The Dark Triad predicts public display of offensive political products

Abstract

The Dark Triad is a constellation of related traits that capture subclinical aversive predispositions. The present research tested whether the Dark Triad predicts ideological poking, defined as the public display of products aimed at insulting political opponents. Study 1 (N = 299) indicated that psychopathy (but not Machiavellianism or narcissism) predicted ideological poking. Study 2 (N = 200) replicated this effect and specified further that psychopathy was associated with ideological poking around both ingroup and outgroup audiences. These results suggest that the Dark Triad, in particular psychopathy, may contribute to political polarization via its connection to extreme forms of political expression.