Adapting to Prison Environments: Dark Tetrad Traits, Coping Mechanisms, and Resocialization Progress in Prisoners

Existing research on the Dark Tetrad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism) in the context of criminal behavior and institutional adjustment is very scarce. In the present study, we examined the associations between the Dark Tetrad, coping mechanisms (adaptive, social support, and maladaptive coping), and two indicators of progress in the resocialization process (benefits obtained through adjustment to prison norms/regulations and transfer to semi-open departments) in Serbian prisoners (N = 588). Regression results showed that Machiavellianism positively predicted both adaptive and maladaptive coping; psychopathy negatively predicted benefits in the resocialization process, but this effect disappeared when coping mechanisms were added to the model. Narcissism showed a positive contribution, while sadism showed a negative contribution to the explanation of adaptive and support coping. Lower levels of adaptive and maladaptive coping predicted membership in a semi-open department, while decreased maladaptive coping also contributed to the model with benefits as the criterion measure. Interactions showed that higher Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and adaptive coping elevated chances for being in a semi-open department for women only. Finally, path analysis showed that higher maladaptive coping completely mediated the links between Machiavellianism and hampered resocialization progress; unexpectedly, higher adaptive coping mediated the association between Machiavellianism and increased benefits, highlighting some adaptive features of Machiavellianism as well. The current findings expand the nomological network of the Dark Tetrad traits and provide useful suggestions for prison staff that may facilitate progress in prisoners’ resocialization.