The Dark Empath: Characterising dark traits in the presence of empathy

A novel psychological construct characterised by high empathy and dark traits: the Dark Empath (DE) is identified described relative to personality, aggression, triad (DT) facets wellbeing. Participants ( n = 991) were assessed for narcissism , Machiavellianism, psychopathy cognitive affective empathy. Sub-cohorts also completed measures of (i) personality (BIG5), indirect interpersonal aggression 301); (ii) DT vulnerable grandiose narcissism, primary secondary Machiavellianism 285); (iii) wellbeing (depression, anxiety, stress, anhedonia self-compassion; 240). Latent profile analysis a four-class solution comprising traditional 128; DT, low empathy), DE 175; Empaths 357; empathy) Typicals 331; average empathy). higher in facets, lower agreeableness than Empaths. had extraversion agreeableness, DT. did not differ but showed The less aggressive shows better partially maintains an antagonistic core, despite having extraversion. presence increase risk vulnerability DE. • identifies 4 groups based on traits. empath (DE, empathy, traits) partly core. (low are similar facets. extraversion, & Outside (empaths, typicals), unrelated aggression.