Examining dark triad in interpersonal context: Their relationship with risk - taking, self - presentation and self - conscious emotions

The aim of this study is to examine Dark Triad personality traits in interpersonal context by examining their relationship with ethical risk taking, social risk taking and status-driven risk taking which are conceptualized as interpersonal risk taking. Moreover, Dark Triad's relationship with self-concepts is examined, namely self-presentation styles and self-conscious emotions. 346 participants, 171 men and 175 women participated in this study. The questionnaire used in the present study included demographic questions, Short Dark Triad Scale, Status-driven Risk Taking Scale, Domain-specific Risk Taking Scale, Revised Self-Monitoring Scale and Concern for Appropriateness Scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Correlation Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were conducted. The main results found in the study were that each Dark Triad trait was positively correlated with Status-driven risk taking and social risk taking, however only psychopathy and Machiavellianism showed positive relationship with ethical risk taking. For the self-presentation, narcissism and Machiavellianism were positively related with both acquisitive and protective styles; psychopathy was only related with protective self-presentation style. For the self-conscious emotions, only narcissism was negatively related with shame; all facets of dark triad were negatively related with guilt. For the hubristic pride, both Machiavellianism and psychopathy were related positively; for the authentic pride only psychopathy showed negative relationship. Results are discussed in the light of literature. Keywords: dark triad, narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, interpersonal risk taking, social risk taking, ethical risk taking, status-driven risk taking, self-presentation, self-conscious emotions