Dark Desires: The Link Between Dark Triad and Attitude Towards Revenge in Young Adults

Abstract

This study examines how Psychopathy, Narcissism and Machiavellianism, also known as The Dark Triad, are linked to attitudes toward revenge-seeking behavior and to explore the moderating influence of gender in the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and revenge tendency among young adults. A total of 237 participants completed the Short Dark Triad (SD3) scale and The Vengeance Scale. Using quantitative correlational research design and moderation analyses, the findings demonstrated that the Dark Triad were found to be significant predictors of vengeful tendencies and gender did significantly moderate the relationships between narcissism and revenge. However, gender did not moderate the relationship between Machiavellianism and revenge, nor between psychopathy and revenge. This study demonstrates how socially malevolent dispositions can influence vicious interpersonal relationships and vice versa.