Dark Triad / Dark Tetrad

The Dark Triad is a cluster of three socially aversive but subclinical personality traits, named by Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams in 2002. It sorts people by their levels of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy; a fourth trait, sadism, extends it to the Dark Tetrad. Our free course explains all four constructs, how they differ and overlap, and how they show up in everyday behaviour — while being clear that a high score is a normal-range tendency, not a clinical diagnosis.

These are empirically studied personality constructs measured with validated self-report scales; high scores describe normal-range tendencies and are not a clinical diagnosis. The 'Dark Triad' term was introduced by Paulhus & Williams (2002). (Paulhus & Williams (2002); Sadism added c. 2009-2013 (Dark Tetrad))

Dimensions

• Machiavellianism (Sincere & trusting – Manipulative & strategic) — High scorers favour calculated manipulation, cynicism about others' motives, and a strategic, ends-focused approach, while low scorers tend toward straightforwardness and trust.
• Narcissism (Modest & self-effacing – Grandiose & entitled) — High scorers show grandiosity, a sense of entitlement, and a strong need for admiration, while low scorers are more modest and less reliant on external validation.
• Psychopathy (Empathic & restrained – Callous & impulsive) — High scorers display callousness, impulsivity, and low empathy, while low scorers are more emotionally responsive to others and more behaviourally controlled.
• Sadism (Averse to others' suffering – Gratified by others' pain) — High scorers derive enjoyment from inflicting or witnessing others' suffering, while low scorers find such cruelty unpleasant or distressing.

References

• Paulhus, D. L., & Williams, K. M. (2002). The Dark Triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Journal of Research in Personality, 36(6), 556–563
• Chabrol, H., Van Leeuwen, N., Rodgers, R., & Séjourné, N. (2009). Contributions of psychopathic, narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sadistic personality traits to juvenile delinquency. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(7), 734–739
• Buckels, E. E., Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2013). Behavioral confirmation of everyday sadism. Psychological Science, 24(11), 2201–2209
• Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2014). Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3): A brief measure of dark personality traits. Assessment, 21(1), 28–41

Related topics

• Big Five (Five-Factor Model, OCEAN)
• HEXACO model
• Eysenck PEN model
• Cattell 16 Personality Factors (16PF)
• Light Triad

All topics on ArtaQuest