Dark Triad and Social Deviant Behaviors: The Mediation Role of Aggression Trait

The Dark Triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) are theorized to lead individuals to engage into deviant social behaviors. However, aggression trait can have an enhancing role of the Dark Triad, making individuals more likely to show such deviant behaviors. In this study (N = 401 participants, 251 female; Mage = 22 years) we (a) checked the predictive power of Dark Triad and Aggression traits to explain the social deviant behaviors and (b) tested the direct and indirect effects (mediated by aggression trait) of Dark Triad on deviant social behaviors. Results supported the potential of Dark Triad and aggression traits as predictors of deviant social behaviors [F (4, 396) = 39.36, p < 0.001, R²adjusted = .28] and the mediation role of aggression trait [e.g., CFI = .96, RMSEA = .06 (CI90% = .038-.084)]. We discuss implications of the Dark Triad and aggression traits for understanding deviant social behaviors.