TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological tests of the cheater hypothesis for the Dark Triad traits : testosterone, cortisol, and a social stressor
AU - Dane, Laura K.
AU - Jonason, Peter K.
AU - McCaffrey, Marlene
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - In order to test the cheater hypothesis in relation to the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism), we conducted (N = 25 men) a pre- and post-test assessment of testosterone and cortisol with a social evaluative stress (i.e., lying while being video-taped) in between. Machiavellianism was positively correlated with pre-test testosterone, while psychopathy and Machiavellianism were positively correlated with pre-test cortisol. Cortisol decreased in men who were higher in Machiavellianism immediately after completing the lie-task and the patterns for narcissism and psychopathy were in the same direction, suggesting that these individuals were less stressed after the two truths and a lie task. Testosterone increased in those high in psychopathy and narcissism post-task, possibly reflecting, at least among narcissists, their enjoyment of the challenge to deceive others. Results provide physiological support to the hypothesis of the Dark Triad traits represent a "cheater strategy".
AB - In order to test the cheater hypothesis in relation to the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism), we conducted (N = 25 men) a pre- and post-test assessment of testosterone and cortisol with a social evaluative stress (i.e., lying while being video-taped) in between. Machiavellianism was positively correlated with pre-test testosterone, while psychopathy and Machiavellianism were positively correlated with pre-test cortisol. Cortisol decreased in men who were higher in Machiavellianism immediately after completing the lie-task and the patterns for narcissism and psychopathy were in the same direction, suggesting that these individuals were less stressed after the two truths and a lie task. Testosterone increased in those high in psychopathy and narcissism post-task, possibly reflecting, at least among narcissists, their enjoyment of the challenge to deceive others. Results provide physiological support to the hypothesis of the Dark Triad traits represent a "cheater strategy".
KW - Dark Triad
KW - Machiavellianism (psychology)
KW - psychopathy
KW - testosterone
UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:44194
U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2017.09.010
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2017.09.010
M3 - Article
SN - 0191-8869
VL - 121
SP - 227
EP - 231
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
ER -