Ex malo bonum: Dark traits and higher order values association with self-efficacy, motivation to learn languages and academic grades

Self-orientation motivates the pursuit of personal goals in the individual. Both self-oriented personality traits and values can help explain motivation and performance in foreign language students. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between personal values and dark traits of personality and their role in predicting self-efficacy, motivation, and achievement in an academic setting. Students of Spanish as a foreign language from a Chinese university ( N = 222). Participants completed measures on motivation to learn Spanish, self-efficacy, personal values, and dark personality traits. Results showed that narcissism was the best predictor for self-efficacy and motivation to learn languages and highlighted the role of Conservation and Self-Transcendence Values. Motivation to learn languages was subsequently related to higher performance as expressed by exam scores. Thus, although narcissism is generally related to negative outcomes, it is also associated with increased performance. These results highlight the importance of considering personal traits and values when devising educational strategies to enhance motivation and performance in language learning. • Narcissism is the dark trait that best predicts self-efficacy and motivation. • Conservation (discipline, compliance to rules/expectations) predicts self-efficacy. • Self-transcendence is positively associated to motivation to learn languages. • Values and narcissism show indirect effects on performance in learning languages.