Does Evil Prevail? The “Bright” and “Dark” Sides of Personality as Predictors of Adaptive Performance

• Published in: Sustainability 2020-01, Vol.12 (2), p.474
• Main Authors: Ramos-Villagrasa, Pedro J., Fernández-del-Río, Elena, Barrada, Juan Ramón
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptability; Adaptation; Antisocial personality disorder; Behavior; Dark adaptation; Empathy; Meta-analysis; Narcissism; Neurosis; Organizations; Personality; Personality traits; Personnel selection; Prediction models; Psychopathy; Researchers; Sadism; Statistical analysis; Sustainability; Taxonomy
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su12020474

The turbulent context in which organizations operate today makes them search for adaptable workers. Previous studies have shown the predictive value of the “Big Five” personality traits on adaptive performance, but some authors suggest extending personality domain with the “dark” traits of personality, that is, Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy (i.e., the “Dark Triad”), and sadism (which, along with the aforementioned traits, composes the “Dark Tetrad”). The present research investigates the incremental validity of the dark traits in the prediction of adaptive performance over the Big Five. The study follows a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 613 participants (46% women; mean age 38.78 years, SD = 14.05; mean job experience = 16.93 years, SD = 13.39) from different organizations who fill in a questionnaire with the variables. Our results showed that the Dark Triad improved the predictive model with respect to the Big Five (R2 = 0.202, ΔR2 = 0.030, p < 0.001). The statistically significant predictors were neuroticism (β = −0.127, p = 0.010), openness to experience (β = 0.155, p < 0.001), conscientiousness (β = 0.164, p = 0.001), narcissism (β = 0.134 p < 0.002), and psychopathy (β = −0.137, p = 0.005). The incorporation of sadism did not improve the Dark Triad model (R2 = 0.202, ΔR2= −0.001, p = 0.541).