The utility of the Dark Triad model in the prediction of the self-reported and behavioral risk-taking behaviors among adolescents

a r t i c l e i n f o Associations among the Dark Triad (psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) using a self-report risk measure (i.e., Adolescent Risk-taking Questionnaire) and two behavioral tasks (i.e., Balloon Analog Risk task and Probability Discounting task) were examined to assess risk taking in 248 adolescents. Two dark personality traits, narcissism and psychopathy, have been shown to be significantly predictive of adolescent risk behaviors. This was found to be the case for self-reported risk behaviors, as well as for different behaviorally based risk types. Contrary, Machiavellianism was unrelated to either type of risk-taking assessment. Reliably, these results suggest that darker personality variables may prove valuable in understanding risk-taking behaviors in adolescents. Though risk taking has been defined in various ways, common themes across definitions seem to balance the potential gains and losses of risky behaviors (Moore & Gullone, 1996). However, different concep-tualizations about what underlies risk taking have resulted in using different instruments for assessing risk-taking behaviors. Accordingly, two divergent approaches have been used in the assessment of risk-taking propensity. One approach centers on assessment of personality traits primarily through self-report instruments, while the second approach views risk taking as a cognitive process and includes the behavioral tasks that measure respondents' choices between concrete alternatives. Several theories suggest that both forms of risky behavior should be significantly associated among individuals (Skeel, Neudecker, Pilarski, & Pytlak, 2007). There are numerous reasons why someone chooses to behave in a high-risk manner. Given the possibility that individuals might have a dispositional tendency to engage in risky behaviors bears considering the traits of the Dark Triad personality construct. Specific to the current investigation, preliminary research has shown associations among the Dark Triad traits and specific risky activities, such as financial invest-The Dark Triad — psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism — represents a set of three socially averse personality characteristics (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). Psychopathy is defined by high callousness, thrill seeking, interpersonal antagonism and manipulation (Hare & Neumann, 2008). Individuals high in narcissism tend to focus largely on themselves and are characterized by self-absorption, dominance, and feelings of entitlement (Emmons, 1987). Machiavellianism is characterized by self-interest and tendencies toward deceptiveness and the manipulation of others (Cooper & Peterson, 1980). Specific to the current investigation, two negativistic traits with links to risk taking are psychopathy and narcissism (e. Risk-taking in psychopathy is the result of their erratic lifestyle (Hare & Neumann, …