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

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

8 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

Access to Document

10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990

Cite this

@article{85572da977134e7ba68ae1ec8c27c45b,

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.",

keywords = "Body image, Height dissatisfaction, Machiavellianism, Napoleon complex, Narcissism, Psychopathy, Sex differences",

author = "Koz{\l}owska, {Monika A.} and Daniel Talbot and Jonason, {Peter K.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990",

language = "English",

volume = "203",

journal = "Personality and Individual Differences",

issn = "0191-8869",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Napoleon complex, revisited

T2 - Those high on the Dark Triad traits are dissatisfied with their height and are short

AU - Kozłowska, Monika A.

AU - Talbot, Daniel

AU - Jonason, Peter K.

PY - 2023/3

Y1 - 2023/3

N2 - 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.

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

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142869035&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990

DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111990

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85142869035

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

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this