towards manipulative or antisocial behavior. People with psychopathic traits may come across as impulsive and callous, and often show a disregard for social norms because they don’t feel much compassion for others.
Machiavellianism
Named after the Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, this trait is marked by a cynical worldview, a lack of morality, and a willingness to use manipulation or deceit to achieve one's goals. People with Machiavellian tendencies may do whatever it takes to seize power (be it lying, manipulating or backstabbing), with no care for whoever is in the way. Think of this personality trait as a cold business person who climbs over his co-workers to get to the top — no matter what — or a con artist who uses people to advance his financial and material wealth.
Are dark triad personalities dangerous?
As awful as these traits sound, there’s a lot of nuance around them. None of the traits on its own is automatically dark or dangerous. Rather, they all exist on a spectrum that goes from mild to severe.
Virtually all of us will exhibit one or more of the dark triad traits at some time or another. For example, it’s pretty common for someone to be self-aggrandizing or even manipulative on social media, where we might be emboldened to say things that we wouldn’t necessarily say to someone’s face. This doesn’t make them a monster.
Everything depends on the number of traits a person carries and their intensity. People with high levels of the triad traits could do serious damage, while someone with low levels may just be difficult to get along with — and it’s these differences that can make it quite difficult to recognize the signs of the dark triad.
How to recognize a dark triad personality
While clinicians rely on high-quality clinical assessment tools to help them detect the dark triad personality traits, you may have to work harder to spot the signs. Figuring out if someone has the dark triad traits can be difficult because these individuals tend to hide or mask their traits. However, if you're concerned about someone in your life displaying these tendencies, the following behaviors may tip you off:
- High levels of manipulation and exploitative behavior
- Over-the-top charisma and charm
- An inflated sense of self or egocentric behavior
- Self-promotion to the excess (always discussing their achievements and why they’re superior)
- A willingness to use other people for personal gain
- A lack of empathy or seemingly no emotional response
- Cold and calculating behavior
- An inability to maintain healthy, long-term relationships
- An attitude that self-serving is the best way to get through life
- A sense of entitlement
- A tendency to play the victim card - dark triads won’t accept responsibility for their wrongdoings
- A ruthlessness and competitiveness with few boundaries
- Chronic lying or cracks in their stories
- No regard for the feelings of others
How to manage people with dark triad personality traits
So, you suspect there is someone in your life with dark triad personality traits. What can you do about it?
This is a complex area and there are no easy answers. How you respond will depend on your relationship with the dark triad personality and how much you want to improve your situation. For example, you may be able to cut ties with a toxic friend or partner, but this is much more difficult if it’s your boss or family member.
With that in mind, here are some tips to help you manage dark triad personalities in your life:
1: Don't fall for first impressions
Dark personalities are experts in making good first impressions. They know how to charm and manipulate others, so don't be fooled by their flattery. If you have concerns, ask questions and really listen to their responses. Dark triad personalities have to be the best, know everything, and control everyone, and the clues are there if you pay attention.
2: Keep a record
Keeping a journal of what they do or say will help you to identify patterns of behavior, or if they're manipulating the truth for their benefit. It's also important to talk with a trusted friend about what’s going on so you have an outside perspective. Dark triad personalities are notorious for engaging in gaslighting – a manipulative tactic where they make you question your own reality or sanity – so it's important to have someone who can provide a reality check.
3: Set boundaries and stick to them
People with dark triad traits may push the limits of what you deem acceptable. You'll need to set and enforce strong boundaries if you are to avoid being manipulated into doing things that make you uncomfortable. For example, if your boss is a dark triad personality who constantly makes unreasonable requests or takes credit for your work, establish clear expectations of what you will and will not tolerate. Make sure you document any incidents that arise that you can use to build a case against this person if things escalate.
4: Seek help
The dark triad is a complex and nuanced area of psychology, and it often requires specialist help. If you think the dark triad personality in your life would benefit from therapy and agree to go, this is also a good path forward. But keep your expectations realistic – there are conflicting opinions about whether someone with a dark triad personality can truly change. Most resources say the process is arduous, and incremental changes may be the most you can expect.
