The relationship between Dark Triad traits and risky behaviours has been shown in recent years. However, few studies have attempted to disentangle this relationship using a person-centred approach. The goal of the current study was to identify subgroups of individuals on the basis of their scores on Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism and analyse the differences between them in a set of risky behaviours (i.e., frequency of substance use, reactive and proactive aggression, risk perception and risk engagement, and problematic internet use). The sample consisted of 317 undergraduates aged 18–34 (46% males). The results of the latent profile analysis showed five subgroups of individuals that were identified based on their scores on the Dark Triad traits: low-Dark Triad, narcissistic, Machiavellian/narcissistic, psychopathic, and Machiavellian/psychopathic. Overall, the Machiavellian/narcissistic and Machiavellian/psychopathic subgroups showed higher scores for most risky behaviours. The low-Dark Triad scored higher for risk perception. No significant differences between subgroups were found as regards frequency of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use. These findings suggest that the combination of the Dark Triad traits lead to more negative outcomes as regards risky behaviour than individual components. Moreover, they highlight the relevance of using a person-centred approach in the study of dark personalities.

The field of criminal psychology involves delving into psychological profiles prone to accepting and justifying sexist attitudes that support sexual violence against adult women (SVAW). The aim of the current study is to analyze the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationships between dark triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) and ambivalent sexism in a sample of 74 male perpetrators of sexual violence against women (M = 40.58; SD = 10.05) convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault and 160 community men (M = 43.54; SD = 10.63). Since there were no significant differences in the measured variables between individuals convicted of IPV and those convicted of sexual assault, these two groups were combined into a single group of perpetrators of sexual violence against women. A comparison of incarcerated and community men showed that perpetrators of sexual violence against women reported significantly higher levels of ambivalent sexism, moral disengagement, and psychopathy than community men. The moderated mediational model showed that the dark triad was not directly associated with ambivalent sexism, but the relationship was fully mediated by moral disengagement mechanisms. Moreover, the interdependence of the variables evaluated was moderated by group. The moral disengagement mechanisms that explain both hostile and benevolent sexism were associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy among perpetrators of sexual violence against women, whereas among community men, these mechanisms were associated with Machiavellianism and narcissism. These findings are discussed as they pertain to the treatment of perpetrators of sexual violence against women.

The Dark Triad traits (DT; Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) have been repeatedly labeled as a constellation of traits that are characterized by a dishonest and self-focused approach to interpersonal relations. Personality psychologists suggest that these traits make some people more susceptible than others to intergroup bias, threat, and aggression. Thus, in order to delve into a psychological profile prone to accepting and justifying sexist attitudes, the aims of the current study were to analyze the presence of DT and sexist attitudes in a sample of 367 adolescents (M_age = 15.12, SD = 0.88; 50.1% males), find out the relationships that DT has with both hostile and benevolent sexism, and analyze the relevant differences between sexes in these relationships. The results indicated higher scores in DT and Ambivalent sexism for males. The correlations of Machiavellianism with psychopathy, and psychopathy with narcissism revealed significantly higher associations in males than females. The structural equation modeling of the bifactorial model, characterized by a global latent factor that encompasses the common characteristics of DT—along with the three specific factors of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism—showed that the global latent factor of DT was related to both hostile and benevolent sexism in males and females. Singularly, narcissism was related to benevolent sexism in males, and psychopathy was related to hostile sexism in females. Finally, this research discusses the implications of these results on the implementation of positive models of interpersonal relationships in adolescence towards dating violence prevention.

Several researches have focused on analyzing the links between moral disengagement and illegal behaviours in young population showing different results. The main aim of this review was to estimate the relationship between moral disengagement and juvenile delinquency, as well as to analyze the influence of certain moderating variables. A random effects model was used in the meta-analytic review in order to settle the average effect magnitude and obtain the moderating effects of demographic and methodological variables. A total of 20 independent studies were obtained involving 10061 youths. Moral disengagement has been found to be associated with juvenile delinquency (r = .35, p < .001). Concurrently, the effect magnitude increases as it does the seriousness of the crime (r = .45, p < .001) which settles the type of crime as a significant moderator. In conclusion, moral disengagement and severe juvenile crime share a powerful relationship, which stablishes the moral disengagement as a relevant risk factor for t

Within the context of a recent research tradition, certain psychological traits related to various socially reprehensible behaviors have been grouped under the name of ""Dark Factor or dark side of personality."" In this context, this paper studies the common variance that could exist between the three components of the Dark Triad construct (Machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy) and the constituent cognitive processes of Moral Disengagement construct, in order to relate them to the antisocial behavior of a sample composed of 800 adolescents (M = 15.36, SD = .99; 50.1 % boys). Exploratory factor analysis suggested retaining four factors using Horn Parallel Analysis. These factors were subjected to a bifactorial rotation in the exploratory context, and their fit indices were adequate ꭓ² (1219.42, 737) = 1.65 p <.05; RMSEA = .03 (.01, .05); CFI = .98. The confirmatory factor analysis of this bifactorial model to represent the dark side obtained optimal fit indices ꭓ² (392.38, 150) = 2.61 p <.05; RMSEA = .04 (.04, .05); CFI = .95; similar for boys and girls. The results of the structural equation model indicated that the “dark side”, understood here as the common characteristics of the Dark Triad and Moral Disengagement, is directly and intensely related to antisocial behaviors in girls (β = .57, p < .001) and boys (β = .54, p < .001). Finally, the implications of these results for the prevention of a wide range of antisocial behaviors in adolescents are discussed.