How the Dark Triad traits predict relationship choices

Peter K. Jonason, Victor X. Luevano, Heather M. Adams

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    193 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    While previous studies have correlated the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) with a preference for short-term relationships, little research has addressed possible correlations with short-term relationship sub-types. In this online study using Amazon's Mechanical Turk system (N= 210) we investigated the manner in which scores on the Dark Triad relate to the selection of different mating environments using a budget-allocation task. Overall, the Dark Triad were positively correlated with preferences for short-term relationships and negatively correlated with preferences for a long-term relationship. Specifically, narcissism was uniquely correlated with preferences for one-night stands and friends-with-benefits and psychopathy was uniquely correlated with preferences for booty-call relationships. Both narcissism and psychopathy were negatively correlated with preferences for serious romantic relationships. In mediation analyses, psychopathy partially mediated the sex difference in preferences for booty-call relationships and narcissism partially mediated the sex difference in preferences for one-night stands. In addition, the sex difference in preference for serious romantic relationships was partially mediated by both narcissism and psychopathy. It appears the Dark Triad traits facilitate the adoption of specific mating environments providing fit with people's personality traits.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)180-184
    Number of pages5
    JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
    Volume53
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Keywords

    • Dark Triad
    • Machiavellianism (psychology)
    • casual sex
    • narcissism
    • psychopathy

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'How the Dark Triad traits predict relationship choices'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this