Dark Triad Personality Traits and Academic Dishonesty-Related Tendencies among Senior High School Students: A Correlational Study

Academic dishonesty remains a persistent concern in contemporary schooling, particularly in environments shaped by performance pressure, peer influence, and increasingly technology-mediated learning tasks. This study investigated the relationship between Dark Triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and academic dishonesty-related tendencies among Senior High School students at First City Providential College in the Philippines. Using a quantitative, correlational design, data were collected from 50 students selected through stratified random sampling. Two adapted self-report instruments were administered: a Dark Triad trait measure based on the Short Dark Triad (SD3) and an academic dishonesty-related tendencies measure based on the Academic Dishonesty Tendencies Scale (ADTS), yielding acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.822 and α = 0.791, respectively). Descriptive results indicated a moderate level of Dark Triad trait endorsement (composite mean = 2.68) and a moderate level of academic dishonesty-related tendencies (composite mean = 2.94). Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a statistically significant moderate positive association between the constructs (r = 0.471, p < .001), indicating that higher endorsement of Dark Triad traits co-varies with greater susceptibility to dishonesty-oriented academic coping. The findings support integrity initiatives that combine credible academic governance (clear standards, fair assessment design, and consistent enforcement) with development-oriented supports addressing self-regulation, ethical decision-making, and performance-related stressors.