Question

2. What does the Dark Triad predict? In other words, what kind of behaviors, lifestyle, interpersonal interactions, etc might we predict to see from someone with the Dark Triad personality traits? What sort of risk does a person with Dark Triad traits represent?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy are the three traits that together form what is known as the “Dark Triad.” It is known as the dark triad because individuals possessing these traits tend to have malevolent personalities.

Individuals who possess these traits tend to be indifferent towards the pains and emotions of people around them. They also are mostly self-seeking and might adopt any means necessary to achieve their agenda.

Traits of a Narcissist: A narcissist is an individual who feels that they are of a higher cognitive or social standing than everyone else. This might generally be an overcompensation of a lack of confidence or an insecurity that they might have suppressed. In most cases, the source of their insecurities may not be something obvious but rather might stem from something in their past.

They tend to be like bullies and think less of the people who are around them.

Traits of a Machiavellian: A Machiavellian is someone who might be quite conniving in the sense that they are mostly seeking ways to fulfill their agenda and goals. These individuals generally lack a moral code and feel that the ends justify the means. A Machiavellian might go to any lengths to oversee their cunning motives.

They tend to heat situations where they lose or do not get what they desire.

Traits of a Psychopath: A psychopath is one who lacks feelings and emotions that might make them compassionate. This is a disorder where the areas of the brain that are responsible for evoking emotions, does not function as it normally should. This makes them unaware and sometimes the cause of the emotional and physical pain they might cause others. They are what a layman might refer to as “heartless.”

There are great risks that a person of the dark triad might entail. Any relationship, a close one or even that of a cordial acquaintance, is built on a certain level of trust. A close relationship is maintained when people feel that they can be selfless with each other. Even an acquaintanceship is maintained when colleagues can feel that they won’t be sabotaged or willingly hurt by each other.

A person of a dark triad, on the other hand, will generally not harbour these benevolent emotions towards others. Also, they are able to easily feign these emotions and leave others unaware of their true personalities. This false sense of security in a relationship makes them dangerous individuals and incapable of maintaining a healthy relationship.