The Relationship Between the Dark Triad and Aggression in Income Tax Employees: Moral Disengagement as a Mediator

• Published in: Pakistan journal of psychological research : PJPR 2023, Vol.38 (4), p.603-618
• Main Authors: Khan, Zunaira, Khan, Afshi Yahya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggressiveness; Antisocial personality disorder; Behavior; Employees; Ethical aspects; Income tax; Income taxes; Mediation; Mediators; Narcissism; Negotiation, mediation and arbitration; Questionnaires; Tax law; Taxation; Workers
• ISSN: 1016-0604; 2663-208X
• DOI: 10.33824/PJPR.2023.38.4.35

The present cross-sectional research was designed to investigate the relationship between the dark triad, moral disengagement, and aggression in income tax employees. It further explored the predictive role of dark triad for aggression. Finally, mediation of moral disengagement between dark triad and aggression was also investigated. A sample of 150 income tax employees, of ages between 25-40 years was included in the research because of the paucity of income tax employees in the population. Data were collected through demographic questionnaire, Dark Triad of Personality (SD3) (Paulhus et al., 2013), Moral Disengagement Measure (Moore et al., 2012) and the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). Significant relationship between the study variables was found in the results: the dark triad (narcissism, machiavellianism and psychopathy), moral disengagement and aggression. The dark triad came out as a significant predictor of moral disengagement and aggression while moral disengagement significantly predicted aggression. Moral disengagement was found to be a strong mediator between dark triad and aggression. The present research has significant implications in the areas of industrial and organizational psychology and can be used to detect and observe causal factors of moral disengagement and aggression. Keywords. Dark triad, Moral Disengagement and Aggression