The Napoleon complex, revisited: Those high on the Dark Triad traits are dissatisfied with their height and are short

Monika A. Kozłowska; Daniel Talbot; Peter K. Jonason

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990

The Napoleon complex, revisited: Those high on the Dark Triad traits are dissatisfied with their height and are short

Monika A. Kozłowska
, Daniel Talbot
, Peter K. Jonason

University of Wrocław
Westmead Hospital
The University of Sydney
University of Notre Dame Australia
University of Padua
University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study (N = 367; 62.53 % men) we reconsidered the Napoleon complex that suggests shorter people"”men in particular"”may compensate for their shortness with antagonistic behaviors. We conceptualized antagonism as individual differences in the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) and found they were associated with not only being shorter but also with the wish to be taller; these associations were similar in the sexes. We discussed our results from an evolutionary (i.e., calibrating formidability) perspective.

Original language	English
Article number	111990
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	203
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990
Publication status	Published - Mar 2023
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Body image
Height dissatisfaction
Machiavellianism
Napoleon complex
Narcissism
Psychopathy
Sex differences

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10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990

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title = "The Napoleon complex, revisited: Those high on the Dark Triad traits are dissatisfied with their height and are short",

abstract = "In this study (N = 367; 62.53 \% men) we reconsidered the Napoleon complex that suggests shorter people{"}”men in particular{"}”may compensate for their shortness with antagonistic behaviors. We conceptualized antagonism as individual differences in the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) and found they were associated with not only being shorter but also with the wish to be taller; these associations were similar in the sexes. We discussed our results from an evolutionary (i.e., calibrating formidability) perspective.",

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AU - Talbot, Daniel

AU - Jonason, Peter K.

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AB - In this study (N = 367; 62.53 % men) we reconsidered the Napoleon complex that suggests shorter people"”men in particular"”may compensate for their shortness with antagonistic behaviors. We conceptualized antagonism as individual differences in the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) and found they were associated with not only being shorter but also with the wish to be taller; these associations were similar in the sexes. We discussed our results from an evolutionary (i.e., calibrating formidability) perspective.

KW - Body image

KW - Height dissatisfaction

KW - Machiavellianism

KW - Napoleon complex

KW - Narcissism

KW - Psychopathy

KW - Sex differences

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DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990

M3 - Article

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SN - 0191-8869

VL - 203

JO - Personality and Individual Differences

JF - Personality and Individual Differences

M1 - 111990

ER -

The Napoleon complex, revisited: Those high on the Dark Triad traits are dissatisfied with their height and are short

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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