I just cannot control myself: The Dark Triad and self-control

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Abstract

Despite the recent flurry of research on the Dark Triad, this work has been atheoretical. In two studies, totaling 358 participants, we attempt to situate the Dark Triad within the larger framework of Life History Theory by correlating them with three measures of self-control. Both psychopathy (Study 1 and Study 2) and Machiavellianism (Study 2 only) were correlated with low self-control, a tendency to discount future consequences, and high rates of attention deficit disorder. Narcissism was not correlated with measures of self-control in either study. Results are consistent with Life History Theory in that these two sets of psychological traits are expected to be part of a fast life strategy.

Introduction

Despite the recent flurry of scientific interest in the Dark Triad – narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism (Paulhus & Williams, 2002) – the research has a substantial limitation. The work on the Dark Triad tends to be atheoretical and mostly descriptive in nature (Jakobwitz and Egan, 2006, Jonason et al., 2010, Jonason et al., in press, Jonason et al., 2009, Lee and Ashton, 2005, Paulhus and Williams, 2002, Vernon et al., 2008). In the present studies, we attempt to integrate the Dark Triad into Life History Theory (see Figueredo et al., 2006) by correlating them with three measures of self-control.

Life History Theory (Wilson, 1975) is a mid-level theory derived from general evolutionary theory. It describes differences in the amount of bioenergetic and material resources allocated for somatic effort (i.e., resources devoted to continued survival) and reproductive effort (i.e., devoted to mating and/or parenting). Although researchers originally used Life History Theory to account for species-level differences, this theory has proven useful in understanding within-species differences for many taxa, including humans (for a review see Rushton, 2004). Systematic, within-species differences are also known as personality traits or individual differences.

Research on life history strategies suggests individuals with indicators of a fast life history strategy report more Dark Triad related traits, including antisocial (Ellis, 1988, Figueredo et al., 2006, Mealey, 1995) and opportunistic personality traits (Figueredo, Vásquez, Brumbach, & Schneider, 2007), manifested as both Machiavellianism (Brumbach et al., 2009, Figueredo et al., 2005) and psychopathy (Figueredo et al., 2005, Gladden et al., 2009). Such a point has been echoed in work on the Dark Triad proper (Jonason et al., 2009, Jonason et al., 2010, Jonason et al., in press).

Life History Theory also predicts that cognitive systems will co-occur with life strategies (Figueredo & Jacobs, in press). In particular, a fast life strategy should not only be manifested in personality traits, but also in lower order traits like self-control. Limited self-control is likely characteristic of those with a fast life strategy because these traits will not interfere and may actually facilitate a shorter-term and opportunistic perspective whereas, these tactics are more likely to interfere with the longer-term and delayed-gratification projects pursued by slower life history strategists. We define self-control as the ability to inhibit impulsive responses that undoes one’s commitment (Metcalfe & Mischel, 1999) and measure it with self-control (Tangney, Baumeister, & Boone, 2004), consideration of future consequences (Strathman, Gleicher, Boninger, & Edwards, 1994), and attention deficit disorder symptoms (Kessler et al., 2005). Therefore, because high scores on the Dark Triad and limited self-control are characteristic of those with a fast life strategy, the two should co-occur.

In two studies we capitalize on the heuristic power of an adaptionist paradigm (e.g., Buss, 2009) to account for individual differences, predicting the Dark Triad will be positively correlated with limited self-control. Specifically, we expect the Dark Triad to be positively correlated with attention deficit symptoms and negatively correlated with self-control and a tendency to consider future consequences. To do so, we use the same three measures of self-control and two different sets of measures for the Dark Triad. In doing so, we should converge on a more complete picture of the psychological systems that are (1) associated with the Dark Triad and (2) to integrate the Dark Triad into Life History Theory.

Section snippets

Study 1

In Study 1, we assess the correlations between the Dark Triad and three measures of self-control. According to Life History Theory, a coherent system of adaptations will allow individuals to better occupy the multidimensional niche-space they are attempting to occupy and exploit. Part of the constellation of traits that should work in concert are systems of self-control and the Dark Triad.

Study 2

In Study 2, we attempt to replicate our findings from Study 1. In contrast to the long inventories for the Dark Triad we used above, in this study we use a concise measure of the Dark Triad (Jonason & Webster, in press). Again, we hope to demonstrate that the Dark Triad is linked to limited self-control.

General discussion

Life History Theory predicts a complex of personality traits will work in concert to form a coordinated and adaptive life strategy (e.g., Figueredo et al., 2006). For those high on the Dark Triad, it appears as though the coordinated life strategy may be one characterized by limited self-control – a limited ability for self-control, a tendency to not consider future consequences, and high rates of self-reported attention deficit symptoms. Such cognitive systems are expected to facilitate an

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Sarah Slomski, Joseph Strayhorn, A.J. Figueredo, Daniel N. Jones, and W. Jake Jacobs for reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript.

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