Dark Triad Personality Test

Post Reply New Topic

Interesting article but I would generally assume people who were more attractive were more likely to display narcissisistic tendencies anyway as they would be more likely to be vain due to being admired and complimented a lot.

I don't agree with this statement:-

"When we perceive someone as physically attractive, we automatically assume they are also kinder, smarter,
and more confident. "

I might assume they'd be more confident perhaps but not kinder and smarter - I'd never automatically assume those traits in an attractive person - I'd need to see how they acted before I made any kind of judgement and in fact I'd be actively looking for signs they weren't cleverer than me or kinder, just to make myself feel better! Luckily they often aren't as well

While everyone has their flaws, attractive people are rarely as impressive character-wise as the majority seem to pretend they are due to being in awe of their looks. I have the opposite reaction ie they're going to have to work twice as hard to prove to me they have a personality worth taking an interest in and even then it's all a bit of a waste of time as when are they ever going to take any notice of me anyway? So I tend to give overtly good looking people a wide berth generally as they are usually far too unaware that their personality is rather bland but nevertheless invariably surrounded by fawning sycophants.

Last edited by nessa238 on 13 Jan 2013, 9:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Me too and I already knew I kind of am one. But I doubt that perceived narcissism in people on the spectrum works like narcissism in otherwise NT people.. Like from that article


"attractive facial expressions"? I've learned to mimic over the years, as I'm sure many here have, but it doesn't come naturally to me at all.

I haven't learned to mimic any facial expressions; I wouldn't even attempt it as I know I'd look ridiculous! I have to rely on my brain to impress others, not looks. I already knew I had an unhealthy desire for positive attention and too much intolerance of criticism but I'm not generally good at attracting people. I would dispute that anyone who was a narcissist was more likeable too - the traits of it are off-putting to others in my opinion as it's all about self-obsession and vanity.

I am good at stroking the ego of narcissists if I see it as worth my while to do so ie providing 'narcissistic supply'.

Last edited by nessa238 on 13 Jan 2013, 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Trait [i]score %
[/i]
Narcissism 0.8 1

Machiavellianism 1.5 16.6

Psychopathy 2.2 54.8

My gf just took and got:
1.4 10.6
2.4 51.1
2.1 51

Last edited by Chloe33 on 13 Jan 2013, 9:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I agree that article is being overly simplistic and assuming everyone works the same. But it is a real psychological thing (not for everyone), it's called "the halo effect". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect

Also, "the dressed up attractiveness" of dark triad people often is so mainstream due to its purpose being to impress, I guess.. So I find it boring. I like the eccentric dressers over the evil ones

I am always more fascinated by people who exhibit extremes of behaviour ie either totally good or totally evil.

Perhaps the study explains why people often seem to me to be impressed by obnoxious people - ie it's the narcissism they are responding to.

Oh, the mimic thing was not to impress others, more trying to put NTs at ease. It's very taxing so I don't feel like doing it all the time. Again, I agree that those traits do not sound attractive at all - it's like the presumption that psychopaths are "reallllly good at manipulation" - often they're not actually good at it, and because it is so repulsive they often end up outcasts one way or the other. Anyway that test - it could be any personality disorder really that could produce those results. Social anxiety, schizoid personality disorder, borderline etc. Or apparently aspies.

Narcissism : 2.1
Machiavellianism : 1.5
Psychopathy : 1.6

If you're fascinated by that I have just the thing for you - the (non-fiction)book "The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil" about the Stanford prison experiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment

Seems to me that some of the narc questions could be answered the same for ASD but for different reasons. That might be why narc scores seem high.

Narcassism: 0.6, Percentile: 0.4
Machavellianism: 0.6, Percentile, 0.8
Psychopathy: 0.5, Percentile, 3.7


Not all of us are dark triad!

Yes I know about the experiment and have read a lot about that kind of thing. It's no surprise to me at all that people can be exceedingly evil if given half a chance. If you look at how people behave in day to day life you can see with many of them that they are only held back by the law and societal expectation. People often make me shudder if I imagine them in the role of a concentration camp guard - far too many would take to the role like a duck to water!

Most people seem determined to deny their and others' essential nature.

Last edited by nessa238 on 13 Jan 2013, 9:42 pm, edited 3 times in total.

You can't join our club then!

Which questions specifically?

Narcissism: 78.3
Machiavellianism: 10.7
Psychopathy: 28.6

I strongly think that the test would be biased for those with an ASD toward narcissism simply because we have no other frame of reference than ourselves.

Seriously. If you can't connect with other people, you're not going to think much about them. I cannot remember people unless I'm stimulated to - I can hole myself away for weeks and people won't even come to my mind.

However, I think a lot of us have a love for the general needs of mankind, however. Interesting.

Like enforced narcissism?

I can see what you mean