What is called the "black triad" of the personality

April 24, 2019

Psychology defines three attitudes that constitute "dark" traits. Now, a team of psychologists from Canada includes a fourth characteristic in sadistic attitudes and has developed a test to detect them.

We all have a little trouble inside, and according to psychology, three factors of our personality are defined as "the black triad": narsism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. If these traits were reinforced between them or pathologically manifested, they would conform to what we usually define as a "bad" person. Even now, some scholars insist on adding sadism to this list as a new category.

But What does each of these characteristics entail?

In the first place, narcissism it defines people who focus on themselves, delude themselves about their power and demand the admiration of others. Secondly, psychopathy This could be defined as the absence of empathy, which makes a person manipulative and uninterested in what others feel. The last link in this "evil triad" would be Machiavellian attitudesThey include cynicism and strategies to serve only special interests.

Today, psychologists from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, suggest through a study that sadism is also a constitutive characteristic of evil personalities. This behavior is a "tendency to adopt cruel, degrading or aggressive behaviors in search of pleasure or dominance" as they define themselves, and can not be included in the previous negative characteristics.

They even developed a nine-question test among more than 200 university students aged 17 to 26 in order to "detect" this behavior. In any case, they warn that the diagnosis must always be made by a professional.

Participants had to indicate between 1 and 5 their degree of adherence to the following nine postulates:

1. I made fun of people so that they know that I am in control.

2. I do not get tired of putting pressure on people around me.

3. It would hurt someone if it meant that I would be in control.

4. When I make fun of someone, it's funny to see him getting angry.

5. Being mean to others can be exciting.

6. It makes me happy to make fun of people in front of their friends.

7. I'm excited to see people fighting.

8. I think I hurt people who irritate me.

9. I would not hurt anyone on purpose, even if that person does not like me.