Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39075125›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

A multi-study investigation assessing the potential redundancy among the Dark Tetrad using a narrowband trait approach.

Christopher Marcin Kowalski, Rachel A Plouffe, Kabir N Daljeet, Cassidy Trahair, Laura K Johnson, Donald H Saklofske, Julie Aitken Schermer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Self-Report and Behavioural Procrastination in Relation to the Dark Triad Traits.International journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Christopher Marcin KowalskiDepartment of Psychology, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada. christopher.kowalski@unbc.ca.
Rachel A PlouffeDivision of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.
Kabir N DaljeetDepartment of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Cassidy TrahairDepartment of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Laura K JohnsonDepartment of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Donald H SaklofskeDepartment of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Julie Aitken SchermerDepartment of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We investigated the putative redundancy of the Dark Tetrad (specifically, Machiavellianism-psychopathy and sadism-psychopathy) through an examination of the differences between correlations with self-reported narrowband personality traits. In addition to measures of the Dark Tetrad, participants in four studies completed measures of various narrowband traits assessing general personality, aggression, impulsivity, Mimicry Deception Theory, and Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. Results generally supported empirical distinctions between Machiavellianism and psychopathy, and between sadism and psychopathy. Machiavellianism significantly differed from psychopathy across correlations for nine of 10 traits (Study 1), 8 of 25 facets (Study 2), aggression (Study 3), 12 of 25 facets (Study 3), four of five facets (Study 4), impulsivity (Study 4), and five of six facets (Study 4). Sadism significantly differed from psychopathy across correlations with five of 10 traits (Study 1), eight of 25 facets (Study 2), reactive aggression (Study 3), 10 of 25 facets (Study 3), three of six facets (Study 4), impulsivity (Study 4), and three of six facets (Study 4). Our findings challenge the claims that Machiavellianism and psychopathy, as well as sadism and psychopathy, as currently measured, are redundant.

Indexed as

AggressionAntisocial Personality DisorderMachiavellianismAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansImpulsive BehaviorMalePersonalitySadismYoung AdultDark TetradHEXACOPersonalityPsychometricsValidity

Identifiers

PMID39075125
PMCPMC11286831

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.