No significant incremental predictive utility of dark triad traits for leadership performance: Evidence from a high-fidelity simulation

Despite the growing prominence of the Dark Triad framework in leadership research, empirical findings remain mixed regarding the predictive value of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The present study tested whether Dark Triad traits predict leadership performance beyond the Big Five personality traits and general mental ability using a high-fidelity, behavioral-based leadership simulation. In a multi-phase design (final N = 100; 68 women, 31 men, M age = 27.11, SD = 6.38), participants completed individual difference assessment before engaging in a leadership simulation that required approximately 150 decisions across complex, interpersonally rich scenarios and lasted, on average, six hours ( SD = 2.5 h). Results indicated that, in this sample and setting, none of the Dark Triad traits were significantly associated with leadership performance, either at the correlational level or in hierarchical regression analysis testing incremental validity. In contrast, openness, agreeableness (negatively), and GMA emerged as significant predictors. These findings suggest limited incremental predictive utility of Dark Triad traits for leadership performance in the present context when performance is assessed using objective, behavior-based criteria. • DT did not predict leadership performance in a high-fidelity simulation • Leadership was assessed using a behavior-based simulation • DT showed no incremental validity beyond Big Five and general mental ability • Openness, agreeableness, and general mental ability predicted performance