Psychometric properties of a scale to measure the dark side of personality

SALESSI, Solana; OMAR, Alicia

doi:10.1590/1982-02752018000200005

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Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas)

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PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT • Estud. psicol. 35 (2) • Apr-Jun 2018 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-02752018000200005 copy

Psychometric properties of a scale to measure the dark side of personality

Propriedades psicométricas de uma escala para medir o lado escuro da personalidade

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The psychometric characteristics of the Dark Triad Scale in an Argentinian context are presented. Two successive studies were carried out. Three hundred sixteen people, with an average age of 34.48 years (SD = 10.57), participated in Study 1. An exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure with suitable internal consistency (Machiavellianism: α = 0.92; narcissism: α = 0.91, and psychopathy: α = 0.89). Two hundred seventy-five people, with an average age of 32 years (SD = 8.10), participated in Study 2. A confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the three-factor structure. The three factors reached Satisfactory Composite Reliability (greater than 0.70) and adequate Convergent-Discriminant Validity (Average Variance Extrated greater than 0.50). The invariance of the scale’s parameters was demonstrated by sex. The results indicate that the Argentinian version of the Dark Triad Scale measures the dark side of personality with appropriate validity and reliability, both in men and women.

Keywords
Antisocial personality disorder; Machiavellianism; Narcissism; Psychometrics; Statistical validity

Subscale	Item	Average	SD	Asymmetry	Kurtosis	r i-total
	1	3.53	1.17	0.42	-0.63	0.79
	2	3.48	1.14	0.44	-0.50	0.77
	3	3.21	1.23	0.47	0.70	0.82
	4	3.43	1.09	-0.45	-0.54	0.77
Machiavellianism	5	3.19	1.04	-0.48	0.88	0.89
	6	3.26	1.06	0.39	-0.91	0.88
	7	3.32	1.07	-0.35	0.90	0.82
	8	3.36	1.27	-0.31	-0.61	0.77
	9	3.30	1.14	0.54	0.50	0.58
	10	3.21	1.02	-0.24	-0.53	0.74
	11	3.56	1.15	0.52	-0.28	0.80
	12	3.36	1.22	0.60	1.18	0.71
	13	3.12	1.10	0.30	1.03	0.70
Narcissism	14	3.19	1.15	-0.37	-0.23	0.73
	15	3.08	1.05	-0.42	0.37	0.77
	16	3.26	1.25	0.47	0.28	0.79
	17	3.38	1.26	-0.62	-0.22	0.80
	18	3.62	1.17	-0.56	-0.26	0.71
	19	2.91	0.98	1.31	-1.56	0.48
	20	3.59	1.11	-0.12	0.42	0.74
	21	3.27	1.08	0.39	0.63	0.71
	22	2.56	1.12	-1.46	-1.23	0.46
Psychopathy	23	3.23	1.02	-0.68	0.37	0.74
	24	3.19	1.23	1.11	0.28	0.73
	25	3.48	1.06	-0.87	-0.22	0.66
	26	2.62	1.26	-1.49	-1.27	0.45
	27	3.37	1.19	-0.43	0.32	0.62

Contents of the Item		Configuration Matrix			Structural Matrix
Machiavellianism		I	II	III	I	II	III
1.	No es conveniente contar nuestros secretos	0.85			0.68
	[It is not advantageous to disclose our own secrets]
2.	Las personas no se esfuerzan demasiado a no ser que tengan que hacerlo	0.81			0.65
	[People do not work harder unless they have to]
3.	Hay que hacer cualquier cosa con tal de conseguir el apoyo de las personas poderosas	0.84			0.70
	[You have to do anything to get the support of powerful people]
4.	Hay que evitar tener conflictos con los demás, ya que nos pueden ser útiles en el futuro	0.80			0.63
	[You have to avoid conflicts with other people, as they may be helpful in the future]
5.	Es bueno guardar información que después se pueda usar en contra de los otros	0.91			0.78
	[It is good to keep information that later can be used against others]
6.	Hay que saber esperar el momento adecuado para vengarse	0.93			0.65
	[You have to wait for the right time to get revenge]
7.	Hay que asegurarse que nuestros planes nos beneficien sólo a nosotros,	0.85			0.72
	no a los demás
	[We must make sure that our plans benefit us only, and not other people]
8.	Hay cosas que deben ocultarse, ya que los demás no necesitan saberlo	0.87			0.67
	[There are things that must be hidden since others do not need to know]
9.	La mayoría de las personas pueden ser manipuladas	0.81			0.66
	[Most people can be manipulated]
	Percentage of variance explained: 28.91%
	Narcissism
10.	La gente me ve como a un líder natural		0.75			0.61
	[People see me as a natural leader]
11.	No me gusta ser el centro de atención (*)		0.80			0.68
	[I do not like being the centre of attention]
12.	Si yo no estoy, las reuniones suelen ser aburridas		0.85			0.69
	[Meetings are often boring if I am not there]
13.	Yo sé que soy especial porque todo el mundo me lo dice		0.81			0.68
	[I know I am special because everybody tells me so]
14.	Me gusta "codearme” con gente importante		0.78			0.65
	[I like to get acquainted with important people]
15.	Me siento avergonzado si alguien me elogia (*)		0.77			0.53
	[I feel ashamed if someone praises me]
16.	Soy una persona común (*)		0.81			0.67
	[I am an ordinary person]
17.	He sido comparado con gente famosa		0.79			0.64
	[I have been compared to famous people]
18.	Exijo que me traten con el respeto que merezco		0.81			0.53
	[I demand that people treat me with the respect I deserve]
	Percentage of variance explained: 22.59%
Psychopathy
19.	Evito las situaciones peligrosas(*)			0.77			0.69
	[I avoid dangerous situations]
20.	La venganza debe ser rápida y contundente			0.68			0.67
	[Revenge must be quick and forceful]
21.	Los que se meten conmigo terminan lamentándolo			0.80			0.80
	[People who mess with me end up regretting it]
22.	Nunca he tenido problemas con la ley (*)			0.76			0.62
	[I have never had problems with the law]
23.	Me gusta burlarme de los perdedores			0.79			0.73
	[I like to make fun of losers]
24.	Podría decir cualquier cosa con tal de conseguir lo que quiero			0.68			0.71
	[I could say anything to get what I want]
	Percentage of variance explained: 13.94%

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Núcleo de Editoração SBI - Campus II, Av. John Boyd Dunlop, s/n. Prédio de Odontologia, 13060-900 Campinas - São Paulo Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 19 3343-7223 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: psychologicalstudies@puc-campinas.edu.br

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[1] Note: SD: Standard Deviation.