Values and the Dark Side: Meta-Analysis of Links Between Dark Triad Traits and Personal Values

In the past two decades, research on the motivational underpinnings of the Dark Triad has burgeoned. However, it is unclear how each Dark Triad trait may map onto the values circumplex, and whether the research conducted thus far indicates consistent effects. In this multi-level meta-analysis, we examined the relationship between Dark Triad personality traits and personal values. Across 34 studies conducted between 2000 and 2020, Dark Triad traits were positively associated with self-enhancement and openness-to-change value dimensions, and negatively associated with self-transcendence and conservation value dimensions. Shape consistency for the Dark Triad associations was stronger for the self-enhancement versus self-transcendence values tension than for the openness-to-change versus conservation values tension. We concluded that Dark Triad traits showed meaningful patterns of associations with personal values with some differences between the traits. Materials, data, and code are available on: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/4Z27F.