The Dark Triad Traits in the Classroom: Their Risk and Protective Role in Teacher’s Burnout

We investigated the relationship between the dark triad traits and three dimensions of burnout - emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional efficacy on a sample of high school teachers. Our research extends the existing literature by examining not only the effects of overall scores of the dark triad traits on the dimensions of burnout, but also the effects of specific components of each dark triad trait. Additionally, we explored the moderating role of stress in the relationship between the dark triad traits and three burnout dimensions. The results show that overall psychopathy predicted increased emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whereas overall narcissism predicted lower emotional exhaustion and higher professional efficacy. Regarding specific components of the dark triad traits, antisocial behavior as a component of psychopathy and cynical view of human nature as a component of Machiavellianism significantly predicted higher emotional exhaustion, whereas power as a component of narcissism predicted higher professional efficacy. Perceived stress significantly moderated the effects on narcissism on emotional exhaustion so that emotional exhaustion was decreasing in teachers when they were higher on narcissism and perceived higher stress, whereas it was increasing in those that were higher on narcissism and perceived lower stress. The results provide information for addressing teacher burnout, with psychopathy as a risk factor, and narcissism as a potential protective element.