Unethical vs. Human Values

Abstract: The D Factor of Personality represents the common features of various ethically and socially aversive personality traits, emphasizing the underlying beliefs that justify such behaviors. Schwartz’s Theory of Human Values offers a quasi-circumplex model comprising 19 motivationally distinct value types, universals across human cultures. This study aims to locate D within the framework of Schwartz’s value theory. A sample of 719 individuals (50.91% men, mean age = 53.67, SD = 14.38) completed an online questionnaire that included both the D35 and the PVQ-RR scales. Latent correlations and Multi-Dimensional Scaling analyses in a two-dimensional space reveal that the D factor predominantly aligns with the Self-Enhancement values, specifically near Power. These findings provide insight into the motivational foundations of socially aversive traits.